DAAD WIPCAD Doctoral Fellowships 2017, Deadline: 5 April 2017

DAAD WIPCAD Doctoral Fellowships 2017, Deadline: 5 April 2017

Open to: international and German candidates

Scholarship: holders will receive a monthly stipend, travel allowance, rent allowamce

Description

The Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Potsdam calls for applications for its Research Training Group on “Wicked Problems, Contested Administrations: Knowledge, Coordination, Strategy” (WIPCAD). Wicked problems create conditions of high complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity to which public organizations need to respond. The tensions emerging in this context can destabilize organizational structures and routines, and call traditional methods of administration into question. Contestation occurs in various areas of organizational activity, from knowledge use and transfer to internal and external coordination and strategy building. The Research Training Group carries out studies of the interrelationships between wicked policy problems and the contested development of administrative practices and organizational structures, both within public organizations and between civil society and the private sector.The WIPCAD research program is based on systematic interdisciplinary cooperation between political and administrative sciences, organization studies, sociology and public management. It is underpinned by a qualification and gender equality concept that encourages junior scholars from both Germany and abroad to engage with neighboring disciplines, conduct theory-based research, acquire the necessary research skills, gain international experience, and prepare them for future careers in academia and in the public sector.

Eligibility

The following criteria must be met in order for applicants to be eligible for scholarship

• Applicants must hold a Diploma or a Master’s degree in political and administrative sciences, sociology or (public) management. Familiarity with organisational research is a plus. In exceptional cases, graduates with degrees from related fields may be considered;
• Key selection criteria are the quality of the PhD proposal, how well it falls in with the overall thematic agenda of the Research Training Group, its innovative potential, and its likely contribution to existing knowledge in public organisations and administration;
• International students with a non-German citizenship are strongly encouraged to apply. The Faculty strives to increase the proportion of women in the university and hence strongly encourages women to apply. Applicants with disabilities who are equally qualified will be favoured.
• Scholarship recipients will participate in seminars of the Faculty and write their own dissertation in English.Proficiency in English is required.

Scholarship

Scholarship holders will receive a monthly stipend from the “Graduate School Scholarship Programme 17“. The scholarship award comprises:

• a monthly stipend of EUR 1,000
• a travel allowance based on your country of origin
• a combined health, accident and liability insurance
• a study and research allowance of EUR 460 per year
• a rent and/or family allowance, if applicable

In addition, grants for material costs of EUR 1,000 per year are possible. The scholarship will be for up to a three-year period, contingent upon the successful completion of each year. Extension to a fourth year will be possible only in exceptional and very well-founded cases.DAAD scholarship holders will be identified by a two-step procedure. In step one, appropriate candidates are nominated for a DAAD scholarship by WIPCAD as the hosting program. In step two, the nominees (2 for each place) submit an online application with supporting documentation via the DAAD portal and the DAAD selection board takes the decision.

How to Apply?

Please submit the following documents in English:

• A letter of motivation specifying your academic and professional interests, your current goals, study and career plans. Furthermore, explain why you deem our doctoral program appropriate for your particular background (in English, not exceeding 1,000 words);
• An abstract of your proposal (max. 1 page);
•  Your research proposal of the planned dissertation project (only one research proposal) not exceeding 2,500 words (core text, about 5 pages, bibliography excluded);
• The proposal should also include a work schedule listing planned periods and destinations of research or field trips. If you plan a field study, please also submit a short work plan and schedule about the field trip (when, where, how long);
• A complete curriculum vitae – with full contact details and information on your educational background and professional experience, publications and language skills;
•  Two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate your academic qualifications, including your skills in methods, and – where applicable – your professional qualifications, e.g. university professors from the home university, issued during the last two years;
• Certificates or translated documents.

For more information please visit the official web page.