PhD Scholarship in Social Science – Muslim women, social cohesion, and Islamophobia

Job No.: 622884

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3-year and 3-month fixed-term appointment

Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at current value of $29,500AUD per annum 2021 full-time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/study/scholarships/scholarship-policy-and-procedures A tuition fee scholarship and Single Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) will be provided for a successful international awardee.

The Opportunity

This PhD scholarship is funded as an important part of an ARC-funded project Living Well Together: Muslim women, social cohesion, and Islamophobia conducted Dr Susan Carland.

The broader project the PhD sits within investigates the role of gender in initiatives to counter Islamophobia by Muslim women, the reception to these initiatives by non-Muslims, and how these groups understand social cohesion in relation to one another. A mix of qualitative and quantitative methods is used. The successful PhD applicant will join this research team and contribute to the wider project but will also undertake their own distinct PhD project. The detail of the PhD project has some flexibility, but the candidate must, as the focus of their PhD, undertake a comprehensive analysis of the reception by non-Muslims to the countering-Islamophobia work run by Muslim women, and their attitudes towards social cohesion. This will be done via focus-group field work.

Undertaking this PhD as part of a larger project has several advantages. First, the successful candidate will be integrated into an already successful research agenda that has been funded by the Australian Research Council, and will have access to funding to support fieldwork, transcription, travel, and conference attendance. Second, the candidate will benefit from expert supervision from research leaders in social science, and from entering a PhD with a pre-existing structure. Finally, the candidate will benefit from being part of outcomes from the research, which may include co-authored publications (where the candidate’s contributions will be recognised through co-authorship), funded symposia, school-engagement exercises, and future grant applications.

Monash University is the largest university in Australia and regularly ranks in the top 100 universities worldwide. Monash has six globally networked campuses and international alliances in Europe and Asia. The applicant will be based at the Clayton campus in Melbourne. Social Science at Monash is diverse and vibrant, including research expertise in geography, sociology, politics, and sustainability transitions. We have a strong and supportive research culture, led by internationally recognised scholars successful in attracting national and international competitive funding.

Candidate Requirements

The successful applicant will have an excellent academic track record in Social Science. Competence in qualitative research methods is essential. Competence in quantitative research methods is desirable.

In its assessment, the selection committee will prioritise applicants who hold an Australian (or equivalent international) Honour’s or Master’s degree (both in a relevant field), with a significant research component and with first-class honours/H1 awarded.

Details of eligibility requirements, including English-language proficiency skills, to undertake a PhD in the Faculty of Arts are available at www.monash.edu/arts/graduate_research/how-to-apply  Applicants should ensure they familiarise themselves with these requirements before deciding whether they should apply.

Scholarship holders must be enrolled full time and on campus. International candidates are welcome to apply. Please note: applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered.

The successful applicant will be expected to enrol by mid-January 2022. However, there may be some flexibility as to the date of commencement.

Enquiries

Dr Susan Carland: [email protected]

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

EOIs shall comprise:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability
• A brief (no more than 2-3 pages) research proposal
• Two samples of academic writing
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of any published works, conference presentations and relevant work experience
• A full statement of academic record including scores awarded for Honour’s or Master’s theses, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• Contact details of two academic referees

EOIs should be sent, preferably in the form of a single attachment to an email, to Ms Kinda Say, Senior Graduate Research Administrator, Faculty of Arts, at the following email address [email protected] . State “EOI [your name] - PhD Scholarship in Social Science – Muslim women, social cohesion, and Islamophobia” in the subject heading of the email.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (over Zoom if necessary). The interviews will be conducted in English.

Closing Date

Friday 13 August 2021, 11:55pm AEST

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