Call for New Members of the FEPS Young Academics Network

FEPS – Foundation for European Progressive Studies and the Karl-Renner-Institut are delighted to present a call for New Members for the 7^th cycle of FEPS YAN – FEPS Young Academics Network.

BACKGROUND

The FEPS Young Academics Network was established in March 2010 with an aim to gather promising progressive PhD candidates and young PhD researchers ready to use their academic experience in a debate about the Next, Progressive Europe. Realised with the support of Renner Institut in the framework of the FEPS “Next Left” Research Programme, the project has gathered throughout the years more than 250 members – many of whom are today Professors of Renown Universities, Prominent Experts in their respective fields and Front Bench Politicians. Their exchanges and interdisciplinary research at the time of their involvement have resulted in a number of stimulating studies, providing a relevant contribution to the European progressive movement.

THE NEW CALL 2019 – 2020

This call is being launched in coherence with the FEPS Framework Activity Plan 2020, whereby FEPS YAN has been reaffirmed as the Annual Flagship Initiative that since the beginning is realised in cooperation with Renner Institut. The link between the overall priorities that the document spells out in six thematic sections and the work of the FEPS YAN will remain crucial. This is also why we would like to encourage all the potential applicants to get familiar with FEPS priorities and this year most particularly with the leading questions regarding: working for gender equality and gender mainstreaming; proposing progressive agenda in the age of digital capitalism; and responding to climate emergency building on the principle of social justice.

DESIRED PROFILE OF THE NEW MEMBERS

The call for New Members of the FEPS YAN in the new (7^th) cycle is addressed to outstanding, young, European, progressive academics holding a status of either PhD candidates or post-doctoral researchers, who are eager to get involved in the debate about the future of Europe, who would like to contribute to progressive exchanges and who are characterised by the high degree of social competence allowing them to function well in a diverse environment.

If selected as a new member, the candidate will be expected to:

–Remain committed to fulfilment of the goals for which FEPS YAN was established (according to the mission statements and the guidelines in the FEPS Framework Activity Plan 2020)

–Actively contribute to achievement of the objectives set up by FEPS YAN within the long and short term work plans, helping accelerate the value and output by the Network

–Participate in the FEPS YAN Seminars, as also in their preparations and debriefings

–Remain engaged in the times between the seminars with FEPS and with FEPS YAN network

–Act as a responsible member of a thematic FEPS YAN working group established at the beginning of the cycle, providing inputs within the agreed deadlines in the course of the respective group’s work

–Contribute to overall strengthening of FEPS, via work within the FEPS YAN and through its representation within other FEPS and third parties’ research and activities.

APPLICATIONS

The application should include three documents:

(1) CV, focused on research achievements and objectives and

(2) Letter of motivation of a candidate.

(3) An abstract of 600 – 800 words suggesting a research question (together with an explanation and methodology) that the Applicant would like to explore within FEPS YAN if selected.

The language used in the application documents is the same as the working language of FEPS YAN, which is English.

The applications should be sent by Monday, 23rd March 2020 to the FEPS YAN Coordinators: Dr. Ania Skrzypek, FEPS Director for Research and Training (ania.skrzypek@feps-europe.eu) and Ms Elena Gil FEPS New Media Advisor (elena.gil@feps-europe.eu), who may also be addressed in case of further queries regarding this Call.

Successful candidates will be invited to join the first FEPS YAN Seminar of the 7^th cycle, scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria by the end of April /beginning of May in 2020 (dates TBC).