4 Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers
Duration: 9 months (01 March 2022 – 30 November 2022)
Deadline for applications: 27 June 2021
Mecila (Maria Sibylla Merian International Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences Conviviality-Inequality in Latin America) is a joint project of the following German and Latin American research institutions: Freie Universität Berlin (coordination); Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin); Universität zu Köln (Cologne); Universidade de São Paulo and Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento (São Paulo); Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades yCienciasSociales (Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Conicet, La Plata); and El Colegio de México (MexicoCity).
Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and established in São Paulo in April 2017, Mecila cordially invitespostdoctoral researchers toapply for JuniorFellowships. Successful applicantsare expected to participate in an international research network thatfocuses on the co-constitution of conviviality and inequality from an interdisciplinary perspective. Accordingly, the Centre addresses the processes of negotiation, legitimation, transformation, and representation of existing hierarchies as they take place in everyday interactions and within institutions. The Centre is open to proposals focused on theoretical or empirical research as well as to all pertinent methods and sources. A general outline of the Centre’s research programme is available on ourwebsite. Mecila will award 4 Junior Fellowships to excellent early-career scholars who have obtained their doctoral degree in the humanities or social sciences. Due to unforeseeable developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, recipients may be awarded a digital, hybrid, or in-person Fellowship. The duration of each Fellowship is 9 months (from 1 March to 30 November). If circumstances permit, inperson fellowships will take place in São Paulo. Even if in digital or hybrid form, fellows are still expected to commit fulltime to their proposed research activities at the Centre. For the duration of the
Fellowship, fellows will normally receive a monthly allowance, depending on individual circumstances and taking other forms of income before and during the fellowship into account. Alternatively, the fellowship can be used to finance a temporary replacement (buy-out).
• A PhD degree in the humanities or social sciences obtained within the last 5 years from the
date of application
• A track record of training, research, and /or publications in Mecila’s subject areas
• Excellent command of the Englishlanguage
• Ability toandinterestinactivelyparticipatinginaninternational,interdisciplinary, and
collective researchenvironment
• An ambitious and innovative research project of relevance to Mecila that will enhance the
applicant’s careerprospects
• Undertake at leastone relevant activity (e.g. a lecture) atEl Colegio deMéxico,MexicoCity or
at Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (Universidad Nacional de
La Plata/Conicet) in La Plata, Argentina
Applicants must send the following documents in English, Spanish or Portuguese via e-mail as a
single pdf-attachment no later than 27 June 2021 to the Coordination Office in São Paulo
(mecila@cebrap.org.br):
• Motivation letter (max. 500words)
• Research outline describing current research and envisioned contribution to the Centre
(max. 1.500 words)
• Work plan detailing how the proposed project will be realised during the stay at the Centre
• Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications
Applications from prospective SeniorFellows willbe submittedto a peer-reviewprocess. The primary selection criterion is the applicant’s potential to yield original and excellent research results through a Mecila Senior Fellowship. The scientific merit of the project will be assessed in terms of its originality, the importance of the scientific questions addressed, and its relevance to Mecila. An appropriate methodology and a feasible time frame will also be part of the assessment. Final decisions will be taken by Mecila’s Executive Board, in close consultation with its Advisory Board and Ethics Committee, aiming at disciplinary and gender balance as well as intersectional equity and an adequate regional representation.
We aim to inform the applicants of the selection results by 30 November 2021.
For further inquiries regarding the Fellowship or the application process, please refer to our FAQ
available at Mecila’s website.In case of further questions please contact Mecila’s Coordination Office in
São Paulo via e-mail (mecila@cebrap.org.br).
