PI MSCA Doctoral Researcher Position Story Time The Temporal Logics of How Urban Narratives are[...]

Universidad de Deusto.; Bilbao; Presencial; EUR 30.000 - 50.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

A Spanish research university is seeking a PhD candidate for a fully funded position focusing on migration, time, and urban studies. This role offers a competitive salary and full-time contract for 36 months. The successful applicant will engage in original research on migration and urban inequalities, participate in an international doctoral network, and complete training activities. A master's degree and strong English communication skills are required. Applications are open until February 1, 2026.

Servicios

Monthly salary of €4010

Mobility allowance of €710

Family allowance of €660 if applicable

Formación

• Commitment to conducting interdisciplinary research.
• Ability to manage research tasks and work independently as well as in a team.
• Willingness to contribute to collective research and dissemination activities.
• Prior experience with qualitative and quantitative research.

Responsabilidades

• Conduct original research on migration and urban inequalities.
• Participate in training and mobility activities.
• Help develop scientific articles and reports.

Conocimientos

Interdisciplinary research

Analytical skills

Strong English communication

Qualitative and quantitative research

Educación

Master's degree in relevant field

Descripción del empleo

Universidad de Deusto - Investigación

Job description

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‑Ds 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 :

Project Description

Thesis topic: Story Time - The Temporal Logics of How Urban Narratives are Placed and Displaced (Doctoral Researcher Position 10 on the project’s main website)

Host Institution: University of Deusto, Spain

Main Supervisor: Dr. Edurne Bartolomé Peral (University of Deusto)

Co-supervisor: Dr. Élise Lépy (University of Oulu)

Secondments: University of Oulu and UNESCO Etxea

Cities witness evolutions and transformations linked with their dwellers and the changes in dynamics of interaction and exposure to groups and changing narratives. These happenings take place across time and different types of transformative phenomena are linked with specific temporalities and experience of time and evolution. With this project, we aim at examining temporally and spatially displaced urban dwellers’ narratives regarding their place and role in the city, as expressed through different creative forms and representations, appropriation of urban spaces, and narrated solidarities and frictions between different groups. This will be accomplished by looking at contemporary and historical forms of displacement and interpretation of space and time. The project studies 1) how displaced people narrate and understand their experiences of displacement and re‑placement in the city, and 2) how the experience of displacement and re‑placement influences their everyday encounters, and knowledge of creative and engaged methods for crafting and disseminating inclusive narratives about in the city, in particular, their sense of trust and mistrust, roles, interactions, as displacement is regarded a process that may reshape social ties and cohesion. With this project, the candidate will gain theoretical understanding of displacement as a temporal, spatial, social, and cultural process. Understanding of how displacement influences trust and mistrust, social capital, and interethnic cohesion and knowledge of creative and engaged methods of crafting and disseminating inclusive narratives regarding the city. Two secondments are planned : 1) at the co‑supervisor’s institution, University of Oulu, for training in geographical approaches to mobility, including environmental and ecological aspects of displacement; and 2) with UNESCO Etxea for studying interethnic interactions and inclusive narratives within the host society.

Monthly salary and allowances

• 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” (). 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).

To confirm your application, the following two steps should be completed :

• Fill out the 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.

You may notice some repeated questions; this is unfortunately required by the central system, but it is necessary to confirm your application.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Support service will be available during the application period via email :