Mercator – Istanbul Policy Center Fellowship Programme

Deadline: 6 April 2015
Open to: outstanding young academics, journalists and professionals who have significant prior work experience
Fellowship: monthly net payment of up to €2,700 and a travel allowance of up to €2,500 net in total

Description

Academics, journalists and professionals with an interest in Turkey are invited to apply for the upcoming round of the Mercator-Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) Fellowship Program. The 2015/16 fellowships begin 1 September 2015 and the deadline for applications is 6 April 2015. The Mercator-IPC Fellowship Program is part of the Istanbul Policy Center-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative, a strategic partnership between Sabancı University and Stiftung Mercator. The program aims to strengthen academic, political, and social ties between Turkey and Germany, as well as between Turkey and Europe by facilitating excellent scientific research and hands-on policy work. It is based on the premise that acquisition of knowledge and the exchange of people and ideas are preconditions for meeting the challenges of an increasingly globalized world in the 21st century.

The Mercator-IPC Fellowship Program allows international scholars, journalists, professionals and civil society activists especially but not exclusively from Germany to work on academic and practical projects at Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) in three thematic areas:

  • EU/German-Turkish relations;
  • Climate change;
  • Education.

Eligibility

There are two types of positions available:

1) Mercator-IPC Fellowships are granted to outstanding young academics, journalists and professionals who have significant prior work experience. The fellows will be expected to work on academic or practical projects at IPC. A Master’s degree (or equivalent) is required for this position, but a PhD is strongly preferred. Applicants without a PhD degree will only be considered if their work experience and expertise meet the program requirements to the jury’s satisfaction. Projects which focus on the German-Turkish nexus are likewise preferred. Applicants cannot apply for fellowships to fund their PhD dissertations.

2) Mercator-IPC Senior Fellowships are granted to internationally renowned scholars and highly respected representatives of civil society or politics who have already made a significant contribution to German-Turkish or European-Turkish relations. Senior Fellows are jointly chosen by the partners of the Istanbul Policy Center-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative.

Project proposals can be of an academic or practical nature. However, in order to ensure the socio political impact of fellowship work, applications should also include a proposal for at least one project designed for public outreach, such as an event or publication.

In the 2015/16 round, at least six Mercator-IPC Fellowships are available for outstanding young academics, journalists and professionals who have significant prior work experience. The fellows will be expected to work on academic or practical projects at IPC. A Master’s degree (or equivalent) is required for this position, but a PhD degree is strongly preferred. Applicants without a PhD degree will only be accepted if their work experience and expertise meet the program requirements to the jury’s satisfaction. Projects focusing on the German-Turkish nexus are likewise preferred. Applicants cannot apply for fellowships to fund their PhD dissertations.

Fellowships are available for 6 to 12 months and are predominantly, but not exclusively, granted to applicants from Germany or with a strong connection to German society. Unless the fellows are required to travel to complete their individual projects, they are encouraged to be physically present in Istanbul for the duration of their fellowship.

Fellowship

Mercator-IPC Fellows will receive a monthly net payment of up to €2,700 and a travel allowance of up to €2,500 net in total. Fellows may furthermore be entitled to additional allowances.

Application

All applications must be submitted in the form of a single PDF document and must contain the following documents written in English (incomplete applications will not be considered):

a) A cover letter;

b) A completed application form, which can be downloaded HERE;

c) A CV, including a list of all academic publications;

d) Copies of relevant academic transcripts and/or diplomas (no translations needed);

e) A written proposal containing a detailed description of the applicant’s project. This proposal must include:

  • Discussion of the research/project topic, relevant research questions/project objectives and an explanation of the academic and political relevance of the project;
  • An overview of the state of research or similar projects in the field;
  • An overview of the theoretical and methodological approaches to be applied in the project (if relevant);
  • A bibliography or background information related to the topic. The proposal should not exceed 5 pages (2 cm margin, 1.5 cell spacing, 12pt Times New Roman font).

f) A second written proposal with a short description of at least one additional project designed for public outreach, such as an event or a publication. This proposal must include:

  • An outline describing the project’s format and time frame;
  • A description of the target group, political relevance and predicted impact of the project;
  • A budget plan and a list of possible partner institutions.

The proposal should not exceed 2 pages (2 cm margin, 1.5 cell spacing, 12pt Times New Roman font). If the fellowship project described under e) is of a practical nature and already contains a public outreach component, it is not necessary to attach a second proposal.

g) A time line of the proposed project;

h) Two letters of recommendation from professors or employers.

See the selection criteria HERE. Apply until 6 April 2015.

For further questions, please contact:
Çiğdem Tongal, Mercator-IPC Fellowship Research Associate
Email: cigdemtongal@sabanciuniv.edu
Tel.: +90 (0) 212 292 49 39 ext. 1418
or
Gülcihan Çiğdem Okan, Research and Administrative Affairs Assistant
Email: gcigdem@sabanciuniv.edu
Tel: +90 (0) 212 292 49 39 ext. 1417

Check the official web-site.

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