PhD Position / Life Narratives and Mobility of refugees in Africa, Europe and US
The Centre for Research on Peace and Development (CRPD) is a multidisciplinary research centre at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Leuven University (KU Leuven). CRPD’s multidisciplinary team conducts conceptual, empirical and applied research with the aim of improving our understanding of the causes of violent conflicts and the challenges of sustainable peace building. CRPD wishes to recruit 1PhD student to work on a project entitled ” Traveling Memories, Silences and Secrets: Life narratives of Violence Among Refugees from Africa’s Great Lakes Region” under the direction of Associate Professor David Mwambari.
Project
We are looking for 1 dynamic and motivated full-time PhD student to join our team. The fully funded PhD position is part of the ERC project “Traveling Memories, Silences and Secrets: Life narratives of Violence Among Refugees from Africa’s Great Lakes Region (TMSS). As part of this project, in-depth case study research will be conducted in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania as well as the three destination countries of South Africa, Belgium and the USA. The main objective driving TMSS research is to map and explore how the traveling life narratives of AGLR refugees evolve, travel, and transform through space and over time in countries of transition and destination. It will:
• Map and examine how the life narratives of refugees evolve from contexts of origin to countries of transition and destination
• Analyse how space and time transform these life narratives on the move,
• Develop a set of innovative interdisciplinary perspectives and methodological approaches that can be used in researching the memory dynamics and mobility that originate from Global South lived experiences
• Foster collaboration between a diverse, multidisciplinary, international team of researchers involved in the TMSS project.
The successful candidate will use qualitative research to conduct field research in refugee and host communities in the six countries.
Next to your research, you contribute to collective responsibilities of the research group (such as educational services, team meetings, research proposals, supervision of bachelor and master students, invigilating exams, student recruitment activities, etc.).
Profile
We are looking for a candidate who has completed two master’s degrees in Political sciences and Anthropology, and who has demonstrable research knowledge and skills in conducting qualitative research.
• The applicant should have an excellent academic record: A high first class honours degree or its equivalent (a GPA score of at least 3.7 if the mark is out of 4, noting that most successful candidates achieve a score higher than 3.7 or an outstanding academic record at Master’s level is necessary (noting that an outstanding Master’s thesis can compensate for a moderate first degree performance achieved 16/20 or higher in both theses);
• The applicant should have excellent analytical and writing skills;
• The candidate should have at least one article accepted or published in a peer reviewed international journal
• Demonstrable experience doing Ethnography research will be an advantage;
• The applicant should have interest in researching refugee and host communities’ relationships;
• The applicant should have been at least short listed from FNRS, FWO or any other similar funding agency and is ready to resubmit
• Lives in Belgium
Offer
• We offer a PhD scholarship for a fulltime position, starting 1 December 2025 or by mutual agreement soon thereafter.
• In addition, we offer a dynamic, culturally diverse, international, and multidisciplinary research team
• Opportunities to collaborate with scholars of different levels and with communities in six countries
• We also offer a supportive learning environment to foster growth and acquisition of new skills
• Enrollment in KU Leuven international doctorate school for the humanities and social sciences
More information on scholarship and benefits for KU Leuven PhD students can be found under ‘doctoral scholarship holder’ at: https://
www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/phd/phd-information
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. David Mwambari, tel.: +32 16 19 40 47, mail: david.mwambari@kuleuven.be.
The application should include:
• A PhD statement of purpose (max. 700 words)
o Please explain your specific research interest in the TMSS-project and discuss which research questions and which case study countries (i.e., Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania or destination South Africa, Belgium and the USA) or combination of these countries you want to study and why.
• A CV (highlighting any academic achievements on TMSS-related themes)
• Contact details of two references who may be contacted as part of the application process.
• Academic transcripts.
• One writing sample of a published/accepted academic paper (at least 6000 words long).
You can apply for this job no later than October 23, 2025 via the online application tool
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
Deadline/Date limite :
October 23, 2025
Employer
University of LethbridgeLocation :
Leuven University (KU Leuven), Belgium