Funded 4-Year PhD Position in Southeast Asian Studies

The Trinity Centre for Asian Studies (TCAS) invites applications for a fully funded 4 year doctoral research position in Southeast Asian Studies to begin September 1, 2027. This doctoral position opens for scholars interested in interdisciplinary advanced research in the humanities, arts, and social sciences to explore issues of contemporary Southeast Asia around the theme of amphibious worlding(s).

Potential lines of inquiry include, but are not limited to:

• Transnational and transregional networks across Southeast Asia, including inland and maritime connectivity, diaspora linkages, oceanic thoughts, and ecological crises across borders.
• Translocal religiosity and indigeneity in Southeast Asia, examining the (dis)continuity of religious texts, oral history, and cosmological views through political and cultural transitions.
• Arts and transensorial praxis, exploring forms and formations of aesthetic expression, media, and artistic trajectory across political boundaries.

Successful candidate will receive the scholarship, providing full support for up to four years (subject to satisfactory progress):

• Tuition Fees: Full coverage of EU / Non-EU tuition fees.
• Monthly Stipend
• Research & Fieldwork Allowance: Dedicated funding support for international fieldwork, archival research, and conference presentations.

Requirements:

Candidates should be able to communicate and work in at least one Southeast Asian Language and complete their master’s degree in a relevant field before September 2027. 

Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Responsibilities:

Apart from completing doctoral research requirements, successful candidate should organize a public-facing project such as:

• Digital Archives and Public Engagement: Building or contributing to an openaccess digital collection, oral history archive, or multimedia repository (e.g., mapping technologies, documenting oral histories, open-access essays, short filmic or audio pieces)
• Community, and Curatorial Knowledge Exchange: Co-organizing a public exhibition, community workshop, curated lecture series, or roundtable sessions that connect academic research with local communities, museum spaces, or broader audiences in Southeast Asia and globally.

Deadline for applications: December 15, 2026 (11:59 PM, GMT) 

Applicants should email Sirithorn Siriwan (Sirithorn.Siriwan@tcd.ie) the following documents:

• Cover Letter (2 pages max.)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Certificates of Higher Education (B.A. and M.A. diplomas)
• A summary of proposed PhD project (1,000 words excluding footnotes/references)
• A writing sample (4,000-6,000 words excluding footnotes/references)
• The contact details of two academic referees who can provide confidential references if requested. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to arrange two confidential references to be sent to Sirithorn Siriwan in advance of their interview.

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