Fellowship available

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Fellowship available for research into the History of Sexualities and Modernities in the North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia From 2008 to 2010 the SEPHIS programme will run a research project on ‘Sexualities and Modernities’ sponsored by the FORD Foundation. The objective of this programme is to allow researchers to gain a deeper historical and comparative understanding of the complex interplay between cultural contexts and the politics of sex- and gender-based claims of identity. Dissemination to advocacy groups and into the public sphere is an essential part of this endeavor. SEPHIS is making one fellowship available to candidates at the post-doctoral, PhD and MA level to research any area to do with the history of sexualities in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Funding of up to $15 000 is available to the successful applicant who will have 18 months (until December 2009) to complete a substantial written research report as well as an academic article of around 10 000 words. The latter will be published as part of a collection of articles. In addition, the applicant will be expected to contribute to public activities outside the academic sphere. Contributions should be received by December 2009. The successful candidate will also be required to attend a week-long training workshop in September 2008, to be held at a venue in the South. During the workshop the applicant will be expected to present and discuss his or her research proposal with fellow researchers from other countries in the Global South. He or she will be trained on research methodology and theories of sexuality to gain deeper understanding on the relevant issues. Moreover, the researcher will be expected to contribute to a policy dialogue through talks and lectures on the outcome of his or her research, all to encourage the formation of a South-South network on the history of sexualities, and in keeping with the networking aims of SEPHIS. Throughout the project, the candidate will be expected to submit short four-monthly reports on his or her progress.

Eligibility:

Applicants should be employed by or at least affiliated to a research institute or any other relevant organization in the Middle East, North Africa or Central Asia. Applications for this research project should include:
· a research proposal (maximum of four pages), stating the research problem, reviewing the relevant literature, presenting the research methodology, and indicating the social relevance of the research project
· a short dissemination plan for two audiences:
1. academics: e.g. historians/anthropologists/sexuality studies; and
2. activists in organizations addressing questions of sexuality: e.g. HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive rights/LGBT

· a letter testifying to institutional affiliation in the global South
· a budget (not exceeding $15.000).

For MA and PhD students:

· a letter of recommendation from a thesis supervisor is required
· an abbreviated CV outlining academic career, including achievements, activities and publications
· a sample of written work, attesting to the applicant’s ability to write and finish an assignment (this may be an essay or an article)

The deadline for applications is 1 May 2008.

Applications can be emailed to:

Imtiaz Saikh Coordinator Sexualities Programme ([email protected])

Hard copies can be sent to:

SEPHIS
International Institute of Social History Cruquiusweg 31
1019 AT Amsterdam The Netherlands