The Centre for the Social Study of Microbes at the University of Helsinki is looking for fellows for the Spring 2025. The next period is April to June 2025. The annual CSSM fellowship is awarded to three scholars who may be at any career stage. During their stay, fellows will work on their own projects while engaging in the academic life of CSSM by participating and contributing to the organisation of activities in the Centre. Ideally, the three fellows join simultaneously for three months to maximise opportunities for collaboration. During their stay, the fellows will have visiting scholar affiliation and gain access to office space and other university services like libraries and online resources. The participants are expected to acknowledge the CSSM in any publication arising from their stay in Helsinki.
The fellowship offers economic support for the fellow’s stay at the CSSM in Helsinki. The stipend is 1.500€ per month which is meant to cover accommodation and living expenses. The CSSM will also cover travel expenses up to 1.500€. We will assist you with any necessary visa and travel arrangements prior to your visit. Please consider that during the time of the fellowship extensive travel elsewhere should be avoided. We will further prioritise applications which commit to the full fellowship period, but shorter stays are eligible.
The CSSM is a hub for social scientists and artists conducting research on human-microbial relations. We aim to develop theory and methods to better make sense of the complex relations between humans, nonhumans, microbes, and their environments. The facilitation of the creation of innovative knowledge requires radical new ways of knowing – both in relation to microbes as well as scholars. The CSSM seeks to establish an exploratory setting, in which new decentralised collaborative practices are developed.
Please submit your application as a single PDF to cssm@helsinki.fi by 5th of December 2024. Your application should include:
- Max 1000 words statement of your research interests, your planned work at CSSM, and its alignment with the What and the How of the CSSM.
- In your statement, please include your preferred length of the stay (1, 2, or 3 months) and give the respective calendar month(s). If you already know periods of absence from the CSSM during the fellowship, please let us know in this statement.
- CV (2 pages with key publications).
We seek to create a diverse team. In line with this policy, eligible applicants can be of any nationality and gender. The CSSM particularly invites applicants from the Global South.
We are looking forward to your applications! We will aim to get back to you with our decision by mid-January 2025.
