PhD and Postdoc Research Fellowships in Intercultural History of Christianity at VID Specialized University

VID Specialized University announces one scholarship for PhD project and one Postdoc scholarship within the newly founded excellence research network “Connected Histories – Contested Values. World Lutheranism and Decolonisation: Processes of Transloyalities, 1919-1970.”

The stipulated length of the positions is 3 years.

Both positions will be located at Stavanger.

The profile of the research project
The research project analyses discourses and negotiation processes between various Lutheran churches and other stakeholders in education and health care with a focus on values and loyalties from 1919 to 1970. In its innovative international and polycentric approach, it starts with the period after World War I, when the concept of “European civilization” was shaken and new educational and health care projects were initiated. The period ends with decolonisation after World War II, the consequences of which were for the first time seriously discussed at the LWF Assembly in Evian (France, July 1970).

How did Lutherans in different contexts (re-)construct their values in these changing circumstances? How did they negotiate them with political, ecclesial and other stakeholders? How did they deal with competing loyalties? The project analyses these discourses in South Africa, Madagascar, China, Norway and Germany – countries connected by Lutheran educational and health care work. It examines how Lutherans related to processes of decolonization and constructs of “modernity” and analyses the vast spectrum of positions between adaption, self-assertion, emancipation and resistance. A focus on loyalties, competing loyalties and indeed transloyalties especially in the areas ‘education/literacy’ and ‘health care/diakonia’ can help to throw new light on these processes.

Applicants for both the PhD fellowship and postdoctoral are invited to present project proposals exploring main themes of the research projects.

PhD programmes at VID
The position as research fellow is educational; it aims at the candidate achieving a PhD Degree after completed research training at one of the University’s two PhD programmes. An achieved PhD degree is a relevant qualification for positions within and outside academia.

The PhD position will be within the PhD-programme Theology and Religion

More information about the PhD programme can be found on our website:

https://www.vid.no/en/studies/theology-and-religion-phd/

Admission to a doctoral degree programme is a condition for appointment as a research fellow. Applicants are therefore requested to specify the connection between their own project proposal and the PhD programme.

General criteria for appointment as a research fellow are stipulated in the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow, research fellow, research assistant and resident.

Further details:
PhD and Postdoc Research Fellowships in Intercultural History of Christianity at VID Specialized University