Call for Applications | Research Fellowships on Antigypsyism, Roma Civil Rights Movements, and Cultural History
The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) is inviting applications for six Research Fellowships as part of the JEKHIPE project – Reclaiming Our Past, Rebuilding Our Future: New Approaches to Fighting Antigypsyism. Fellows will conduct research in Sweden, Germany, Spain, Czechia, Romania, or Italy, documenting historical and current antigypsyism while exploring Roma civil rights movements and cultural history. The research will highlight efforts to fight antigypsyism through arts, culture, and positive cultural narratives.
This project, funded by the European Commission’s CERV program, involves the JEKHIPE consortium, including ERIAC, ERGO Network, the Centre for European Policy Studies, and eight national Roma CSOs from Sweden, Germany, Spain, Czechia, Romania, and Italy.
About the Fellowship
The fellowship within the JEKHIPE project focuses on empowering Roma communities and preventing antigypsyism by promoting Roma identity, history, and culture. The fellow will engage in research to provide historical evidence of both past and present acts of antigypsyism, while also exploring the evolution of Roma civil rights movements and cultural history. The research should present the evidence of the fight of antigypsyism through the means of arts and culture and by promoting positive narratives in the cultural context.
This research will contribute to the development of masterclasses on Roma history and culture tailored to partner countries. The fellowship aims to build the capacity of Roma communities, NGOs, and authorities to recognize and combat antigypsyism, fostering an improved understanding of Roma history and culture. Through these efforts, the fellowship will help strengthen Roma identity, increase awareness, and support the fight against discrimination, ultimately contributing to the broader objectives of the JEKHIPE project to promote justice and equality for Roma at national and European levels.
Fellowship Objectives and Expected Outcomes
The fellowships aim to:
• Document acts of antigypsyism: Research past and present acts of antigypsyism produced.
• Explore Roma civil rights movements: Analyze the history and development of Roma civil rights movements in the respective countries.
• Promote Roma cultural history: Highlight the cultural contributions and historical narratives of Roma communities.
By the end of the fellowship, the expected outcomes include:
• Six research papers (one per country/per fellow) providing historical evidence of past and present acts of antigypsyism, as well as documenting the history of Roma civil rights movements and cultural heritage. Each research paper will be at least 40 pages long and written in English and the respective local language (Swedish, German, Spanish, Czech, Romanian, and Italian). Page count includes annexes, including data sources and descriptions.
• Data corpus for each country, which includes the content in the original language and translated into English, metadata (source, publisher, speaker, and other variables)
• Position paper with policy recommendations on Roma media, at least 4 pages long
Fellowship Details
• Number of Fellowships: Six (one for each participating country: Sweden, Germany, Spain, Czechia, Romania, and Italy)
• Funding: €8,000 per fellowship to support research activities.
• Duration: 5 months (from the start of the fellowship until completion of the research papers).
• Affiliation: Fellows will work independently and will not be employed by the coordinating institution.
Scope of Work
Fellows will be responsible for:
• Data Collection: Gather relevant materials from media, political discourse, and social media, based on predefined criteria.
• Corpus Development: Organize collected data into a structured database for analysis.
• Critical Discourse Analysis Conduct an initial discourse analysis to identify themes, narrative patterns, and ideological markers
• Research Report: Produce a comprehensive research paper (minimum 40 pages) in English and the respective local language.
• Policy Report: Develop a position paper (at least 4 pages) with policy recommendations, on Roma media representation.
• Advocacy: Engage with stakeholders, including Roma communities, policymakers, and civil society organizations.
Eligibility Requirements
Required:
• Strong academic background in Roma studies, antigypsyism, human rights, sociology, public policy, or a related field.
• Proven experience in historical research, social sciences, law, or cultural studies.
• Expertise in analyzing national and EU policies related to Roma rights, anti-discrimination, and human rights.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Proficiency in English and the respective local languages (Swedish, German, Spanish, Czech, Romanian, or Italian).
Desirable:
• Postgraduate degree in sociology, history, law, political science, or a related field.
• Experience in discourse analysis, media analysis, and public policy research.
• Familiarity with Roma communities, civil society organizations, or international institutions.
• Strong time management and independent research skills.
Application Process
To apply, please submit the following:
1. CV: Including a list of publications and details of previous research projects.
2. Cover Letter: Outlining your research experience and motivation for applying.
3. (Optional): Letters of recommendation.
Applications must be submitted via the application form. Only applications submitted through this form will be considered.
Deadline for Applications: Applications are open until 01 April 2025. We encourage early submission as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Selection Process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Only selected applicants will be contacted, and the personal data of non-selected applicants will be deleted after the recruitment process.
For more information or questions, please contact arta.rexhepi@eriac.org
