The “Soviet West” Revisited: Individual and Collective Agency in the Contact Zones of Everyday Life in the Estonian SSR

“Soviet West” Revisited – Fully-Funded PhD-student position

We invite applications for a PhD student position to join the Tallinn University School of Humanities project, “The ‘Soviet West’ Revisited: Individual and Collective Agency in the Contact Zones of Everyday Life in the Estonian SSR” (led by prof. Karsten Brüggemann). This is a fully-funded, four-year position starting on January 1, 2025. The student is expected to conduct independent research, focusing on one of the project’s sub-fields, such as labor, education, culture, or leisure. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, youth (sub-)cultures, nutrition and food culture, aging, social welfare, and transborder contacts. To broaden our horizons and foster comparative analysis, we particularly encourage applications from students outside Estonia, especially those working on Soviet Latvia or Lithuania. 

The application period is from October 7–20. Apply here!
Project webpage: www.sovietwest.eu

Formal requirements:

• MA in History or a related discipline (e.g., anthropology, cultural or literary studies) 
• Experience in oral history is an asset.

Language requirements: 

• Fluent English
• Passive knowledge of Russian
• Knowledge of Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, or Ukrainian is an asset (but no requirement).

We offer:

• Research and conference travel funding within the project budget.
• Access to a vibrant research community with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Office space and state-of-the-art facilities and resources to support your research.
• A stimulating and supportive environment within a leading institution. [Learn more about Tallinn University School of Humanities here.]
• Opportunities for international research collaborations and exchanges.
• A competitive monthly salary starting at €2,000 gross, guaranteed for four years and subject to annual review.

The application period opens on October 7 and closes on October 20, 2024. 

For further questions, reach out to karsten.bruggemann@tlu.ee

Supervisor: Karsten Brüggemann