PI MSCA Doctoral Researcher Position Story Time The Temporal Logics of How Urban Narratives are Placed and Displaced (DR10)

Universidad de Deusto - Investigación

Job description

The University of Deusto invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in the area of migration time and urban studies in the framework of the the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) Entanglements of Migration and Time in Post-industrial Urban Europe (MITIME) project. MSCA-DNs are European Unionfunded initiatives that train PhD students through international interdisciplinary and intersectoral doctoral projects aimed at fostering scientific excellence and enhancing researchers career development.

The successful candidate will pursue the PhD programme Doctorate in Human Rights: Ethical Social and Political Challenges with a full-time employment contract for 36 months with a competitive salary to conduct original research on migration temporality and urban inequalities and participate in all network-wide training and mobility activities. They will also benefit from a close-knit network of 15 MSCA Doctoral Candidates recruited at the 7 institutions forming the MITIME consortium and an international supervisory team with a joint supervision arrangement involving two network partner institutions.

The deadline for applications is 1 February 2026 12:00 CET. For more information about the Doctoral Network consortium members and the full version of the call for applications please visit:

Project Description:

Thesis topic: Story Time - The Temporal Logics of How Urban Narratives are Placed and Displaced (Doctoral Researcher Position 10 on the projects main website)

Host Institution: University of Deusto Spain
Main Supervisor: Dr. Edurne Bartolomé Peral (University of Deusto)

Co-supervisor: Dr. Élise Lépy (University of Oulu)

Secondments: University of Oulu and UNESCO Etxea

Cities witness evolutions and transformations linked with their dwellers and the changes in dynamics of interaction and exposure to groups and changing narratives. These happenings take place across time and different types of transformative phenomena are linked with specific temporalities and experience of time and evolution. With this project we aim at examining temporally and spatially displaced urban dwellers narratives regarding their place and role in the city as expressed through different creative forms and representations appropriation of urban spaces and narrated solidarities and frictions between different groups. This will be accomplished by looking at contemporary and historical forms of displacement and interpretation of space and time. The project studies 1) how displaced people narrate and understand their experiences of displacement and re-placement in the city and 2) how the experience of displacement and re-placement influences their everyday encounters and knowledge of creative and engaged methods for crafting and disseminating inclusive narratives about in the city in particular their sense of trust and mistrust roles interactions as displacement is regarded a process that may reshape social ties and cohesion. With this project the candidate will gain theoretical understanding of displacement as a temporal spatial social and cultural process. Understanding of how displacement influences trust and mistrust social capital and interethnic cohesion and knowledge of creative and engaged methods of crafting and disseminating inclusive narratives regarding the city. Two secondments are planned: 1) at the co-supervisors institution University of Oulu for training in geographical approaches to mobility including environmental and ecological aspects of displacement; and 2) with UNESCO Etxea for studying interethnic interactions and inclusive narratives within the host society.

Monthly salary and allowances:

The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary for 36 months in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Doctoral Candidates. The positions offer support provided in the form of:

• Competitive gross salary (living allowance): 4010 per month*
• Mobility allowance: 710 per month
• Family allowance if applicable: 660 per month

*To allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States the gross salaries (4010) are adjusted through the application of a correction coefficient based on the country in which the DC has been recruited. The coefficients applied can be found on p.156-157 of Annex II Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions ( The gross salary is subject to all compulsory deductions under national legislation of the country of the recruiting institution such as social security contributions and/or taxes.

Salaries at the University of Deusto are paid in 15 instalments.

Expected starting date: 1st of September 2026.

Requirements

Profile of the Doctoral Candidate:

A successful candidate should ideally meet the following criteria:

• A strong commitment to conducting interdisciplinary and collaborative research in international and cross-sectoral contexts.
• The ability to take initiative manage research tasks responsibly and work both independently and as part of a team.
• The capacity to design and complete a doctoral research project within the framework and timeline of the assigned project description leading to the submission of a PhD thesis and other academic outputs.
• Willingness to contribute to MITIMEs collective research training and dissemination activities including workshops summer schools and other network events.
• The capacity to play an active role in conceptualizing developing and executing core MITIME project outputs e.g. scientific articles reports conferences.
• Prior experience with the theoretical and methodological dimensions of qualitative and/or quantitative research.
• Academic or professional experience relevant to the thematic focus of MITIME.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills attention to detail and the ability to deliver high-quality written and oral outputs.
• Demonstrated academic writing experience in the social sciences or humanities.
• Excellent English-language communication skills both written and spoken.
• Willingness and readiness for international mobility including research secondments training events and conference participation.

We particularly encourage candidates from under-represented and marginalized groups who meet the eligibility criteria (see below) to apply.

Specific eligibility criteria

A successful applicant must fulfill all of the following minimum criteria:

• Must hold a Masters degree (e.g. MSc MA or equivalent) prior to the beginning of the contract. The degree should be in a field relevant to the specific doctoral position i.e. migration studies anthropology sociology geography urban studies media studies social policy political science and public administration or a related discipline.
• Must have not already completed (or successfully defended) a PhD degree.
• May be of any nationality; however must not have resided or carried out ones main activity (i.e. work or studies) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before your starting date complying with the MSCA-DN mobility rules. (Compulsory national service short stays such as holidays and time spent by the candidate as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered)
• Must be proficient in both written and spoken English and fluent in the additional languages required by the specific doctoral position if applicable.
• Must fulfill the local requirements of the recruiting institutions which are listed in the individual project descriptions (if applicable).

To confirm your application the following two steps should be completed:

1. Fill out the Application form and submit all required documents in a single PDF file (maximum size of the file: 10MB) in the order listed below:

• Motivation Letter (maximum 1 page): Introduce yourself and your qualifications outline your motivation for applying to the position and describe your future career objectives.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include details of educational qualifications grades achieved in relevant research modules or dissertations and any other pertinent academic or professional experience.
• Research Proposal: Describe your proposed approach to the specific project for which you are applying based on the brief project description provided (min 3-max. 5 pages including references Times New Roman or Calibri font size 11 standard margin is 2.54 cm on all sides).
• Official Transcripts: Provide final grade transcripts for both Bachelors and Masters degrees. If transcripts are not in English include an official translation.
• Degree Certificates: Submit copies of Bachelors and Masters diplomas or proof of degree completion. If you are currently enrolled in a Masters programme include available transcripts and a statement from your supervisor confirming that you are on track to complete your degree by the commencement of the contract.
• Proof of English Language Competence: Submit documentation of English proficiency (e.g. TOEFL IELTS) as required by the recruiting institution. Candidates whose first language is English or who have previously studied in English should provide a brief justification requesting exemption from this requirement.

2. Register through the Universitys central recruitment system (the platform you are using right now) by clicking on the blue Apply button.
You may notice some repeated questions; this is unfortunately required by the central system but it is necessary to confirm your application.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Support service will be available during the application period via email: