PI - MSCA Doctoral Researcher Position - Diasporic Identities and Placemaking - Negotiating Memory, Belonging and Future (DR9)

Location: Bilbao (Spain)
Vacancies: 1
Work modality: On site

Universidad de Deusto - Investigación

Job description

The University of Deusto invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in the area of migration, time and urban studies in the framework of the the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) “Entanglements of Migration and Time in Post-industrial Urban Europe (MITIME)” project. MSCA-DNs are European Union–funded initiatives that train PhD students through international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral doctoral projects aimed at fostering scientific excellence and enhancing researchers’ career development.

The successful candidate will pursue the PhD programme Doctorate in Human Rights: Ethical, Social and Political Challenges with a full-time employment contract for 36 months with a competitive salary to conduct original research on migration, temporality, and urban inequalities, and participate in all network-wide training and mobility activities. They will also benefit from a close-knit network of 15 MSCA Doctoral Candidates recruited at the 7 institutions forming the MITIME consortium and an international supervisory team with a joint supervision arrangement involving two network partner institutions.

The deadline for applications is 1 February 2026, 12:00 CET. For more information about the Doctoral Network, consortium members and the full version of the call for applications please visit: www. migrationtime.eu

Project Description:

Thesis topic: Diasporic Identities and Placemaking - Negotiating Memory, Belonging and Future (Doctoral Researcher Position 9 on the project’s main website)

Host Institution: University of Deusto, Spain
Main Supervisor: Dr. Bilge Yabanci (University of Deusto) – bilge.yabanci@deusto.es

Co-supervisor: Dr. Caitríona Ní Laoire (UCC) – c.nilaoire@ucc.ie

Secondments: University College Cork

Diaspora groups are key actors in shaping the cultural, social, and political life of post-industrial cities. They connect “here” (settlement societies) and “there” (places of origin), actively negotiating belonging and identity through community building, everyday encounters and transnational networks. These processes of placemaking create spaces for diasporic cultural expression, political participation, and visions of shared futures—but they can also reproduce exclusionary, e.g., racialized or gendered, boundaries. This PhD project examines how diasporas mobilize politically toward both origin-country and settlement-country issues, e.g., formal orgs/associations, community centers, digital networks, protest, remittances/aid, cultural politics, voting/advocacy) and how such mobilizations are rooted in urban contexts marked by diversity and post-industrial transformation. It analyses the mechanisms through which origin-state diaspora policies (consular programs party outreach, funding) intersect with local right-to-the-city struggles (housing, participation, use of public space), and how inter-diaspora and diaspora–host encounters generate cooperation, dialogue, or tension with the origin country. A temporal lens foregrounds memories of migration and conflict, intergenerational trajectories, and imagined futures as drivers of diasporic mobilization. The project is primarily based in Bilbao, Spain, where long-established diaspora communities, including but not limited to those from Latin America (such as Colombian and Venezuelan), coexist with newer and more precarious migrant presences from Maghreb, Eastern Europe. The successful candidate will contribute to mapping the spaces of encounter among diaspora groups and between diasporas and host societies, analyzing the dialogues and tensions that shape diasporic mobilization towards their country of origin. The candidate will engage with cutting-edge debates on diaspora studies, placemaking, and post-industrial urban change. The position anticipates secondment at University College Cork, the co-supervisor's institution. Comparative extensions (e.g., to a second post-industrial city and other diasporic communities) are welcome where they sharpen the analysis of governance, placemaking, and participation in rapidly changing urban landscapes.

We seek applicants with training in political science or sociology (with special focus on migration/diaspora studies encouraged), strong qualitative/ethnographic skills and proven proficiency in English and Spanish. Applicants proposing to study particular diaspora communities are expected to evidence the additional language competence needed to conduct interviews and engage in community settings.

