BMBF/ZOiS Scholarships for Ukrainian Scholars

The Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) in Berlin is awarding different scholarships for the year 2024-2025.

We are seeking to fill the positions (m/f/div) of three Ukraine-based fellows

within the project Ukraine Research Network@ZOiS (UNET), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

In response to a strong public desire to understand Ukraine, ZOiS is awarding up to three fellowships to Ukrainian scholars. The goal of the project Ukraine Research Network@ZOiS (UNET) is to stimulate research on Ukraine, to communicate that research for better decision-making, and to strengthen horizontal connections in the community of Ukrainian scholars. We invite scholars to join our rigorous and supportive academic community and use ZOiS’s communication platforms to spread the word about Ukraine and its recent research trends to journalists, academics, policymakers and politicians.

What projects are we supporting?

This year, UNET has issued a thematic call. ZOiS invites applications for innovative research proposals for both disciplinary and interdisciplinary projects centred on the following two themes:

Theme 1: Gender and War in Ukraine

Here, we are interested in proposals addressing the impact of war on gender (in)equalities, including but not limited to:

• Activism and leadership (e.g. in volunteer initiatives)
• Gender-based violence and its prevention
• Demography and the feminisation of poverty
• The care economy, unpaid household and care work
• The family and parenting
• Power and influence, women and (inter)national & local leadership.
• The labour market and economic opportunities
• Gender aspects of education, gender equality implementation in educational institutions
• Displacement and migration
• The role of media in the prevention of propaganda, gender inequality and discrimination
• A gender-sensitive approach to the reintegration of veterans
• Gender (in)equality in the armed forces of Ukraine (military education and labour market)

Theme 2: Ukrainian Research Infrastructure and Human Capital: The Impact of War

Here, we seek projects that provide insights into the impact of the war, including in the following areas:

• The state of science, technology, and innovation in Ukraine
• Links between research, education, and business
• Trends in human capital in research/academia, including migration and conscription
• Capacities for data collection and analysis
• The state of graduate and PhD programmes and their academic outputs
• Problems and successes of international cooperation and integration
• Damage to the research infrastructure
• Science communication
• The role of academia in the reconstruction process

Projects should include the following components:

• Empirical data collection and analysis
• Practical implications for decision-making in Ukraine and internationally

How is the fellowship organised?

The fellows are invited to work on their research projects in cooperation with the ZOiS team and contribute to discussions with different stakeholders through the ZOiS communication formats (UNET events, ZOiS Spotlight, ZOiS Report, ZOiS Podcast, ‘In conversation with’ interview). One of ZOiS’s senior researchers will provide mentorship and peer support to the Fellow. More information about the fellowship can be found here: Fellowship Guideline.

Who is eligible and what are the financial packages?

We are looking for Ukrainian scholars who have or had an active university, research institute, think tank or NGO affiliation in Ukraine. The fellowships are awarded for a period of up to 12 months. Typically, the fellowship will start on 1 September 2024.

Ukraine-based fellows (12 months, 800 Euro + research and travel budget) will reside and work out of Ukraine and travel to Berlin occasionally to participate in network meetings and other events (if the circumstances permit). The Ukraine-based scholars must reside in Ukraine at the time of their fellowship.

• An MA degree at a minimum and some research experience
• PhD students are welcome to apply; so are more experienced scholars/professionals
• An active university, research institute, or think-tank affiliation in Ukraine before the start of the war
• English and Ukrainian (as a must)

What kinds of support can fellows expect from the institute?

• Academic: access to partner libraries in Berlin, community guidance, peer support, support with publishing an article in a peer-reviewed journal, additional funding for data collection in the field (to be approved separately within the research budget).
• Practical:
  • Stipend
  • Travel from/to Ukraine to/from Berlin
  • Local transportation costs to visit partner institutions in Germany (within the research budget)
  • Visa support

How do we choose people and projects?

The selection process will be carried out in two stages:

• Review of the applications by the committee
• Zoom/in-person interview of the shortlisted candidates for a detailed presentation of the research project

The selection committee will evaluate the proposals based on the following criteria:

• Sound methodology and realistic plan
• Practical applicability for policymaking
• Personal history, research track record and motivation

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, social origin, religion/belief, disability, age and sexual orientation, and identity. Applications from women and applicants with a migration background are strongly encouraged. Applicants with recognised disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified for the position.

What are the application instructions?

An application package consists of the application form and CV with a list of publications. The application form is attached.

Please send your application package as one PDF file by 20 April 2024 solely by email to job(at)zois-berlin(dot)de. Please combine your documents into one pdf document (max 6 MB) and state "Ukraine-based fellow" as the reference together with your name (Such as Subject: Ukraine-Based Fellow_Petrenko) in the Subject: line.

For inquiries about the application, please contact unet(at)zois-berlin(dot)de.