At the Sources of the Anthropocene: Ecological Crisis and Technoscientific Progress in Francophone Literature
This project examines the literary representation of the relationship between ecological crisis and technoscientific progress across a broad historical span, from the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution to the present day, in francophone literature.
Building on the historical framing of the Anthropocene by Jean-Baptiste Fressoz and Christophe Bonneuil, and drawing on the theoretical insights of Hans Jonas on responsibility, Ulrich Beck on risk, and Bruno Latour on modernity, the project aims to reconstruct a cultural history of literary representations of the nexus between technoscientific progress and the environment.
The field of inquiry is Francophone literature, approached through methodologies developed in ecopoetics. Particular attention will be given to the contrasting literary models of utopia and dystopia, articulated in both realist and speculative registers. Depending on the candidate’s expertise, the research may either adopt a longue durée perspective or concentrate on a specific period or group of authors (e.g., realism, the historical avant-gardes, existentialism, contemporary ecological fiction). Special emphasis will also be placed on questions of environmental justice, especially the unequal distribution of benefits and harms and their entanglement with colonial and postcolonial histories.
By situating contemporary ecological debates within a long literary history, the project seeks to provide a historical and conceptual framework that is still lacking in environmental studies, while contributing to the development of intellectual tools for the defense of natural heritage.
This PhD position is part of the Cultural Heritage Outreach in RomAnce Languages (CHORAL) programme, a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie programme co-funded by the European Union. This prestigious programme is linked to UNITA’s Cultural Heritage Hub, an international research network within the Alliance, which structures its research ecosystem facing cultural related challenges.
Selected candidates will be enrolled in PhD programmes under joint supervision, awarding a double degree and requiring international mobility.
This offer is part of the MSCA-COFUND CHORAL programme, which will finance 14 positions out of 20 positions offered.
Requirements
On the deadline of the call, the candidate must be a doctoral candidate, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree, but in possession of a Master’s Degree enabling to do a PhD in Social Science, Arts, Architecture and Humanities applied to cultural heritage.
Any candidate in possession of the required diploma can apply regardless of the year of obtention of the diploma.
Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding the date of the call deadline. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.
Applicants who are non-native speakers of English are required to provide proof of proficiency in the language, as CHORAL’s working language is English.
Candidates must be in possession of valid identity card (for EU citizens) or a valid passport (for visa application, if selected).
The call is open to researchers of any nationality.
Benefits
A monthly gross salary of 2164€/monthapproximately. The salary gross amount may be subject to changes corresponding to taxes increases/decreases.
Organisation/Company –Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour.
Field of research – Literature.
Research profile – First Stage Researcher (R1).
Country – France.
Application deadline – 17 Jan 2026 – 23:59 (Europe/Paris).
More information: Euraxess
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