Ph.D. position – Junior Researcher

Přehled

The Institute of International Studies (IMS), Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague is opening a junior researcher/Ph.D. student (m/f/d) position (1,0) for 30 months, with a start date

The researcher will work on the project "Displacement and (Post)secular Memory: Contemporary Crises and Historical Legacies in Southeastern and East-Central Europe (MEMCRIS) supported by funding from the NCN (Poland) and GA ČR (Czech Republic), and led by Joanna Wawrzyniak (University of Warsaw) and Kateřina Králová (Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University).

The project examines how societies in East-Central and Southeastern Europe draw on memories of historical displacement in response to contemporary political and social crises. It adopts a post-secular perspective on cultural memory, exploring the interplay of cultural, spiritual, and political dimensions in shaping societal responses to displacement.

MEMCRIS focuses on Greece, Serbia, and Poland, and includes both cultural and religious institutions that are rarely studied together. The PhD position is dedicated to the Serbian case led by Dr. Karin Roginer Hofmeister.

Job description:

• Conduct research on the Serbian case within the framework of the MEMCRIS project
• Participate in regular team meetings, workshops, and project-related academic events
• Contribute to joint project outputs, including academic publications, conference presentations, and reports
• Collaborate with other project members to ensure comparative and theoretical integration of the case study

Outputs expected over 30 months:

• At least two articles published in international journals indexed in Scopus or with an Impact Factor
• doctoral dissertation in an advanced stage of writing
• Up to 3x active participation in international conferences

Requirements:

• We request participation in the PhD program at IMS starting no later than the academic year 2026/2027, with regular presence in Prague required from October 1, 2026
• Language capacities:
  
  Serbian: Native proficiency / C2 equivalent
  
  English: Advanced proficiency / B2/C1 equivalent
• Strong research interest in Southeastern Europe, with a particular focus on Serbia
• Familiarity with theories of secularism/post-secularism, memory studies, or migration studies is highly desirable
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international research team

We Offer:

• Salary CZK/month brutto – approximately CZK/month netto (please note that the netto amount can vary depending on the family situation, etc.)
• PhD supervision by Prof. Kateřina Králová and mentoring by Dr. Karin Roginer Hofmeister
• Integration into an international, interdisciplinary research environment
• A generous budget for international travel to conferences and to conduct research
• Opportunities for academic training, conference participation, and publication
• A wide range of employee benefits (e.g. high-value meal vouchers or meal allowance,kindergarten allowance, annual public transport pass contribution, pension and/or lifeinsurance contribution, Multisport card, and others; benefits are subject to the current internalregulations of the faculty)

The written application must include:

1. Research Proposal (6–7 standard pages in English), including:

2. Introduction and delimitation of the topic (time, geography, thematic scope, connection to the Serbian case and MEMCRIS project)

3. Theoretical framework
4. Working hypothesis
5. Methodological approach

6. List of main sources (archival materials, oral histories, scholarly literature, etc.)

7. Curriculum Vitae (max. 3 pages)

8. Proof of enrollment / acceptance in a doctoral program at Charles University, or a statement of intent to apply

9. Writing sample (e.g., paper, Master's thesis, etc.)

10. Contact details of two academic referees

Applicants can send their applications by 30 November 2025 to the email address:

with the subject line: " PhD Application – MEMCRIS Serbian Case ".

By responding to this job advertisement, you give your consent for the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, located at Smetanovo nábřeží 6, Prague 1, Postal Code 110 01, to process your personal data for employment-related purposes. The processing of personal data complies with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR) and Act No. 110/2019 Coll., on the processing of personal data.