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ZeMKI Doctoral Program

The ZeMKI offers its own structured doctoral program for young scientists.

What is the ZeMKI doctoral program?

The ZeMKI doctoral program deals with media and communication change in the present and past. In profoundly mediatized societies, popular culture, politics, everyday life, education, religion and art are changing. Not only do changing digital infrastructures play a role here, but also innovative practices of media use and datafication. As phenomena in these subject areas are multi-layered, the doctoral program as a whole is based on a broad interdisciplinary approach in order to strengthen the respective disciplinary doctorates. The joint exchange from different perspectives promotes understanding and enables creative approaches to solutions and research, also in each individual discipline.

The aim of the ZeMKI doctoral program at the University of Bremen is to provide cooperative and collegial support for its doctoral candidates. Participants must be enrolled as doctoral candidates at the University of Bremen and be supervised by professors working at the ZeMKI. The doctoral program is based on a binding doctoral agreement, it separates supervision from assessment and gives doctoral candidates broad opportunities to develop and complete their dissertation projects in a constructive environment.

Which disciplines are involved in the doctoral program?

The disciplines involved in the doctoral program are broad. In addition to communication and media studies, they include history, film studies, religious studies, sociology, political science, education and computer science.

1st Year | Focus: exposé
Participation in events Course leader Frequency/Duration & Semester
Block event: “Exposé and Project Development” 2 professors at ZeMKI 3x 1 day in Winter or Summer Semester
Block event for the presentation and discussion of the projects / project ideas Supervising professors at ZeMKI 1x 1 day in the semester
Workshops on self-selected topics PhD students at least 1x year x 1 day
Method exercises of the MA programs of the ZeMKI Changing professors at ZeMKI 2 SWS in Summer Semester
Methods groups PhD students at least 1x semester x 1 day
Topic groups PhD students at least 1x semester x 1 day
Lab Colloquia Lab heads several times a semester
ZeMKI- Colloquia Changing professors at ZeMKI several times a semester
Optional events (subject-related events, key qualifications, professional career) International Summer Schools, BYRD, Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institute, external lecturers different
2nd Year | Focus: empiricism
Participation in events Course leader Frequency/Duration & Semester
Block event for the presentation and discussion of the projects / project ideas Supervising professors at ZeMKI 1x 1 day in the semester
Workshops on self-selected topics PhD students at least 1x year x 1 day
Methods groups PhD students at least 1x semester x 1 day
Subject groups PhD students at least 1x semester x 1 day
Lab Colloquia Lab heads several times a semester
ZeMKI- Colloquia Changing professors at ZeMKI several times a semester
Optional events (subject-related events, key qualifications, professional career) International Summer Schools, BYRD, Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institute, external lecturers different
3rd Year / if necessary 4th Year | Focus: writing
Participation in events Course leader Frequency/Duration & Semester
Block event for the presentation and discussion of the projects / project ideas Supervising professors at ZeMKI 1x 1 day in the semester
Workshops on self-selected topics PhD students at least 1x year x 1 day
Methods groups PhD students at least 1x semester x 1 day
Subject groups PhD students at least 1x semester x 1 day
Lab Colloquia Lab heads several times a semester
ZeMKI- Colloquia Changing professors at ZeMKI several times a semester
Optional events (subject-related events, key qualifications, professional career) International Summer Schools, BYRD, Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut, external lecturers different
Closing Colloquia Changing professors at ZeMKI 1x in final phase of the dissertation
Exchange and Networking
Lab Colloquia Each ZeMKI-Lab organizes regular colloquium dates in the semester for a scientific exchange. The dates are organized internally by the Labs, but they are open to the other members by arrangement. Regular participation in the Labs’ appointments is explicitly desired.
ZeMKI Colloquia The research colloquium takes place regularly on Wednesdays between 12 and 14 o’clock and includes lectures by the ZeMKI Fellows on current research projects followed by a question and discussion session. It is open to all PhD students and regular attendance is encouraged.
Day of Research The research day takes place once a semester. It gives an opportunity to present project work as well as individual work within ZeMKI in different formats (e.g. presentation, sketch, data session etc.). It is not necessary to present a finished project, workshop reports are also welcome. Doctoral students are also explicitly invited to provide insights into their dissertation projects.
Brestolon The ZeMKI is part of the BREmen-STOckholm-LONdon network, which meets once a year at one of the locations. It offers PhD students the opportunity to present their dissertation projects and get feedback from the other participants. An application to participate is required.
Summer/Winter Schools The ZeMKI supports the participation in Summer Schools (e.g.: ECREA Summer School) and Winter Schools (e.g.: Digital Methods Initiative Amsterdam) for further education. An application for participation is necessary.
Erasmus Within the framework of the Erasmus program, doctoral students can take advantage of a stay at a partner university as doctoral students or lecturers (with a teaching assignment).
Thematic clusters

The study group is concerned with the exchange of content and methodology on digital communication in political contexts. Specifically, the group is interested in phenomena of political participation on the Internet, the transformation of the political public sphere through digital media, the transformative effect of digital media for political systems, the use of political media content, the representation of political actors on the Internet, the dissemination of political news and its credibility. The study group aims to follow current research in these areas and to exchange theoretical, content-related and methodological findings. Among other things, they meet for a reading circle.

Persons

Events of the doctoral program

PhD Writing Week 2024
The Writing Retreat 2024 to this year is scheduled from September 16 to September 20. This Writing Week is designed to support the academic progress of doctoral candidates by providing an environment perfectly suited for (…)
  • 16.09.2024 – 20.09.2024

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Academic Project Management
We are pleased to invite you to our workshop “Academic Project Management.” Effective time management and self-organization is a prerequisite for graduates. But how do you manage to structure your everyday life and keep your (…)
  • 10.07.2024 – 10.07.2024
  • 13:00 Clock
  • Bremen • Linzer • Room LINZ 60070 (Hybrid)

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Selected doctoral projects

PhD Writing Retreat 2023
The “Bildungsstätte der Wirtschafts- und Sozialakademie der Arbeitnehmerkammer Bremen” is set to host the Writing Retreat 2023 from September 25th to September 29th. This initiative, aimed at supporting the academic advancement of PhD candidates, provides (…)
  • 25.09.2023 – 29.09.2023
  • Bildungsstätte der Wirtschafts- und Sozialakademie der Arbeitnehmerkammer Bremen

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PhD Onboarding
At our PhD Onboarding meeting we will warmly welcome new PhD students to the ZeMKI program. We will discuss current issues relevant to the program and present the schedule for the upcoming semester. Additionally, you’ll (…)
  • 10.10.2023 – 10.10.2023
  • 14:00 Clock
  • Bremen • Linzer Str. 4-6 • Room ZeMKI Meeting Room

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Academic Project Management
We are pleased to invite you to our workshop “Academic Project Management.” Effective time management and self-organization is a prerequisite for graduates. But how do you manage to structure your everyday life and keep your (…)
  • 10.07.2024 – 10.07.2024
  • 13:00 Clock
  • Bremen • Linzer • Room LINZ 60070 (Hybrid)

Read more

PhD Writing Week 2024
The Writing Retreat 2024 to this year is scheduled from September 16 to September 20. This Writing Week is designed to support the academic progress of doctoral candidates by providing an environment perfectly suited for (…)
  • 16.09.2024 – 20.09.2024

Read more