Monthly salary and allowances:

The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary for 36 months in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Doctoral Candidates. The positions offer support provided in the form of:

Competitive gross salary (living allowance): €4010 per month*
Mobility allowance: €710 per month
Family allowance, if applicable: €660 per month

*To allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States, the gross salaries (€4010) are adjusted through the application of a correction coefficient based on the country in which the DC has been recruited. The coefficients applied can be found on p.156-157 of “Annex II Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions” (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2023-2024/wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf). The gross salary is subject to all compulsory deductions under national legislation of the country of the recruiting institution, such as social security contributions and/or taxes.

Salaries at the University of Deusto are paid in 15 instalments.

Expected starting date: 1st of September 2026.

Requirements

Profile of the Doctoral Candidate:

A successful candidate should ideally meet the following criteria:

A strong commitment to conducting interdisciplinary and collaborative research in international and cross-sectoral contexts.
The ability to take initiative, manage research tasks responsibly, and work both independently and as part of a team.
The capacity to design and complete a doctoral research project within the framework and timeline of the assigned project description, leading to the submission of a PhD thesis and other academic outputs.
Willingness to contribute to MITIME’s collective research, training, and dissemination activities, including workshops, summer schools, and other network events.
The capacity to play an active role in conceptualizing, developing, and executing core MITIME project outputs, e.g. scientific articles, reports, conferences.
Prior experience with the theoretical and methodological dimensions of qualitative and/or quantitative research.
Academic or professional experience relevant to the thematic focus of MITIME.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and the ability to deliver high-quality written and oral outputs.
Demonstrated academic writing experience in the social sciences or humanities.
Excellent English-language communication skills, both written and spoken.
Willingness and readiness for international mobility, including research secondments, training events, and conference participation.

We particularly encourage candidates from under-represented and marginalized groups who meet the eligibility criteria (see below) to apply.

Specific eligibility criteria

A successful applicant must fulfill all of the following minimum criteria:

Must hold a Master’s degree (e.g. MSc, MA, or equivalent) prior to the beginning of the contract. The degree should be in a field relevant to the specific doctoral position, i.e. migration studies, anthropology, sociology, geography, urban studies, media studies, social policy, political science, and public administration, or a related discipline.
Must have not already completed (or successfully defended) a PhD degree.
May be of any nationality; however, must not have resided or carried out one’s main activity (i.e. work or studies) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before your starting date, complying with the MSCA-DN mobility rules. (Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent by the candidate as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered)
Must be proficient in both written and spoken English and fluent in the additional languages required by the specific doctoral position, if applicable.
Must fulfill the local requirements of the recruiting institutions, which are listed in the individual project descriptions (if applicable).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

All applicants must complete TWO SEPARATE APPLICATION FORMS as part of this call.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Fill out the Application form and submit all required documents in a single PDF file (maximum size of the file: 10MB) in the order listed below:

Motivation Letter (maximum 1 page): Introduce yourself and your qualifications, outline your motivation for applying to the position, and describe your future career objectives.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include details of educational qualifications, grades achieved in relevant research modules or dissertations, and any other pertinent academic or professional experience.
Research Proposal: Describe your proposed approach to the specific project for which you are applying, based on the brief project description provided (min 3-max. 5 pages, including references, Times New Roman or Calibri font size 11, standard margin is 2.54 cm on all sides).
Official Transcripts: Provide final grade transcripts for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. If transcripts are not in English, include an official translation.
Degree Certificates: Submit copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas or proof of degree completion. If you are currently enrolled in a Master’s programme, include available transcripts and a statement from your supervisor confirming that you are on track to complete your degree by the commencement of the contract.
Proof of English Language Competence: Submit documentation of English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) as required by the recruiting institution. Candidates whose first language is English, or who have previously studied in English, should provide a brief justification requesting exemption from this requirement.

2. Register through the University’s central recruitment system (the platform you are using right now) by clicking on the blue “Apply” button.

Support service will be available during the application period via email: dit.apoyo@deusto.es

Location: Bilbao (Spain)
Vacancies: 1
Work modality: On site

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