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The Maria Sibylla Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) is broadly dedicated to research in the Humanities and Social Sciences, with ‘Sustainable Governance’ as its central, but by no means exclusive topic. Overarching aims of MIASA are working towards a reduction of global asymmetries in knowledge production and bridging the cultural divide between anglophone, francophone and lusophone Africa. MIASA, established in 2018, serves as a hub for exchange, networking and collaboration amongst leading researchers from Germany, Ghana, the African and European continents, and beyond. It is located on the beautiful campus of the University of Ghana in Legon (Accra).
The Institute offers time and space for supporting innovative academic projects in the Humanities and Social Sciences of top international quality. MIASA supports these projects via different kinds of fellowships: individual fellowships, tandem fellowships with one tandem partner from Germany and the other from Africa, and fellowships as members of so-called Interdisciplinary Fellow Groups. From 2021 until 2026, MIASA will grant some 20 fellowships per year in total.
The present call is for one tandem fellowship within the period between 15 January and 31 July 2022: To promote cross-continental dialogue and exchange, MIASA is accepting applications for a tandem fellowship (3-5 months) at the University of Ghana. This will allow the researchers who are teaming up to pursue a joint academic project, which can be of an opening, continuing, or closing nature. Two researchers – one from Africa and one from Germany – will work in a collaborative manner on a particular research topic in the Humanities and Social Sciences, addressing in one way or another MIASA’s overarching aims. Their joint application must highlight the additional academic value of their cooperation. The application should also define the objectives and anticipated outcomes of their collaboration.
The successful applicants will become MIASA Fellows for 3-5 months within the period from 15 January to 31 July 2022 with all the corresponding rights and obligations for the requested funding period. Key among the obligations is that MIASA fellows are required to spend the bulk of their fellowship in residence at MIASA at the University of Ghana.
Fellowships will be awarded to researchers of top academic quality with an innovative and high quality research topic. The selection of fellows is undertaken by the distinguished international Academic Advisory Board of MIASA.
The fellows’ salary costs will be met by MIASA for every full fellowship month on the principle of “no loss, no gain,” and paid directly to his/her home institution. External fellows, i.e. fellows from outside University of Ghana will, in addition, receive a monthly expense allowance of max. 675 €, which will be paid directly to them. The exact rates paid depend on the living situation of each fellow and will be negotiated individually.
Non-affiliated fellows, i.e. fellows without current employment, will receive a monthly grant, which will be paid directly to them. Non-affiliated senior fellows (more than 6 years after completion of their PhD) receive a monthly grant of max. 2.000 € in total. Non-affiliated junior fellows (up to 6 years after having been awarded their PhD) will receive a monthly grant of max. 1.200 €. The exact rates paid depend on the living situation of each fellow and will be negotiated individually.
For all external fellows, MIASA will provide accommodation and reimburse travel costs.
To promote the joint research, a shared research cost contribution of max. 500€/fellow month can be granted upon application to the directorate, e.g. for conducting field research or organizing a small academic event, like a workshop.
The Institute provides its fellows with modern office space and an up-to-date infrastructure. Fellows have full access to all library services at the University of Ghana and, electronically, at the University of Freiburg, Germany. Note: A full-time presence of fellows at MIASA for the fellowship period is expected. Periods of leave need to be negotiated with the MIASA directors prior to the signing of the fellowship agreements, and must not exceed 1/6 of the total fellowship period.
The Institute supports academic exchange across existing boundaries: between disciplines, between different cultures and countries, between established and younger researchers. Furthermore, MIASA engages in activities opening the research community to society, politics, and the arts. Fellows will be part of this community and profit from the lively research environment of the university. Note, therefore, that applicants should indicate how they are planning to contribute to the activities at MIASA and, more broadly, to the academic life at the University of Ghana.
MIASA is committed to inclusion, gender equality, and family friendliness. The MIASA fellowship program thus aims for gender parity, is promoting affirmative action policies, and is striving to provide family-friendly conditions for its fellows.
Applications
Applications can be submitted both in English and in French. The completed application form together with the required documents has to be uploaded on the application webpage (https://frias.wufoo.com/forms/kwrce91135uncd/) and submitted by March 31, 2021; 24.00 h CET.
Information on the application and selection process (required documents, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, timeline and stages of the selection process) is provided in the Application Guidelines for Tandem Fellowships.
Eligibility
Eligible for application are early career researchers (up to 6 years after having been awarded their PhD) and senior researchers (more than 6 years after completion of their PhD) from Germany and Africa in a relevant discipline of the Humanities or the Social Sciences. Therefore, applicants for a junior fellowship must have been awarded their PhD between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2021; only applicants who completed their PhD on 31 March 2015 or earlier can apply for a senior fellowship. Relevant is the date on the official PhD certificate.
Selection
The all-important selection criteria are the academic excellence of the applicant and the fellowship proposal. Additionally, what will be taken into account are the required experience and capability to conduct the fellowship project and to contribute to the activities at MIASA and, more broadly, to the academic life at the University of Ghana.
A highly distinguished international selection committee, MIASA’s Academic Advisory Board, will be responsible for the selection of the fellows.
For further details, please contact us at MIASA under miasa@ug.edu.gh
