<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">Dear Colleagues, </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">I am forwarding a great opportunity for PhD scholarships - please share it with your students who might be interested!</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">All the best,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">Jelena</div><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div class="msg4927998093790367222"><div lang="EN-CA" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div class="m_3408169997252543735WordSection1"><div id="m_3408169997252543735mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div><div><div><div id="m_3408169997252543735mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div><div><div><div id="m_3408169997252543735mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div><div><div><div id="m_3408169997252543735mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div><div><div><div id="m_3408169997252543735mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div><div><div><br>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">***</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal"><u></u><img width="115" height="64" style="width:1.1979in;height:.6666in" src="cid:ii_1997e203e574cff311" align="left" hspace="12" alt="universite-laval-vector-logo | HESA"><u></u><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Two
Volkswagen Foundation-funded PhD Scholarships:</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">China’s Science Silk Road and the New Geopolitics of Knowledge Production</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Université Laval – Department of Political Science</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> </span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Closing date: November 14, 2025</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">As part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has launched the "Science Silk Road" program, aimed at investing in science, technology
and innovation in countries along this newly envisioned Silk Road. Observers suggest that the emerging Science Silk Road may be exporting a distinct form of "Chinese science", potentially giving rise to specific ways of doing science and alternative structures
of the global science system. However, little is currently known about whether, and how, the Science Silk Road influences research practices and scientific knowledge production in BRI countries and globally.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">We invite applications for two full-time, 4-year PhD scholarships for an international<b>
</b>research project critically examining the multi-level impacts of China’s expanding scientific cooperation, with a particular focus on
<b>environmental </b>and <b>space issues</b>, starting <b>September 2026</b>. These scholarships are open to candidates of any nationality. They cover full tuition fees and a competitive stipend, with an estimated total value of C$40,000 per year, subject to
satisfactory progress. There are also additional funds for research and travel expenses, as well as dedicated workspace.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, this project is a partnership between
</span><a href="https://www.ulaval.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Université Laval</span></a><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">in Quebec<b>
</b>City and the </span><a href="https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Max Planck Institute for the History of Science</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> (MPIWG) in Berlin. It aims
to conduct one of the first in-depth analyses of the Science Silk Road, exploring its components, impacts on scientific knowledge production in BRI countries, and implications for established science powers and international science alliances. Drawing on interdisciplinary
perspectives from international relations, sociology of science, science and technology studies (STS), anthropology and geography, the project will contribute to theoretical and policy debates at the intersection of science policy and geopolitics in the 21<sup>st</sup>
century.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Successful candidates will be co-supervised by
</span><a href="https://ayozhou915.wixsite.com/hang-zhou" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Prof. Hang Zhou</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> and
</span><a href="https://www.chaire-epi.ulaval.ca/en/jean-frederic-morin" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Prof. Jean-Frédéric Morin</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> at Université Laval,<b>
</b>alongside mentorship from </span><a href="https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/people/hacheng" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Prof. Han Cheng</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> and
</span><a href="https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/people/alahlers" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Prof. Anna Lisa Ahlers</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> at MPIWG. A graduate advisory committee will be formed
to guide the development of a plan of work, including coursework and dissertation research. Students will be expected to work independently, but also work in a team, carving out their individual contribution within the larger research project.
</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">At Laval, students will be based at the
</span><a href="https://www.fss.ulaval.ca/science-politique" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Department of Political Science</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">, with affiliation to the
</span><a href="https://www.esei.ulaval.ca/en" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Graduate School of International Studies</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> and the
</span><a href="https://www.cirgom.ulaval.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Global Governance</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">. They will have opportunities to spend
time at MPIWG’s </span><a href="https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/research/LMRG-china-science" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Lise Meitner Research Group “China in the Global System of Science”</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">
in Berlin, and attend the University of Oslo’s </span><a href="https://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/english/research/news-and-events/events/phd/2025/phd-research-course-ikos-nupi-geopol-june-2025.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">PhD course “China and
the Future of Geopolitics”</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> in Oslo. Funding for fieldwork, training, and attending conferences will also be provided.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Eligibility & Overview</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Candidates should hold, or expect to attain by the end of the 2025-26 academic year, a Master’s degree with Merit or Distinction in
political science, international relations, sociology, anthropology, geography, or related disciplines. Candidates should have a strong interest in science diplomacy,
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">science policy, STS,
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">science and society, science for development, global governance of science, or international scientific cooperation. Knowledge of the BRI and Global China Studies is beneficial but not mandatory.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Candidates may choose to focus on either a global or regional level. A global focus requires proficiency in mixed methods such as case
studies, interviews, surveys, or data analysis. A regional focus should demonstrate a strong background in qualitative research, with a preference for experience in ethnographic fieldwork in Africa or Latin America. Candidates must be fluent in English or
French, both oral and written, with a good understanding of the other.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> </span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Application process: </span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Interested applicants should email Prof.
Han Cheng at </span><a href="mailto:hacheng@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">hacheng@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">, attaching the following documents:
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<ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">
<li class="m_3408169997252543735MsoListParagraph" style="color:#212121;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;line-height:12.65pt">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Academic CV.</span><u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_3408169997252543735MsoListParagraph" style="color:#212121;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;line-height:12.65pt">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Cover Letter (1 page), outlining </span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">your motivations to enroll in a PhD program and how your past experiences and training have prepared you to conduct a PhD thesis.</span><u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_3408169997252543735MsoListParagraph" style="color:#212121;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;line-height:12.65pt">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Copy of academic transcripts, including a list of courses.</span><u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_3408169997252543735MsoListParagraph" style="color:#212121;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;line-height:12.65pt">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Research proposal (3 pages), including
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, and references.</span><u></u><u></u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">At a later stage, a formal application will be required through Université Laval. For more information on the PhD program and application
process, please visit: </span><a href="https://www.ulaval.ca/etudes/programmes/doctorat-en-science-politique#section-admissibilite" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://www.ulaval.ca/etudes/programmes/doctorat-en-science-politique#section-admissibilite</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:12.65pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><img border="0" width="644" height="225" style="width:6.7083in;height:2.3437in" id="m_3408169997252543735Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:ii_1997e203e575b006a2" alt="A panoramic view of Chateau Frontenac surrounded by greenery in Old Quebec, Canada at sunrise"></span><u></u><u></u></p>
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