Deadline for application: 13 February 2023
The Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia (CIES-Iscte) of the Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa is accepting applications for one post-doctoral researcher position as part of the European project “Decision making of Aspiring (Re)Migrants to/within the EU: The case of labour market-leading migrations from Asia (AspirE)”, funded by the European Commission (HORIZON-CL2-2022-TRANSFORMATIONS-01-04).
About the project:
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, Europe continues to be a major destination for transnational migrants, notably from Asia and Africa. The way in which this phenomenon has been unfolding underlines the urgent need to further conceptualise transnational migration by analysing the decision-making of aspiring (re)migrants. This scholarly enterprise is critically important as mainstream migration theories put more of a focus on broader social processes and dynamics, thereby overlooking the human aspects of migration. Basing itself on several migration theories in various disciplines, this proposal adopts a framework that humanises research on (non-)migration decision-making, i.e. highlighting its human aspects in three ways: engendering, decolonising and situating the analysis in temporal, psychological, relational and social contexts. As a case study, the AspirE research project will examine the decision-making of aspiring (re)migrants from selected Southeast and East Asian countries (China, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam) to and within selected EU member countries (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Finland). These migrants are oriented towards the EU labour markets where they are concentrated in ethnic niches. Employing qualitative and participatory research methodologies, the study will map the extent to which spatial mobility policies at the EU and national levels take into account aspiring (re)migrants’ behaviour, identify the micro- and mesolevel drivers of (re)migration aspiration and/or intention and determine the temporality of aspiring (re)migrants’ decision-making. The results of this project will provide concrete information as to how individuals’ migration decisions change over time and on the specific stage at which mobility policies are more likely to play a role in shaping migration outcomes, which will enhance EU migration policies. The project brings together six European partners and seven Asian partners: Université Libre de Bruxelles (BEL), Masaryk University (CZ), Goethe University Frankfurt (GER), University of Milan (ITA), Instituto Universitario de Lisboa – ISCTE (POR), Tampere University (FIN), Scalabrini Migration Center (PH), Mahidol University (TH), Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VN), Foundation for Isaan Education and Popular Media (TH), Asia-Pacific Center (VN), The Education University of Hong Kong (HK) and Waseda University (JP).
Scientific area: Social Sciences
Admission Requirements:
- Candidates must hold a PhD in the area of Social Sciences.
Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries shall be registered by a Portuguese institution, according to the Decree-Law nr. 66/2018, of August, 16th, and the Ordinance nr. 33/2019, of January, 25th. It is mandatory to present the certificate to sign the contract. More information is available on: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=374
Attention is called to the need to comply with point 3 of Article 7 of the FCT Regulation for Research Fellowships[1] that specifies that Post-Doctoral Fellowship (BIPD) may only be granted provided that the following cumulative requirements are met:
a) The doctoral degree has been obtained within the three years prior to the date of submission of the application for the grant;
b) The postdoctoral research is carried out in a host entity different from the entity where the research work leading to the doctoral degree was carried out;
c) The research activities do not require post-doctoral experience
d) The research activities have a development and execution time equal to or less than three years;
e) The grant holder does not exceed, with the conclusion of the grant contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of three years in that type of grant, consecutive or interpolated.
Preferential Factors:
- Research experience in the study of migration;
b. Strong skills in qualitative methods;
c. Experience in qualitative data analyses and use of software for data analysis (eg. MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, NVivo, Network Canvas);
d. Fluent in English
Work plan:
Primary duties will be the participation and support to the ASPIRE project. The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in the following tasks:
- coordinating and managing daily tasks of the project, meetings with the project partners, and organisation of the project events (public consultation, interviews, workshops);
- compiling literature review and relevant documentation for the project;
- development of content analysis on migration policies;
- development of methodological tools for qualitative data collection;
- supporting the implementation of the project studies in Portugal including designing the samples and participant selection, collecting qualitative data, conducting and transcribing interviews, developing video diaries and conducting focus group discussions;
- general support to the project execution through production of reports and documents on results, and dissemination of the project activities and findings;
- Engaging in writing and submitting scientific papers;
- Participating in project events and meetings in Europe.
Duration:
The fellowship will have the duration of 24 months and may be eventually renewed within the project duration and in accordance with the provisions of point 4 of Article 6 of the of FCT Regulation for Research Fellowships into force.
Legislation and regulations:
Statute of Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law nr. 40/2004, of August 18, as currently worded by Decree-Law nr. 123/2019, of August 28; FCT Regulation for Research Fellowships, available on: https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf and https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968.
The Fellowship Contract and Fellowship Report templates are available through the link https://cies.iscte-iul.pt/np4/anuncios/
Workplace and Scientific Supervision:
CIES- Iscte/Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Avenida das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisboa, under the coordination of Dr. Sofia Gaspar.
Monthly maintenance allowance:
According to the values for Research Fellowships awarded by FCT in Portugal (http://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores), the amount of the monthly maintenance allowance is 1.686,00 € + Voluntary Social Security Insurance (SSV). The payment will be made monthly by Bank Transfer.
Selection methods:
The selection process will be developed based on the curriculum evaluation. In the event that several candidates demonstrate that they have the profile suited for carrying out the workplan, the jury reserves the right to call the three best rated candidates on the curriculum evaluation for an interview that will have a weight of 40% in the final grade. If the jury deems it unnecessary to conduct an interview, the curriculum evaluation will have a final weighting of 100%.
The evaluation and ranking criteria are as follows: a) academic path (30%); b) research experience (40%) and c) experience demonstrated in the items indicated in the preferred factors (30%).
The curriculum evaluation of candidates will proceed in compliance with the criteria indicated, on an entire scale between 0 and 100.
The jury reserves the right to:
a) invite the best-scoring candidate for the position, following the order established in the final ranking list, whenever the selected candidate does not meet the requirements for formalizing the contract or in case of unavailability;
b) not award the fellowship if none of the candidates matches the desired profile.
Composition of the selection Jury:
President: Dr. Sofia Gaspar (CIES-Iscte/Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa); Other members: Dr. Alejandra Ortiz (CIES-Iscte/Iscte- Instituto Universitário de Lisboa) and Professor Irene Rodrigues (ISCSP-ULisboa)
Notification of the results:
The final evaluation results will be publicized through a list of admitted and excluded and a final ranking list, with all candidates being notified by email. There will be 10 working days for complaints/appeals following the announcement of the results.
Application period and documents:
The call is open from 20 January until 13 February, 2023
It is mandatory to formalize applications including the following documents: i) letter of motivation describing previous research experience and interest in the position, research interests and future career plans; ii) detailed Curriculum Vitae; iii) list of publications; iv) copy of the doctoral qualifications certificate.
Applications must be submitted to the email:
“BPD _ED_CIES_ ASPIRE _3_2023”
Applications submitted by any other means will not be considered.