ERC-Funded PhD Studentships: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) invites applications for three fully funded PhD positions under the European Research Council (ERC)–funded project “Trading Truths: Missions, Mediations, and Extractions in the South Caucasus (TRASUS)”. Hosted in the Department of Anthropology at LSE, these positions offer an exceptional opportunity to conduct in-depth ethnographic research on how religious and political truths travel, are mediated, and are contested in the South Caucasus. Two positions cover Studentship + Home (UK) Fees, and one position covers Studentship + Overseas Fees.
ERC-Funded PhD Studentships in Anthropology (TRASUS Project) – LSE | 2026 Intake
Designation
PhD Researcher / Doctoral Student (MRes/PhD in Anthropology)
Research Area
- Social & Cultural Anthropology
- Anthropology of Religion and Politics
- Truth, Knowledge, and Power
- Misinformation, Mediation, and Surveillance
- Ethnographic Research in the South Caucasus
Location
Department of Anthropology,
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, United Kingdom
(Fieldwork: South Caucasus region)
Eligibility / Qualification
- A strong academic background in Anthropology or a closely related discipline
- Eligibility for admission to the MRes/PhD Programme in Anthropology at LSE
- Ability to design an original and feasible PhD research proposal aligned with the TRASUS project
- Demonstrated interest in ethnographic, theoretical, and analytical research
- International applicants are welcome (one position includes Overseas Fees coverage)
Job Description / Responsibilities
- Design and conduct an original PhD research project within the TRASUS framework
- Undertake 12 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the South Caucasus
- Produce a doctoral thesis based on long-term, historically informed ethnographic research
- Contribute to the broader TRASUS project through workshops and collaborative writing
- Participate fully in the MRes/PhD Anthropology programme at LSE
- Work under the supervision of Prof. Mathijs Pelkmans and an additional faculty member
How to Apply
- Apply online to the MRes/PhD Programme in Anthropology at LSE via the official application portal.
- Prepare a research proposal clearly outlining your proposed case study and its relevance to the TRASUS project.
- In your cover letter, explicitly mention that you are applying for inclusion in the TRASUS project.
- Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the Principal Investigator,
Prof. Mathijs Pelkmans (m.e.pelkmans@lse.ac.uk), for further details and to discuss the suitability of research ideas.
Last Date for Apply
15 January 2026
