[CLOSED] Call for Applications: Establishing Research Chair on Gender and Forced Displacement in Asia

The IDRC Research Chair position focuses on research on gender in the context of conflict-induced// climate change and disaster-induced/ development-induced forced displacement in South and South East Asia. It covers both internal and cross-border mobility of people caused by displacement. The Chair will be hosted by the Gender and Development Studies academic Program, and will place gender as a main research focus on the issue of forced displacement and the programmatic goal of the position. The established Chair will address the research gap between important drivers of forced displacement in the region with needed knowledge and policy responses when it comes to gender dimensions of forced displacement. This identifiable gap in the exiting theorizing on gender and forced displacement will also guide the research questions on drivers and responses.

Some guiding research objectives for the Gender and Forced Displacement Chair and Center at AIT being:

1. Identify major drivers, including emerging ones, of forced displacement in the Southeast/South Asia and how are these drivers influenced by gender dynamics? How are political trends, climate change and investments likely to impact these drivers and their gender dynamics?
2. Understand the gender dimensions in experiences of forced displacement, how are these different or similar between women, men and SOGIE groups? How do different displaced people experience different vulnerabilities in various stages of displacement – from pre-displacement situation, decision to move out, during the time they move, settling down and integrating into the host community?
3. Analyze existing policy responses to forced displacement at different levels, from local, national and regional levels, and how do they address gender dynamics? Identify what are the policy gaps in addressing the gender dimensions of forced displacement in the region at these different levels? Additionally, how are humanitarian agencies, including civil society organizations addressing gender needs in forced displacement?

The selected Chair is expected to establish and lead the Institute’s Center on Gender and Forced Displacement with a  long-term vision for the continuity of the research program beyond the funding period. The Center, headed by the Chair as Center Director, will be a focal point for the research and related activities on forced displacement carried out at AIT.

• Undertake original research and publish on gender and forced displacement to activate research in the region.
• Establish and lead the AIT Center on Gender and Forced Displacement.
• Network with researchers, practitioners, and policy makers on gender and forced displacement in the region and globally.
• Develop research and capacity building proposals on gender and forced displacement together with AIT colleagues and/or other researchers in the region to promote the research on gender and forced displacement.
• Mentor early career researchers including postdoc and graduate students at AIT working on gender and forced displacement.
• Develop and teach a 1-2 postgraduate courses on Gender and Forced Displacement and/or relevant research methods

• Internationally competitive remuneration at rank of senior research fellow or associate/full professor (in line with work experience and expertise).
• Start-up funds for research is included as part of the chair position.
• A post-doctoral research scholar will be funded by the project to assist with research and Center work under the supervision of the Chair

Candidates will be required to submit a letter of intent, CV, and a vision for the Chair position including research and mentoring statements to the following address:

The IDRC Research Chair Selection Committee, Gender and Development Studies
School of Environment, Resources and Development
Asian Institute of Technology
P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Tel: +66-2524-5668
E-mail:  gendev@ait.asia