PhD Studentship: Emerging Black Middle Class in South Africa
The Department of Social Research invites applications for a fixed term from 1.1.2017 to 30.4.2020. The field of the position is Social and Cultural Anthropology and it relates to the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences. Social and Cultural Anthropology is a small but vibrant unit with two professors, three university lecturers and 16 researchers and PhD students.
The position exists within an Academy of Finland-funded project entitled "The Morality of Success among the Emerging Black Middle Class in South Africa". This project investigates the aims, practices and moral values of different segments of the emerging Black middle class in South Africa. It contributes to two main bodies of scholarly literature: the social scientific research on the values of the Black middle class and the anthropological research on morality. The project employs one (already identified) post-doctoral researcher in addition to the PhD student to be selected through this call.
The successful candidate will be required to undertake the collection of research material in South Africa and the writing of a PhD dissertation based upon this material. We are seeking a candidate with specialization and a proven track record in anthropology, and with some research experience in South Africa. The prospective PhD student is expected to conduct comparative research on the practices and values of entrepreneurs and employed persons who belong to the new or the emerging Black middle class. The site of the empirical research is preferably (although not necessarily) the Johannesburg region. The time reserved for field work in South Africa is 10-12 months. In addition to conducting research and completing his/her postgraduate studies and the PhD Thesis, the doctoral student is expected to participate in the teaching of anthropology. The selected student is to affiliate herself/himself with the unit of Anthropology and the Doctoral Program of Social Sciences and, with the exception of fieldwork and holiday periods, will be required to reside in the Helsinki area for the duration of the project. The working language of the project will be English.
The duties of a doctoral student are the completion of his or her postgraduate studies, including the doctoral thesis. The duties also include part-time teaching and other tasks.
A doctoral student applicant must hold a Master's degree and have a research proposal submitted with the application. Other requirements include demonstrated ability and motivation, to pursue postgraduate studies and a doctoral degree according to the approved study plan and research proposal.
The University of Helsinki offers a salary dependent on qualifications and work experience. The salary is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee shall be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The salary is EUR 2180–3100 per month, depending on the appointee's qualifications and work experience. The appointment starts with a probationary period of four months.
