As a PhD candidate, you will conduct digital political research regarding digital and infrastructural sovereignty in the context of the US and China’s competing bids for hegemony. You will contribute to a broader project on cloud governance, digital infrastructures and geopolitical imaginaries in different places in the world where this hegemony claims are projected. Throughout your research, you will work closely with the other members of the research team. PhD applicants may propose research locations according to their expertise, professional networks, and linguistic skills, but cases that span across continents and involve Asia, Africa, South America, or the Caribbean are preferred. 

Your work will include:

• conducting independent field research in comparative perspective (preferably outside Europe);

• helping to develop an interdisciplinary conceptual framework to analyze the many facets of  the imaginaries and practices of digital and infrastructural sovereignty;

• writing and completing a PhD dissertation within four years;

• participating in the AISSR PhD program;

• 10% teaching;

• collaborating with supervisors and peers in research and publications;

• participating in team meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars and other scholarly activities.

• (Research) master’s degree in human geography, media studies or other relevant social science disciple;

• demonstrated passion and aptitude for research;

• relevant fieldwork experience: ideally research on (state and/or non-state)  policies regarding digital sovereignty and infrastructures (cables, landing points, data centres…);

• excellent written and spoken English;

• linguistic skills relevant to the research location you envision;

• independent work attitude and ability and interest to work collaboratively; willingness to work within the framework of, and contribute to, a larger team project and existing research design.

A four-year, full-time appointment: the initial employment is for one year, and following a positive assessment, this term will be extended by an additional three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate.

As a PhD candidate within the Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research (AISSR), you will be able to follow a range of courses focused on improving your academic writing, methodological and analytical skills. You will also be invited to join a diverse set of reading groups, writing groups, and various convivial activities within the programme group, the department and the AISSR.