PhD Studentship for an ERC Project on Relational Harm

Award details

This is a call for a PhD student to be part of a new European Research Council-funded Consolidator project, Relational Harm: Targeting the Family in War and Oppression. The successful student will start the programme in September 2026.

The successful PhD applicant should propose a project on a historical case of forced family separation and/or reunification in a context of war or systematic oppression. This could include cases of war, slavery, or other systematic violence and oppression. We welcome projects that examine lived experiences and trace the legacies of family separation and loss. We especially welcome projects that focus on World War 1 or 2. Projects will also be considered that focus on global practices addressing family separation and reunification. The PhD topic should be historical and based on original research, using sources that could include archives, published or unpublished memoirs, and oral history.

The PhD will be supervised by Dr Rebekka Friedman (International Relations) and Professor Juliette Pattinson (History) in the KCL War Studies Department. The PhD student will benefit from having both an IR scholar and a historian on their supervision team. As an ERC-funded PhD, this is also a unique opportunity for a PhD student to be part of a small community of faculty and postdoctoral scholars working on an interdisciplinary and topical area of knowledge. The project will be situated in the KCL War Studies Department and PhD applicants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Department’s research groups and take part in its wider academic life.

Award value

Stipend: a total of 94,708 Euros over three years.

This funding opportunity will be divided over three years to help finance the PhD student while they undertake the research. Please note that this award consists of stipend only and the successful student is required to pay their own tuition fees at the appropriate rate. The stipend amount is higher than the standard UKRI rate which enables the awardee to offset part of the tuition fee.

The successful PhD applicant will be expected to attend and contribute to events and team meetings associated with the broader ERC project (‘Relational Harm’) but not to carry out extra work on the project.

Eligibility criteria

The successful applicant must complete the PhD in person in the Department of War Studies to be part of the project team and take part and contribute to project events. Distance students are not eligible for this post with candidates ideally expected to be on campus 1-2 days per week.

We welcome applicants with BA or MA degrees in History or the social sciences. Prior research experience is an asset but not a requirement to apply for this position.

Application process

This is a two-stage application process.

1. Applicants should email their CVs, a cover letter (a letter of motivation that details their interest and suitability for this opportunity), a piece of writing, and an Expression of Interest (EOI) to: friedman@kcl.ac.uk by the end of December 2025. The EOI template is here.
2. We will then provide feedback and encourage shortlisted applicants to submit a formal application and research proposal by May 2026.

Please note that this is being advertised early to enable candidates to develop a proposal. Candidates are welcome to contact Rebekka in advance to discuss their ideas. However, candidates should not expect a decision until after the deadline.

Application forms

Expression of Interest for PhD Studentship on Family Separation (0.01 MB)

Selection process

The successful candidate will be selected based on their CV, cover letter, EOI, proposal, and an interview with Dr Rebekka Friedman and Professor Juliette Pattinson.

Contact Details

Dr Rebekka Friedman, Reader in International Relations

Rebekka.friedman@kcl.ac.uk