Postdoctoral Research Fellowship on the Soviet Union’s home front and the war on Soviet civilians in the Second World War.

Funded by the European Research Council, the Advanced Grant “The Global War on Civilians, 1905- 1945” aims at exploring the evolution of types of warfare that targeted the enemy’s civil population, focusing on (1) aerial bombardment, and civil defense (2) food blockades, and home front campaigns to ration food, and (3) efforts to “demoralize” enemy civilians, while boosting “morale” at home. We investigate how the transnational circulation of knowledge and practices culminated by World War II in systematic attacks on civilians and the creation of home fronts that mobilized civilians. The Principal Investigator (PI) is Prof. Sheldon Garon, a global historian and specialist in Japanese history. The project is hosted by the Centre d’Histoire of Sciences Po in Paris, France, an international research institution with strengths in history and the social sciences.

The current team members are researching Italy, Germany, Britain, Japan, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and international law and humanitarianism. We seek a Postdoctoral researcher on the Soviet Union’s home front and the war on Soviet civilians in the Second World War.

The Postdoctoral researcher will be affiliated with Sciences Po in Paris, and it is preferred that the researcher live in Paris. The position is open to international recruitment. Sciences Po is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring a balanced representation of genders, geographical areas and minorities. Applications from women are particularly welcome.

Funding

For this position, we offer:

• a contract for two years of full-time employment as a Postdoctoral Researcher; 
• an internationally competitive salary that includes social benefits;
• an allowance for travel and research expenses.

Profile description

Ph.D. defense must be completed before the start date. Excellent skills in archival research. Expertise in collecting and preparing historical data for datasets. Excellent writing and communication skills. Advanced level in English and in the languages of the former Soviet republics. Knowledge of German is an advantage. Sense of teamwork.

Application

1. A letter of application (no more than 2 pages) explaining your qualifications and motivation for the project and the added value that you are expected to bring;

2. A curriculum vitae with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience, other qualifying activities and a list of publications;

3. Scanned copies of relevant diplomas and certificates;

4. A final report on your dissertation;

5. Contact information (email addresses, number phones) for two academic references. Applications to be sent to the ERC project manager: alexandra.shubenkova@sciencespo.fr