Postdoc Position in STS at the MCTS, Technical University of Munich
The Professorship of Science & Technology Policy (Prof. Dr. Ruth Müller)
at the Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS), Technical
University of Munich (TUM), announces an open position for a
postdoctoral researcher in Science & Technology Studies (100%, TV-L
E13, 3 years). The position is announced as part of the professorship’s
research focus on research evaluation & academic knowledge production
and will explore how researchers and peer-reviewers construct excellence
in the context of application procedures for high-level research funding.
About us
The research group “Science & Technology Policy” at MCTS explores the
interactions between science, society and policy, with i.a. a distinct
focus on how research policy practices and institutional norms interact
with and shape knowledge production in academia. The group is based at
the MCTS, an interdisciplinary research center in Science and Technology
Studies (STS), and is affiliated with the School of Management and the
School of Life Sciences at TUM. The MCTS is a vibrant hub of STS
research in Germany, which offers a highly stimulating and
internationally well-connected work environment for aspiring researchers
in STS.
*
About the research focus
Excellence has become a key term of contemporary European science
policy, research funding and institutional leadership. However, despite
its omnipresence, there is no clear-cut definition of what constitutes
scientific excellence. Yet, scientific excellence is regularly
operationalized in various practices in everyday academic life, for
example during application and evaluation processes for research
funding. These practices constitute an area of academic activity that
has to date mostly escaped empirical scholarly investigation. Our
research seeks to contribute to filling this gap by using qualitative
social science methods to study how academic researchers, in their
different roles as applicants, peer reviewers and mentors, define and
operationalize excellence as part of application and evaluation
practices for research funding.
Your tasks as a researcher
As a postdoc researcher, you will work on the research focus with the
group’s P.I., Prof. Dr. Ruth Müller, and other researchers in the group.
Your tasks will include empirical research and data analysis,
presentation of results at international academic meetings and in
international academic journals, contributions to the teaching portfolio
of the group and assistance in organizing research-related academic events.
Who can apply?
Applicants should hold a PhD in the STS or related social science
research fields. A successful candidate will be familiar with STS
concepts and theories; experienced with qualitative social science
research methods; interested in working in an interdisciplinary,
collaborative research environment and in engaging with other knowledge
cultures; able to work independently and as part of a team; and capable
of both rigorous and creative academic work. English language skills at
a high level of quality are essential for the position and for academic
life at the MCTS in general. We are looking for inspired and inspiring
new talents who want to work in and contribute to an exciting,
interdisciplinary STS research environment.
Application documents
Your complete application documents will include your academic CV, your
academic degree certificates, a substantial letter of motivation (max. 2
pages), 2 writing samples (e.g. thesis chapters, articles, etc.), and
names and contact details of 2 references, including a brief statement
explaining your relationship to each of the named references.
*Interested?
Please send your complete application as a single pdf document to
applications.stp@mcts.tum.de. We will review all applications received
up until and including Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
We are committed to raising the number of women and gender-non-binary
individuals in academic research and teaching. Female and
gender-non-binary researchers are especially encouraged to apply.
Applicants with disabilities are treated with preference given
comparable qualification.
If you have questions about the application procedure, please contact
applications.stp@mcts.tum.de. If you have content-related questions,
please contact ruth.mueller@tum.de.
--
Dr. Michael Penkler
Lecturer (Akademischer Rat)
Technical University of Munich
Munich Center for Technology in Society
Master's Program "Responsibility in Science, Engineering and Technology" (RESET)
Science and Technology Policy Research Group
Augustenstraße 46
80333 München, Germany
+49 (89) 289 - 29228
http://www.mcts.tum.de
[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pdf which had a name of Postdoc Position STP Mar 2020.pdf]
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