Application Deadline: 4th January 2021
The Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) invites applications for three PhD fellowships for an interdisciplinary research project as part of an academic partnership between Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) and NCF. Selected PhD students will join a team of interdisciplinary scholars seeking to understand changing nature-culture relations in Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most biologically and culturally diverse regions in India. The state’s many ethnic communities live within nature, depending materially, economically, and spiritually on the natural world. Currently, Arunachal is undergoing rapid socio-economic and cultural shifts due to infrastructure projects, and religious and socio-political transitions leading to sudden changes in traditional institutions, ecology, and their interrelations. This multi-sited project will integrate anthropologically (ethnography) methods and theory with ecological approaches to understand changing nature-culture relations in three ethnic/tribal communities in Arunachal. Doctoral students will spend long periods in each site to understand local relations and everyday interactions with nature, and how these relations, and nature itself, are impacted by socio-economic transitions. This will involve using newer technologies to understand the lives of wild animals and their interactions with people. In addition to generating novel and rich anthropological and ecological insights concurrently from three distinct cultural sites, this project will endeavour to build a collaborative and equitable approach in which knowledge is co-produced ethically with local people.
Eligibility
Candidates are expected to meet the following criteria:
- Minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent at the master’s level.
- Demonstrated interest in interdisciplinary learning.
- Keen interest in ethno-cultural and natural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh, and ability to live in remote rural locations for long durations.
- Prior experience with field ecological methods, ethnographic research and writing preferred.
Application Procedure
- nterested candidates must fill the online application form and attach the requested documents (completed personal and educational details form, updated CV, publications and copies of fellowship award letter (UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, INSPIRE, if applicable), where indicated.
The deadline for receiving the online application is 4th January 2021. In case you have any queries or need help applying, please write to phd@ncf-india.org with a copy to sahil@ncf-india.org.
Official Website: PhD FELLOWSHIPS: NATURE-CULTURE TRANSITIONS IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH
