PhD Opportunities

PhD Opportunities
Cluster of Excellence for "Religion and Politics"
Up to ten PhD opportunities available in the
Cluster of Excellence for "Religion and Politics"
at the University of Münster, Germany
An exciting opportunity exists for potential PhD students
to fill up to ten positions by April 1, 2009 in the
interdisciplinary Cluster of Excellence for "Religion
and Politics in Pre-Modern and Modern Cultures" at the
Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Münster,
Germany. The Cluster involves a large number of academics
from the areas of History, Catholic and Protestant
Theology, Jurisprudence, as well having capacity in the
areas of Islamic Studies, Philosophy, Philology, Political
Science, and the Sociology of Religion. Projects in the
Cluster are grouped around four themes: Normativity,
Staging, Integrative Procedures, and Violence. Further
information about specific projects can be found at: www.religion-und-politik.de
There are currently up to ten positions available in the
Graduate School within the Cluster. Each of these positions
is attached to a stipend based on half a E13 TV-L position
(approximately € 900 per month). Initially the
positions are available for two years, with an extension of
a further year possible. Besides from working on their own
projects, PhD students are expected to participate in the
planning and organization of conferences as well as the
running of workshops within the Graduate School. These
workshops are expected to cover such areas as theory,
methods, lectures, and the interpretation of source
material.
We are seeking students fluent in German who have
demonstrated exceptional ability in the Humanities,
Cultural Studies, Social Sciences, Law/Jurisprudence, or
Theology/Religious Studies. Furthermore we are particularly
interested in attracting students who have demonstrated
high competence in interdisciplinary studies, have proven
their ability to communicate their research to a variety of
forums, and have the potential to establish themselves in
international arenas. Applicants are requested to provide a
five page description of their intended project (including
a bibliography). It is expected that the project will
complement the research aims and also one or more of the
themes of the Cluster. Applicants with appropriate research
topics from all eras of history, across a wide range of
study areas, geographical locations, and themes will be
considered. However, we are particularly interested in
receiving expressions of interest from applicants
interested in antiquities or the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries.
We explicitly encourage women to apply. The applications of
women with equal aptitude, qualification and academic
achievements will be given priority, provided there are no
prevailing reasons to the contrary that arise from a
competing candidate's personality. Severely handicapped
candidates with equal qualifications will be preferred.
Please send your application, including cover letter, CV,
copies of transcripts, a project description, and two
academic references by January 31, 2009 to the Coordinator
of the Graduate School in the Cluster of Excellence:
Ms Julia Simoleit
Graduate School in the Cluster of Excellence "Religion
and Politics in Pre-Modern and Modern Cultures",
Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster
Johannisstraße 1-4
D - 48143 Münster, Germany

Please direct any further enquiries to Julia Simoleit (Julia.simoleit@uni-muenster.de).