Kerkbode Postdoctoral Fellowship in Scriptures for International Students in South Africa, 2019

Applications are invited for Postdoctoral Fellowship in Scriptures for applicants who have a PhD from any recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa or abroad. International students are eligible to apply for this fellowship.

The Kerkbode is the official organ of the Dutch Reformed Church, which in 1849 by Dr. Abraham Faure as the Reformed Church Booth is erected. Later it was known as De Kerkbode and The Kerkbode, but in 2003 the “de” was abandoned in the title. The magazine appears every two weeks. It is the oldest of its kind in South Africa.  The Kerkbode ‘s circulation has varied between 10 000 and 50 000 over the years, and at one stage it was much more influential than the turnover would make one suspect.

Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University.

Scholarship Description

• Applications Deadline: October 31, 2018
• Course Level: Fellowship is available to pursue postdoctoral programme.
• Study Subject: Area of postdoctoral research project: A qualitative analysis of the hermeneutical dynamics operative in the interpretation of the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• Scholarship Award: Typically R180 000 per annum, renewable for a second year (2020), depending on satisfactory research progress and outputs.
• Nationality: International students are eligible to apply for this fellowship.
• Number of Scholarships: Numbers not given
• Scholarship can be taken in South Africa

Eligibility for the Scholarship

Eligible Countries: International students are eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Entrance Requirements: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Requirements:

• A PhD from any recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa or abroad;
• The PhD must have been obtained after 1 January 2014 (thus no longer than 5 years ago);
• The research field of the PhD must have been in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Qur’an studies, or religion studies, or any related field;
• The PhD study must have included a hermeneutical focus.

Qualities/Recommendations:

• A keen interest in the interpretation of the scriptures of any (or all) of the three monotheistic religious traditions represented in South Africa;
• Some exposure to, or experience in, qualitative research methods;
• A team player with openness towards critical engagement and research development.

Responsibilities:

1. Planning of a research project (as outlined in the appendix);

1. Setting up the infrastructure for the qualitative research project;
2. Implementing the initial stages of data collection and analysis;
3. Writing of research outputs (such as scientific articles to be published in accredited journals/books);
4. Advising the project team on the further development of the proposed Centre for the Interpretation of Authoritative Scriptures (CIAS) at Stellenbosch University.

English Language Requirements: Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University.

Application Procedure

How to Apply: Send

(i) A cover letter,

(ii) A CV (with full particulars of previous studies, research foci and experience), and

(iii) The names and contact details of three referees (of which one should be the doctoral supervisor) to prof Louis Jonker (LCJ-at-sun.ac.za).

Also send
(iv) an abstract of no more than 500 words of how you would plan and implement the proposed postdoctoral project as described in the appendix.

Scholarship Link