Additional recruitment to the Doctoral School of Social Sciences beyond the limit of places

Project description:    

The basic assumption of the project and, more importantly, research activities originate from the questions: Are we as humans able to understand that our planet – particular places/environment around us - can be a more-than-human being (with self and agency) that is in reciprocal dialogue with us? Are we able to look at place or environment as being with a specific self? Are we able to be not only in human-centred to environment relations but also in symmetrical environment-human relations? Are we able to learn from our environmental (biotic and geographical) partners?, and last but not least what local communities and Tribal/Indigenous Groups talk about the changes taking place in their natural places? Searching for answers to these questions, the research team plans to identify the level of agency and emancipation of places/environments in the awareness, opinions and views of the local communities/Indigenous Groups. 

The main aim of the proposed project is to investigate conceptually and empirically mentioned above 'a deeper sense of place' in the context of agency of place and reciprocal, symmetrical relations between human and the environment as well in the context of climate changes and signs of it in the environment. 

Set of empirical aims is as follows: 

- Identifying attitudes of Tribal (Embera) and Indigenous Groups (Stoney Nakoda First Nations) towards places/environment and the ways in which they experience them, 

- Identifying the attitudes of non-Indigenous citizens of Panama and Canada towards places/environment and the ways in which they experience them. 

- Identifying the public's 'deeper look at place/environment' deficits. 

- Register environmental signs of climate changes at the local level narrated by the Tribal/Indigenous Groups and local communities 

- Building "maps of attributes" of human-environment relationships perceived by Tribal and Indigenous Groups and non-Tribal/non-Indigenous citizens. 

Methodology: 

- continuous, dynamic in time ongoing studies, 2024-2028: three field stays in both Darien (PA) and Alberta (CA) 

- in-depth qualitative studies of the views of Tribal/Indigenous Groups (Embera Tribe and Stoney Nakoda First Nations Group), as well as other members of local communities: Panama and Canada. 

- quantitative survey research on a sample of residents of Panama and Canada 

- semnatic analysys of Big Data 

We invite applications from candidates interested in scientific development in the area of social field research in the human-environmental area, developing skills of a social researcher,research conducted in different cultures and touching on contemporary environmental problems of the planet, and ready to look at the bio and geo environment from the perspective of the concept of agency of non-human beings. 

Candidates must have fluent knowledge of Spanish (field research in Panama) and English (field research in Canada), excellent skills in interpersonal contacts and openness to people, readiness for field trips in foreign cultures and demanding field conditions (research in the Darien region - Panama tropical forests). The successful applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills. 

The project provides full financial support for field stays in Panama/Canada, participation in conferences and workshops, quantitative research, and a short-term stay at the University of Texas at Austin. We will assist you in preparing your grant applications, establish cooperation with renowned foreign centers and develop your research. 

There are two PhD positions planned in the project: 

1. PhD_1: The tentative scope of the PhD thesis is "Agency and emancipation of the bio and geo environment in the opinion of indigenous people and local communities of Panama." The project will be supervised by Jacek Kotus (Adam Mickiewicz University). 

PhD Student 1 will be responsible for qualitative and quantitative research in Panama (also the Darien region) among the Embera Indigenous Peoples and local communities of this country. Educational activities in local communities of Panama are also planned, related to presenting the natural and geographical environment as a set of non-human beings. 

Tasks: 

- project of a survey questionnaire and in-depth interview scenario, 

- preparation of research scenario among Indigenous Groups, 

- preparation of field research in Panama, 

- participation in a series of 3 field trips in Panama, 

- analysis of the results of in-depth interviews, 

- quantitative survey's data analysis, 

- preparation of scientific articles in international journals 

- participation in workshops and conferences 

- development of own research qualifications 

- dissemination of project results (lectures for schools, social media) 

- cooperation with other team members  

PhD_2: The tentative scope of the PhD thesis is "Beyond the social construction of nature in the narrative of Indigenous Groups of First Nations and other citizens of Canada. The project will be supervised by Jacek Kotus (Adam Mickiewicz University). PhD Student 2 will be responsible for qualitative and quantitative research in Canada (Alberta) among the First Nations Indigenous Groups and local communities of this region. Educational activities in local communities of Alberta are also planned, related to presenting the natural and geographical environment as a set of non-human beings. 

Tasks: 

- project of a survey questionnaire and in-depth interview scenario, 

- preparation of research scenario among Indigenous Groups, 

- preparation of field research in Panama, 

- participation in a series of 3 field trips in Panama, 

- analysis of the results of in-depth interviews, 

- quantitative survey's data analysis, 

- preparation of scientific articles in international journals 

- participation in workshops and conferences 

- development of own research qualifications.

Principal investigator: prof. dr Jacek Kotus, tatra@amu.edu.pl;jacek.tusko@gmail.com, Project Opus, number grant UMO-2023/51/B/HS4/00279

Selection Committee 

 1.       prof. dr hab. Jacek Kotus chairman

 2.       dr Bartłomiej Kołsut

 3.       prof. UAM dr hab. Adam Radzimski

 4.       dr Tomasz Sowada

       5.       dr hab. Michał Rzeszewski, prof. UAM

Recruitment:

    Schedule of  the Doctoral  School enrolment procedure: 

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Form of the selection procedure

One stage procedure.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

 1.        Candidates who have obtained the necessary education outside the territory of the Republic of Poland, shall additionally submit:

1)    a photocopy of a document which confirms their education, certified to be a true copy of the original document, i.e. a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of first cycle studies (Bachelor degree) and a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of second cycle studies (Master degree, MSc, MA) in the original language and in a certified translation into English or into Polish,

            2)    a photocopy of their passport. 

 Evaluation criteria

 1)    the grade awarded for the diploma of the second cycle studies or single cycle five year master’s studies - maximum 10 points; in the case of candidates who seek admission on the basis of superior academic achievements ("Pearls of Science") - 10 points;

 2)    evaluation of the candidate's scientific activity and scientific achievements; the candidate indicates for evaluation up to three documented scientific achievements, in accordance with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 15 points;

 3)    evaluation of the candidate's other documented activity, based on a maximum of three achievements consistent with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 5 points

 4)    the result of the interview, with the scope of the interview including:

 a)    the candidate's knowledge and competencies relevant to the planned research and appropriate to the indicated scientific discipline,

 b)    elements of research methodology appropriate for the discipline indicated.

 No more than 50 points can be awarded for the interview; the maximum duration of the interview is 30 minutes.

 5)    evaluation of the research project prepared and submitted for assessment to the selection committee (maximum 20 points), with particular emphasis on:

 a)    the ability to formulate the research objective and present the research problem;

 b)    research idea and the ability to propose a solution;

 c)    methodology appropriate to the discipline indicated;

          d)    knowledge of the state of research with a basic bibliography. 

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education at the Doctoral School  is offered on the basis of a framework curriculum and an individual research plan and ends with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.

The framework curriculum at the doctoral school includes a catalogue of modules of compulsory classes, elective compulsory classes and optional classes. It also:

1)    defines their schedule

2)    defines the way in which the classes are taught

3)    defines how learning outcomes are verified.

Education begins on 1st October, 2024.

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships

Scholarship: 5000 PLN gross per month (about 3800 PLN net per month) for two years and 6295 PLN gross per month in third and fourth year of PhD study.

The amount should be reduced by 11,26% due to ZUS (social insurance) contributions.

Rules of admission to doctoral schools of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań in the academic year 2024/2025, Appendix to Resolution No. 478/2023/2024 of UAM Senate of 18th  December, 2023.