Mecila

Senior Fellowships 2023

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 (Mexico City).

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 our website.

Mecila will award 5 Senior Fellowships to selected candidates. The duration of each Fellowship is 9 months (from 1 March to 30 November). Fellows are expected to commit fulltime to their proposed research activities at the Centre. Remuneration depends on individual circumstances. The fellowship can be used to finance a temporary replacement (buy-out).

Requirements

  • A senior position at a university or research institution, or comparable qualification. 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 English language
  • Ability to and interest in actively participating in an international and interdisciplinary research environment

Responsibilities

  • 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 paper to Mecila’s Working Paper Series
  • Contribute at least one outreach activity (interview, blog entry, video, public lecture, policy paper, )
  • Undertake at least one relevant activity (e.g. a lecture) at El Colegio de México, Mexico City or at Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Conicet) in La Plata, Argentina

Application

Applicants must send the following documents in English, Spanish or Portuguese via e-mail as a single pdf-attachment no later than 31 January 2022 to the Coordination Office in São Paulo (mecila@cebrap.org.br):

  • Motivation letter (max. 500 words)
  • Research outline describing current research and envisioned contribution to the Centre (max.  1500 words)
  • Work plan detailing how the proposed project will be realised during the stay at the Centre
  • Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications

Please send as a separate pdf our registration form that  you can find here.

Selection criteria

Applications from prospective Senior Fellows will be submitted to a peer-review process. 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 timeframe 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  equity and an adequate regional representation. We aim to inform the applicants of the selection results by 01 July 2022.

For further inquiries regarding the Fellowship or the application process, please refer to our FAQ. 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.