Eurograd message

                The Professorship of Science & Technology Policy (Prof. Dr. Ruth 
<br>Müller), based at the Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS), 
<br>Technical University of Munich, announces an *open position for a 
<br>doctoral researcher in Science & Technology Studies (STS)* (TV-L E13, 
<br>65%, 3 years, fixed term) as part of the DFG project “Situating 
<br>Environmental Epigenetics.” The position should start on October 1st 2018.
<br>
<br>*About us*
<br>The research group “Science & Technology Policy” at MCTS explores the 
<br>interactions between science, society and policy, with a distinct focus 
<br>on the social studies of the life sciences. The group is based at the 
<br>MCTS, an interdisciplinary research center in Science and Technology 
<br>Studies (STS), and is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences and 
<br>the School of Management at TUM.
<br>*
<br>**About the research project **
<br>**Situating Environmental Epigenetics: A Comparative, Actor-Centered 
<br>Study of Environmental Epigenetics as an Emergent Research Approach in 
<br>Three Research Fields. (DFG-funded)*
<br>Epigenetics explores changes in gene expression that do not result from 
<br>gene mutation, but from chemical modifications on the DNA. In recent 
<br>years, such epigenetic modifications have been found to respond to 
<br>numerous stimuli from the environment – such as toxins, nutrition, 
<br>trauma or stress – giving rise to the field of ‘environmental 
<br>epigenetics’. By proposing mechanisms for how such factors can alter 
<br>gene expression, environmental epigenetics offers important novel 
<br>perspectives for understanding body, health and illness as ‘biosocial’. 
<br>However, it is yet unclear what the specific impact of such perspectives 
<br>might be in different research areas within the life sciences and how 
<br>approaches from environmental epigenetics might affect understandings of 
<br>body, health and illness differently in different fields.
<br>In this project we thus take a comparative approach and study how 
<br>approaches from environmental epigenetics are adopted and adapted in 
<br>three research fields of great relevance for public health: nutritional 
<br>epidemiology, environmental toxicology, and the pathophysiology of mood 
<br>& anxiety. To this end, we will use qualitative social science research 
<br>methods such as interviews, ethnographic observation and document 
<br>analysis. By taking this comparative approach we give room to the 
<br>possibility that environmental epigenetics might constitute different 
<br>“epistemic things” (Rheinberger, 1997) in different research contexts 
<br>with different social and political implications. This approach builds 
<br>on insights from Science & Technology Studies that emphasize the 
<br>situated character of knowledge production (Haraway, 1988; Knorr-Cetina, 
<br>1999) and the need for context-sensitive research approaches (Jasanoff, 
<br>2004). Beyond contributing to social science debates the project will 
<br>also promote constructive interdisciplinary dialogue between social and 
<br>life sciences.
<br>
<br>*Your tasks as a doctoral researcher*
<br>As a doctoral researcher, you will work as part of a project team that 
<br>consists of the project leader, Prof. Dr. Ruth Müller, and the other 
<br>project researchers, Dr. Michael Penkler and Georgia Samaras, MA. Your 
<br>work will specifically focus on the area of environmental toxicology and 
<br>thus complement the expertise of the other project researchers. Your 
<br>tasks will include empirical research and data analysis, preparation of 
<br>results for publication, presentation of results at international 
<br>academic meetings, contributions to the teaching portfolio of the group 
<br>and support for organizing project-related academic events. You will 
<br>develop an innovative research question for you PhD thesis as part of 
<br>the project and in collaboration with the project leader. You will 
<br>regularly meet with your supervisor to discuss and support the progress 
<br>of your thesis. Beyond the project, you will be part of the Science & 
<br>Technology Policy research group at the MCTS and the lively STS research 
<br>community at MCTS more generally. You will actively participate in the 
<br>academic life of the group and the center, which both regularly host 
<br>international guest researchers and academic events. As a PhD student at 
<br>TU Munich, you will be enrolled in the TUM Graduate School, which 
<br>provides a structured PhD program and offers a rich program of courses 
<br>in academic and transferable skills.
<br>
<br>*Who can apply?*
<br>Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in the social sciences, 
<br>humanities, or the life sciences. Familiarity with STS concepts and 
<br>experience with qualitative social science research methods is highly 
<br>desirable. You should be interested in working across the disciplines 
<br>and in engaging with other knowledge cultures. You should further be 
<br>capable of and interested in working both as part of a team and 
<br>independently. Fluency in English is essential for the academic life at 
<br>the center and for the research project. The project further requires a 
<br>willingness to travel internationally for fieldwork. We are looking for 
<br>inspired and inspiring new talents who want to work in and contribute to 
<br>an exciting, interdisciplinary STS research environment.
<br>
<br>*Application documents*
<br>Your complete application documents must include your CV, your Master’s 
<br>degree certificate, a letter of motivation (max. 2 pages), 1-2 writing 
<br>samples (e.g. thesis chapters), and names and contact details of 2 
<br>references, including a brief statement explaining your relationship to 
<br>each of the named references.
<br>
<br>*Interested? *
<br>Please send your *complete application* as a single pdf document to 
<br>*applications.stp@mcts.tum.de*. We will accept and review all 
<br>applications received up until and including *Wednesday, July 25, 2018*.
<br>
<br>We are committed to raising the number of women and gender-non-binary 
<br>individuals in research and teaching, who are especially encouraged to 
<br>apply. Applicants with disabilities are treated with preference given 
<br>comparable qualification.
<br>
<br>If you have questions about the application procedure, please contact 
<br>*applications.stp@mcts.tum.de*. If you have content-related questions, 
<br>please contact *ruth.mueller@tum.de*.
<br>
<br>
<br>-- 
<br>Dr. Michael Penkler
<br>Postdoctoral Researcher - Science & Technology Policy
<br>
<br>Technical University of Munich
<br>Munich Center for Technology in Society
<br>
<br>Augustenstraße 46
<br>80333 München, Germany
<br>
<br>+49 (89) 289 - 29228
<br>http://www.mcts.tum.de
<br>
<br>[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pdf which had a name of PhD Position STP DFG Epigen July 2018.pdf]
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