Call for Applications | CyberBRICS Fellowship Programme

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Fellows in Rio
CyberBRICS Fellowship Programme
Hosted by FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School – FGV DIREITO RIO

Deadline for applications: 30 November 2018

 

Fundação Getulio Vargas Rio de Janeiro Law School – FGV DIREITO RIO is pleased to announce the first edition of the CyberBRICS Fellowship Programme.

The programme, which is part of the FGV DIREITO RIO’s Fellows in Rio initiative, has been developed in partnership with the Higher School of Economics and the Center for New Media and Society, in Moscow, Russia; the Centre for Internet and Society, New Delhi, India; the Fudan University, Shanghai, and the University of Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, China; and Research ICT Africa and the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

The goal of the programme is to support a selected group of highly qualified post-graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral scholars working in the area related to the activities of the CyberBRICS project, namely regulation of personal data and cybersecurity frameworks in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS).

The programme will offer five fellowships from February to July 2019, at FGV DIREITO RIO, providing economic, intellectual and networking resources to support selected scholars coming from the BRICS or having relevant experience in at least one of the BRICS country.

The CyberBRICS fellows will be selected by a commission formed by Prof Luca Belli, from FGV DIREITO RIO, (Brazil), Prof Alexey Ivanov, from the Higher School of Economics (Russia), Ms Elonnai Hickok, from the Centre for Internet and Society (India), Prof Shen Yi, from Fudan University (China), and Prof Alison Gillwald, from the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance University of Cape Town (South Africa).

 

Presentation of the CyberBRICS project

Over the next decade, projected Internet growth is expected to occur predominantly in Asia, Latin America and Africa and, particularly, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries, which are increasing their cooperation in the fields of science and technology with the aim of increasing synergies between their digital policies to foster effective solutions and promote transformations.

As stressed by the BRICS leaders themselves: “Information and communications technologies provide citizens with new tools for the effective functioning of economy, society and state […] and the use and development of ICTs through international cooperation and universally accepted norms and principles of international law is of paramount importance in order to ensure a peaceful, secure and open digital and Internet space.”

While the expansion of connectivity and the rise of new information and communications technologies (ICTs) have generated opportunities for individuals and businesses, they also pose a number of challenges, with particular regard to the regulation of personal data and cybersecurity governance, which can be addressed through shared and efficient policies, based on rigorously collected evidence and fostering digital inclusion.

The purposes of the CyberBRICS project are: a) to map existing regulations, b) identify best practices, and c) develop policy suggestions in the areas of personal data regulation and cybersecurity governance. Professor Luca Belli will coordinate the project.

 

1. SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process will follow two stages:

(a) First Stage: Evaluation of the following documents (from 30 November to 7 December)

i. Curriculum Vitae (Brazilian candidates should send their or CV in Lattes format)
ii. Research proposal and/or summary of thesis (maximum 5,000 characters)
iii. List of the proposed activities to be developed at FGV Direito Rio (see Item 7)
iv. A reference letter

(b) Second Stage: Interview with selected candidates (from 4 to 14 December)

i. Analysis of reference letter
ii. Online or face-to-face interview

FGV DIREITO RIO will release the results of the selective process by 18 December 2018.

 

2. ELIGIBILITY

Applicants may be of any nationality and should be currently pursuing or have recently completed a doctoral degree in law or in political science, computer science or economics. Candidates must have perfect command of the English language and demonstrate they have already published research outputs in English.

Applications from candidates holding a masters degree and demonstrating relevant professional working experience in one of the issue areas of the project will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

3. APPLICATION

Documents to be submitted:

a. Curriculum Vitae. Brazilian candidates should send their CV in Lattes format.
b. Research proposal and/or summary of ongoing PhD thesis (maximum 5,000 characters)
c. List of the proposed activities to be developed at FGV Direito Rio (see Item 7)
d. A reference letter

Documents shall be sent via email to the FGV DIREITO RIO International Affairs Secretariat at the following address cri.direitorio@fgv.br with the following Subject: “CyberBRICS Fellowship – candidate’s name”.

Application deadline: 30 November 2018

 

4. SELECTION

The 5 (five) candidates approved in the selection process will begin their activities in February 2019.

Candidates will be selected by a commission formed by Prof Luca Belli, from FGV Law School, Prof Alexey Ivanov, from the Higher School of Economics, Ms Elonnai Hickok, from the Centre for Internet and Society, Prof Shen Yi, from Fudan University, and Prof Alison Gillwald, from the University of Cape Town.

Selected candidates are expected to submit to the Human Resources Department of FGV DIREITO RIO all documents required for the fellowship agreement. Please note that FGV DIREITO RIO will provide assistance and supporting documentation but non-Brazilian candidates will be ultimately responsible for obtaining the appropriate visa and all necessary authorisation for living and working in Brazil.

Selected candidates are expected to work at FGV DIREITO RIO venue during the entire fellowship period. Any substantial absences should be agreed with the programme coordinator, Prof Luca Belli, from FGV DIREITO RIO.

 

5. FELLOWS REMUNERATION

Selected CyberBRICS Research Fellows holding a PhD will receive 6 (six) instalments of R$ 8.700 per month. Selected CyberBRICS Research Fellows holding a masters degree (and currently pursuing a PhD) will receive 6 (six) instalments of R$ 7.700 per month.

At the currency rate of Wednesday, 31st of October 2018, R$ 8.700 correspond to approx. US$ 2.500 while R$ 7.700 correspond to approx. US$ 2.200
Selected candidates will receive the first instalment in advance to cover travel fees and settlement expenses.

 

6. FELLOWSHIP DURATION

The CyberBRICS Fellowship will cover the academic semester between February 2019 and July 2019.

CyberBRICS Fellows are expected to work from their office at FGV DIREITO RIO, in Praia de Botafogo 190, Rio de Janeiro, from Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 18 AM.

CyberBRICS Fellows will be free to pursue their non- CyberBRICS-related research during this time as long as this will not jeopardise the fulfilment of their CyberBRICS Fellowship obligations.

 

7. FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES

The main responsibilities of CyberBRICS Fellows will be to conduct research on data protection and cybersecurity in the BRICS and teaching to undergrad and master student, according to the teaching programme agreed with the project coordinator.

Given the strong commitment required to the development of CyberBRICS research, Fellows will have to dedicate only a minimum 15 hours to teaching although they will be free to dedicate more time to teaching as long as this will not jeopardise their CyberBRICS research commitments.

CyberBRICS Fellows shall elaborate a Work Plan describing the activities they expect to develop throughout the semester, explaining how such activities may contribute to foster a better understanding of cybersecurity and data protection frameworks in BRICS countries, and defining their respective objectives and deadlines. CyberBRICS Fellows will have the opportunity to participate and present their work in faculty research seminars and workshops developed by FGV DIREITO RIO and a wide range of partner organisations, including government, private sector and civil society stakeholders.

Besides their research and teaching commitments, CyberBRICS Fellows will be free to: (i) deliver lectures (undergraduate or graduate levels) on subjects of their interest; (ii) promote professional coaching for students of the undergraduate and masters programs; (iii) orient, tutor or participate in the evaluation of Final Projects of undergraduate students; (iv) join ongoing research projects or engage in collaborative research with FGV DIREITO RIO professors; (v) offer courses in English to FGV DIREITO RIO students; (vi) cooperate in the activities of the LLM in Regulation.