Call For Applications | CyberBRICS Fellowship Programme 2024
Deadline for applications: 10 December 2023
Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) is a world-renowned institution of research and quality education. Since 2021, FGV is ranked as the third most influential think tank in the world, according to the Global Go To Think Tanks Index, produced by the Pennsylvania University.
About CTS-FGV
The Center for Technology and Society at FGV Law School, Rio de Janeiro was founded in 2003, becoming the first research centre to have been established in Brazil to analyse the impact of technology on society. The mission of CTS-FGV is to study the legal, social, and cultural implications arising from the advancement of information and communication technologies. CTS-FGV is committed to openness, democracy, fundamental rights, inclusion, gender balance and non[1]discrimination, and the preservation of the public interest in technological progress.
About The CyberBRICS Project
The CyberBRICS project, the only existing research project dedicated to the analysis of digital policies in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries, and has been established at CTS-FGV, since 2018. The triple purpose of the CyberBRICS project is to map existing regulations, identify good and bad practices, and suggest policy solutions. Particularly, the project aims at exploring the conditions and reasons that have led to “success stories” in terms of digital transformation in the BRICS countries. The project builds upon the work developed since its inception, in terms of research outcomes, strong international network and academic credibility.
BRICS countries are particularly relevant not only as they represent more than 30% of global GDP and approximately 42% of the world population, but because the policies, institutional arrangements, and technologies they are developing are increasingly influential, especially in the Global South. Such relevance is likely to increase considering the recent expansion of the BRICS grouping, including six new members. Although the national approaches of the BRICS countries remain different in many respects, they tend towards convergence in several areas of digital governance. Importantly, since 2021, the BRICS heads of state have started to explicitly call for the establishment of “legal frameworks of cooperation” on crucial issues such as cybersecurity and e-commerce.
Professor Luca Belli and Dr Larissa Magalhães coordinate the CyberBRICS project and can be contacted for further enquiries at luca.belli@fgv.br and larissamagalhaes@unu.edu
Further information on the CyberBRICS Project, including, research outcomes, events, previous and current fellows, and team members can be found at www.cyberBRICS.info
Hosted by the Center for Technology and Society at FGV Law School, Rio de Janeiro, part of the Fellows in Rio Programme
The Center for Technology and Society at FGV Law School, Rio de Janeiro – FGV DIREITO RIO is pleased to announce the 2024 edition of the CyberBRICS Fellowship Programme, which is part of the FGV DIREITO RIO’s Fellows in Rio initiative.
The program aims to support a selected group of highly qualified postgraduate, doctoral, and post[1]doctoral students working in the area related to the activities of the 2024 work plan of the CyberBRICS project, namely artificial intelligence, digital industrial policy, and regulation, with a particular focus on cloud computing and digital public infrastructures in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS).
The programme will offer five fellowships for a duration of up to 6 (six) months, ideally from March to October 2024, 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 countries. Fellows might also be able to extend the CyberBRICS Fellowship for an additional period.
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process will follow two stages. The First Stage consist of evaluation of the following documents (from 10 to 12 December 2023)
- i. Curriculum Vitae (Brazilian candidates should send their CV in Lattes format)
- ii. Links to two (2) samples of published material, in English, in at least one of the CyberBRICS project areas (i.e. cybersecurity, Internet access, digital transformation, digital public infrastructures, AI policy, governance, and regulation).
- iii. A reference letter
The Second Stage will consist of interviews with selected candidates (from 13 to 15 December 2023). FGV DIREITO RIO will release the results of the selective process by 18 December 2023.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants should preferably be nationals of one of the BRICS countries or having any nationality but an affiliation with an academic institution in one of the BRICS countries. Applicants 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.
We strongly encourage applications from members of BIPOC communities, immigrants and
refugees, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
APPLICATION
Documents to be submitted:
A. Curriculum Vitae. Brazilian candidates should send their CV in Lattes format.
B. Links to two (2) samples of published material in English, in at least one of the CyberBRICS project areas (i.e. cybersecurity, Internet access, digitalisation of public administration)
C. A reference letter
Documents shall be emailed to the FGV DIREITO RIO International Affairs Secretariat at cri.direitorio@fgv.br with the following Subject: “CyberBRICS Fellowship – candidate’s name”.
Application deadline: 10 December 2023
SELECTED CANDIDATES
The 5 (five) candidates approved in the selection process will begin their activities ideally in March. The fellowship’s start date and end date may be negotiated, on a case-by-case basis, to meet the special needs of the candidates.
Selected candidates must 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 (VITEM 1) at the local Brazilian Embassy or Consulate and all necessary authorisation for living and working in Brazil.
Selected candidates are expected to work at FGV DIREITO RIO venue, in praia de Botafogo 190, Rio de Janeiro, during the entire fellowship period. Any substantial absences should be agreed with the programme coordinators.
FELLOWS REMUNERATION
Selected CyberBRICS Research Fellows holding a PhD will receive up to 6 (six) installments of R$ 8.500 per month, depending on the agreed duration of the fellowship. Selected CyberBRICS Research Fellows holding a masters degree and proven working experience (and/or currently pursuing a PhD) will receive up to 6 (six) instalments of R$ 7.500 per month, depending on the agreed duration of the fellowship. (Generally, fellows need to use only around half of the remuneration for their basic expenses (housing and food)).
Selected candidates may apply for travel support i.e. airplane tickets in economy class funded by the Center for Technology and Society at FGV. Selected candidate holding a PhD will be able to obtain a Postdoctoral certificate issued by the postgraduate programme of FGV Rio Law School.
A Brazilian bank account, including a Brazilian credit and debit card, will be opened, as a courtesy to
each selected candidate upon arrival, to facilitate the reception of the salary. The account will be
opened and may be closed at the end of the fellowship for no additional expenses.
FELLOWSHIP DURATION
The CyberBRICS Fellowship will cover the period spanning from March 2024 to October 2024, although the beginning and ending of the fellowship period may be postponed, with the agreement of the project coordinators. The Fellowship will last up to 6 (six) months. The fellowship’s start date and end date may be negotiated, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the candidate’s special needs.
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 6 PM. CyberBRICS Fellows will be free to pursue their non-CyberBRICS-related research during this time as long as this will not prejudice the fulfilment of their CyberBRICS Fellowship obligations.
EXPECTED ACTIVITIES
The main responsibilities of CyberBRICS Fellows 2024 will be to conduct research on artificial intelligence, digital industrial policy and regulation, with particular regard on cloud computing and digital public infrastructures in one of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Fellows will be required to give presentations and teach a limited number of classes to undergrad and master students.
Fellows will have the obligation to define a research plan including the minimum research outputs and presentations they commit to deliver.
CyberBRICS Fellows will be expected 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 the Brazilian government, international organisations, businesses, and civil society organisations.
In case they wish to do so, 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 thesis and dissertations 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 and Doctoral programmes in Regulation.
