Description:
The Department of Political and Cultural Change at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn seeks a conceptually strong social science researcher with thematic expertise on different types of (im- )mobility, border/boundary discussion and the rethinking of Area Studies, preferably working on South and Central Asia. Depending on final fund approval, the position will be assigned in the framework of the BMBF- financed competence network ‘Crossroads Asia’ (http://www.crossroads-asia.de/) with the work package (WP 7) “Die Crossroads-Perspektive: Grundlage für Crossroads Studies?“ [The Crossroads Perspective: A Fundament for Crossroads Studies? ]. In addition to the project-related task, the position contributes to the general teaching and research activities of the Department of Political and Cultural Change at ZEF.

Crossroads Asia pursues the development of a ‘new area studies’ approach, making mobility and related thematic figurations of interaction the basis of the network’s scholarly research. The geographic focus of the network comprises the area from eastern Iran to western China and from the Aral Sea to northern India. In its second phase (expected period January 2015 to December 2016), Crossroads Asia aims for the development of the three pillared, theoretical, methodological and research ethical Crossroads Perspective as an alternative approach to Area Studies research. It will therefore focus substantially less on generating empirical research and more on the conceptual and methodological synthesis of past work. It will be the main task of WP 7 to ensure that this synthesis will be established. The empirical and analytical material of the first phase research and further scholarly results generated in the second phase shall constitute the basis for the methodological and conceptual synthesizing work. The epistemological insights which will be generated from conflating the network members’ scholarly results will have to be reflected upon and prepared for publication and introduction to a wider audience, particularly in the social science disciplines and Area Studies.

Based on and parallel with the synthesizing, an already elaborated approach to rethinking Area Studies, tentatively called the ‚Crossroads-perspective‘ will have to be reflected upon, further elaborated and tested regarding its added value and potential for the establishment of a research program ‚Crossroads Studies‘. The Crossroads Perspective is envisaged to be based on three pillars: Content-wise, figurative spatiality's constitute the first pillar. It is concerned with the construction of spatialities and its relevance for research approaches and Area Studies in general. Further questions include the relationship of physical-geographical, social and mental types of mobility with the construction of spatial reference frames. Moreover, what are the underlying processes of negotiation and boundary-drawing and -mitigating involved in these interaction and construction processes? For the second pillar the methodological approach ‚Follow the Figuration‘ shall be further elaborated. For the third pillar, a conceptual toolkit on how to reflect on research processes, connected with issues of reflexivity, power, positionality, and research ethics shall be developed.

Tasks:
- Ensure interdisciplinary synthesis work of the previous and planned Crossroads Work Packages in light of the above described aims and overall project goals in the second phase of Crossroads Asia
- Facilitate the development of the conceptual, methodological and research ethical pillars of the Crossroads perspective in joint collaboration with the Crossroads Asia coordinator, Crossroads Asia network members and the director of ZEFa
- In collaboration with network colleagues, actively publish synthesis work in international academic fora, as well as through channels accessible to the German public
- Optional: Tutor PhD students working on related topics and contribute to ZEF’s interdisciplinary doctoral programme by teaching in the interdisciplinary and disciplinary courses

Details of Position:
- Full-time (100%)
- January 1, 2015 until December 31, 2016
- Compensation at the level of TVL-E13 (on the German public service salary scale)
- Subject to final approval

Requirements:
- Doctoral degree in a field of Social Sciences, Humanities or Area Studies
- Publication record reflecting experience in scholarship on the social construction of space, social science
theories and on the research regions of South and Central Asia
- Research experience in South or Central Asian countries
- Effective interpersonal communication skills including ability to work harmoniously in a team
- Proven track record in network building
- Advanced written and oral communication skills in English and preferably also German
- Flexibility to travel both within Germany and internationally
- Local language skills (i.e. Russian, Farsi, Hindi, Urdu, other) would be an additional plus

Additional information:
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. habil. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Mail: crossroads@uni-bonn.de

Submission of Application:
Please send your complete set of application documents (incl. Letter of interest, CV and supporting documents) to: Ms. Nelli Nokkala, preferably via e-mail to nelli.nokkala@uni-bonn.de, or alternatively to Center for Development Research, Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung (ZEFa), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex-Str. 1-3, 53113 Bonn, Germany.