[Scholarship] Doctoral Research Scholarships on the ERC–funded project PIETRA

Job Opportunities

National University of Ireland Galway

COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND CELTIC STUDIES
SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURES AND CULTURES

DOCTORAL RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS

Funded PhDs (3 positions available)

Introduction

Three Research-based Doctoral (PhD) Scholarships are available to work on the ERC–funded project PIETRA. The doctoral scholarships, fully funded by the European Research Council, have a start date of September 2022.

Context

PIETRA is the first, large-scale, multilingual study of the translation products and processes that underpin communication in global religion. The project focuses on translation practices in the institution of the Catholic Church and the multilingual communication of religious messages against a background of technological change. It poses key research questions relating to consistency of message in a large multilingual institution across different languages, cultures and communicative formats. PIETRA analyses the translation processes and products of the Catholic Church across three different media (print, web and social media) and in two different time periods to advance understandings of how multilingual dissemination intersects with technological change and institutional ideology. PIETRA combines the latest advances in empirical translation research, data capture and analytics, with sociological and ethnographic investigations to form a model for the analysis of the products and processes of large-scale multilingual dissemination.

The successful candidates will be housed at NUI Galway, within the Moore Institute under the supervision of Prof. Anne O’Connor and a Graduate Research Committee.  The candidates will be part of a team of researchers including post-doctoral researchers and research assistants.

PhD 1: Translation and SOCIAL MEDIA

The PhD student working on this work package will focus on translation in the context of an institutional social media account. The candidate will work on analysing translations into Arabic and must have excellent language skills in this area.

PhD 2: Translation and NEWS WEBSITES

In this work package the PhD student will focus on translational activities in the context of multilingual institutional websites. The research will have a particular focus on multimodality in the communicative and translational processes.

PhD 3: Translation and PRINT HISTORY

The doctoral work in this work package will involve an overview of the production and distribution of religious translations in the nineteenth century, and the tracking of religious translations across languages and cultures. It will involve a particular focus on the area of paratextuality and authority in translation.

The successful candidates may have a disciplinary background in any area of translation studies, languages, or history/book history. The PhD researchers will also demonstrate an interest in the area of religious and/or institutional translation. In their application, candidates are expected to outline how their research record, interests, and skills align with the project.

Studentships are open immediately for application.

General enquires about the PhD positions can be made to Prof. Anne O’Connor at anne.oconnor@nuigalway.ie

Essential Selection Criteria

  • An undergraduate degree (with a first-class -preferred- or 2:1 grade or equivalent) in the area of translation studies, languages, or history/book history
  • Excellent knowledge of at least 2 languages
  • For PhD position 1 (Translation and Social Media) knowledge of Arabic and one of the following languages is essential (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish)

Desirable Selection Criteria

  • Interest/experience in the area of religious studies and translation.
  • Good co-operative skills, and the ability to successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines
  • Experience in linguistic research (corpus based/ethnographic/cultural)
  • Knowledge of translation and culture in local and global perspectives
  • A Masters qualification in a related area

The application will include a cover letter that highlights the candidate’s suitability to meet the essential and desired criteria and their motivation for application, and an updated CV.

Application Process

Applications must include:

  1. a cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest in the post;
  2. a full CV
  3. an indication of which PhD position you wish to apply for

Applications should be sent as a single pdf file to mooreinstitute@nuigalway.ie and must include “PIETRA PhD Studentship” in the subject line.

 Closing date for applications: 20 May 2022, 5pm (GMT)

Selection Process

After shortlisting, interviews will take place virtually in early June 2022.  Candidates will be notified of the outcome in June 2022 with studies to commence in September 2022.  

The awards will be made on the recommendation of the Research Programme’s Assessment Panel.   

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.         Duration

The scholarship will be awarded for a minimum of three and a maximum of four years.

2.         Value

The value of an individual Scholarship award is €23,526 per annum, from which a student levy and fees of €5,026 will be paid. The balance will be paid in a monthly stipend of c. €1541.66. A successful candidate from a non-EU country will be entitled to apply for an International Merit Scholarship to cover the non-EU portion of their fee. Students will also receive contributions towards travel and research costs.

3.         Classification of Scholarship Payments

Scholarships are officially classified as a ‘scholarship’ and hence do not attract Tax or Social Insurance. The recipient is not an employee of the University.

4.       Eligibility

The minimum qualification for the award of a scholarship is a first class or higher second class honours bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from a recognised institution in a relevant discipline.

Applicants must have an established proficiency in English or in Irish.  For applicants whose first language is not English or Irish, a language proficiency assessment may be required.

5.         Conditions of Tenure

  1. Successful applicants to this scheme will be designated as a Doctoral Research Scholar and will register in the PhD programme of the CASSCS, National University of Ireland, Galway before the Scholarship can be drawn down.
  2. Scholarships will be awarded for at least three years, according to the original date of the applicant’s registration for the PhD degree and based on satisfactory progress being confirmed each year by the student’s Graduate Research Committee (GRC).
  3. The scholarship will automatically cease on the submission of the Scholar’s PhD thesis.
  4. The scholarship is valid for the year in which it is awarded or renewed. Under general circumstances the scholarship may not be deferred or otherwise interrupted, without reasonable cause. Where particular situations arise that necessitate temporary leave of absence, they shall be verified and notified to the GRC, and approved by the Dean of the CASSCS.
  5. Should a Scholar be unable for any reason (including medical reasons) to pursue studies in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the scholarship, the Scholar and/or his/her/their supervisor is required to inform the Dean of the CASSCS within two weeks of such a situation coming to the Scholar’s attention. The Dean of the CASSCS, on appropriate advice, reserves the right to withdraw or suspend the Scholarship.
  6. The completion of the research, which is central to the PhD degree, remains the primary purpose of the scholarship. However, as part of their doctoral graduate formation, and with a view to assisting Scholars in the acquisition of skills in the transfer of knowledge and the assessment of students, the Scholar may engage in teaching, or other academic work, that normally will not exceed three contact hours per week, or the equivalent in other duties, per week.  (See 5.7 of the University’s Guidelines For Research Degree Programmes ).
  7. The holder may not be the holder simultaneously of any other scholarship or fellowship.
  8. The Doctoral Research Scholarships will be awarded only to full-time registered students who will engage full-time in research during the period of the scholarship. The recipients of the scholarships are expected to be normally present in the university for the duration of the programme. Should Scholars wish to take a prolonged absence from the university, s/he must apply for permission using Form GS 090, which is available on the Graduate Studies website.
  9. The Doctoral Research Scholarship is held subject to these Terms and Conditions. If any of the above is breached by a scholarship holder, the CASSCS will suspend or terminate the Scholarship and/or will require the Scholar to reimburse the College for such payments that have already been made.
  10. In accepting a Doctoral Research Scholarship, successful applicants must also agree to accept the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. Correspondence on this will not be entered into once an award has been accepted.
  11. In the event that a scholarship recipient fails to comply fully with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, the CASSCS reserves the right to revoke the Scholarship award.
  12. If a scholarship holder does not attend for a scheduled meeting with his/her GRC without reasonable cause, or if his/her GRC are unhappy with the progress being made on the research project, the GRC can recommend that stipend payments be suspended forthwith.

Note: Late or incomplete applications or applications that do not fully adhere to the Terms and Conditions of this scheme will be deemed ineligible.

This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 101001478 – PIETRA)

Visit https://mooreinstitute.ie/2022/03/11/doctoral-research-scholarships-on-the-erc-funded-project-pietra/ for more details.