5 Fellowships for Experienced Scholars
Duration: 9 months (01 March 2022 – 30 November 2022)
Deadline for applications: 27 June 2021
Mecila (Maria Sibylla Merian International Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences Conviviality-Inequality in Latin America) is a joint project of the following German and Latin American research institutions: Freie Universität Berlin (coordination); Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (Berlin); Universität zu Köln (Cologne); Universidade de São Paulo and Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento (São Paulo); Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Conicet, La Plata); and El Colegio de México (MexicoCity). Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and established in São Paulo in April 2017, Mecila cordially invites experienced scholars to apply for its Senior Fellowships. Successful applicants are expected to participate in an international research network that focuses on the co-constitution of conviviality and inequality from an interdisciplinary perspective. Accordingly, the Centre addresses the processes of negotiation, legitimation, transformation, and representation of existing hierarchies as they take place in everyday interactions and within institutions. The Centre is open to proposals focused on theoretical or empirical research as well as to all pertinent methods and sources. A general outline of the Centre’s research programme is available on ourwebsite.
Mecila will award 5 Senior Fellowships to selected candidates. Due to unforeseeable developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, recipients may be awarded a digital, hybrid, or in-person Fellowship. The duration of each Fellowship is 9 months (from 1 March to 30 November), in-person fellowships will take place in São Paulo. Remuneration depends on individual circumstances. The fellowship can be used to finance a temporary replacement(buy-out).
• A senior position at a university or research institution, or comparable qualifications. Scholars
must be internationally recognised for having a significant impact on their field of research.
• A track record of research and publications on Mecila’s subject areas
• Excellent command of the Englishlanguage
• Ability to and interest in actively participating in an international and interdisciplinary
research environment
• Develop an independent research project in the field of conviviality-inequality, making a
contribution to the project’s Research Areas
• Participate actively in the Centre’s activities (including the weekly colloquia) and engage in
interdisciplinary exchange
• Present and discuss scientific research results within and outside the Centre
• Contribute at least one issue to Mecila’s Working PaperSeries
• Contribute at least one outreach activity (interview, blog entry, video, public lecture, policy
paper, etc.)
Undertake at leastone relevant activity (e.g. a lecture) atEl Colegio deMéxico,MexicoCity or
at Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (Universidad Nacional de
La Plata/Conicet) in La Plata, Argentina
Applicants must send the following documents in English, Spanish or Portuguese via e-mail as a
single pdf-attachment no later than 27 June 2021 to the Coordination Office in São Paulo
(mecila@cebrap.org.br):
• Motivation letter (max. 500words)
• Research outline describing current research and envisioned contribution to the Centre
(max. 1.500 words)
• Work plan detailing how the proposed project will be realised during the stay at the Centre
• Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications
Applications from prospective SeniorFellows willbe submittedto a peer-reviewprocess. The primary selection criterion is the applicant’s potential to yield original and excellent research results through a Mecila Senior Fellowship. The scientific merit of the project will be assessed in terms of its originality, the importance of the scientific questions addressed, and its relevance to Mecila. An appropriate methodology and a feasible time frame will also be part of the assessment. Final decisions will be taken by Mecila’s Executive Board, in close consultation with its Advisory Board and Ethics Committee, aiming at disciplinary and gender balance as well as intersectional equity and an adequate regional representation. We aim to inform the applicants of the selection results by 30 November 2021.
For further inquiries regarding the Fellowship or the application process, please refer to our FAQ available at Mecila’s website.In case of further questions please contact Mecila’s Coordination Office in São Paulo via e-mail (mecila@cebrap.org.br).
By applying to this Fellowship you consent that we use the information you provide for the Fellowship
process.
+Info: https://mecila.net/homepage
Mecila, the Maria Sibylla Merian Centre Conviviality-Inequality in Latin America, is one of five international centres for advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in cooperation with local institutions and funding agencies.
Mecila is an academic consortium composed of three German institutions: Freie Universität Berlin (coordination), Universität zu Köln, and Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz); and four Latin American institutions: Universidade de São Paulo, Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento, El Colegio de México, and Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (CONICET / Universidad Nacional de La Plata). The Centre aims at developing cutting-edge research through horizontal interdisciplinary cooperation among scholars from Germany, Latin America, the Caribbean, and other regions of the world, drawing on long-term collaborative ties between the consortium institutions.
Mecila’s headquarters are in São Paulo, Brazil. Its activities take place at all seven member institutions, as well as at other cooperating institutions with joint projects.