4 PhDs in Sports Ethics and Integrity (DAiSI)

This is a researcher position to complete your doctorate. The DoctorAl Training Network in Sport Ethics and Integrity (DAiSI) has established an interdisciplinary network of research institutions and non-governmental organisations in the field of sport ethics and integrity. It will produce a cohort of doctoral candidates (DCs) that are capable of understanding, developing, and critiquing the complex ethico-legal challenges in sporting contexts around the globe. The DAiSI Doctoral Training Network (DTN) will form a new generation of experts and sport officials equipped with the necessary theoretical and methodological skills to identify, prevent, and manage current and future threats to sport integrity in both sport ruling and sport-related government bodies. In so doing it will contribute to the development of the European dimension of sport, taking into account the specific characteristics of sport and the importance of sport integrity. In so doing it will directly respond to objective 3, 6 and 9 of the EU Work Plan, to: “Support a sustainable and evidence-based sports policy”; “Strengthen the international dimension of EU sport policy, especially through exchanges and collaboration with governments and stakeholders outside the EU,”; and to “Intensify the dialogue and cooperation at EU level with the sport movement and other relevant stakeholders...”.

YOUR TASKS: 

The research objectives of the MSCA DAiSI DTN are to:

• conceptualise sports integrity in a coherent and complex model, drawing from multiple disciplines and stakeholders’ standpoints, identifying and classifying specific threats to sport integrity to be adopted across the DN and establishing a “paradigm” for the field;
• investigate 17 specific threats to sports integrity and their causes at macro (Organisational integrity: national and international), meso (Competition integrity), and individual (Personal integrity) level, laying the argumentative and evidentiary bases for public policy makers and sports organisations to deal more consistently and effectively with these and related threats;
• develop, justify, and disseminate a holistic and strategic interdisciplinary methodology drawing together disciplinary traditions, theories, and research findings to form a paradigm for all future integrity research; and
• develop evidence-based policy recommendations for governmental and sport ruling bodies governance development and reform, helping them deal more effectively with the scandals and other threats to the integrity and values of sport that undermine its societal function and legitimacy.

Each of the 17 research projects is an interdisciplinary combination of ethical, legal, and social dimensions.
Moreover, each project is characterised by joint supervision reflecting this philosophy and is supported by one or more prestigious sport or sport related institutions: Athletics Integrity Unit; Biathlon Integrity Unit; Federation of International Football Associations; International Olympic Committee, Union of European Football Associations; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; and the World Anti Doping Agency. Each of the DAiSI consortium partners will advertise their respective PhDs on their university websites, and EURAXXES (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/), including further details including salary ranges.

Your profile:

• A successfully completed over-average scientific university degree (master) in the field of sports science, or related subjects (German Grade better 2.3, with distinction).
• Experience in conducting multidisciplinary research studies is desirable.
• Previous and/or current international collaboration (in research and/or development) is desirable.
• Good team spirit and enthusiasm to engage in interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Very good working knowledge of English with good communication and teamwork skills,
• Desire to complete a doctorate in three years.
• You have not been living (registered) or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months during the past 3 years
• You can start with your PhD in Mainz January 1^st, 2024

Important information for your application 

You can apply for one or more of the following 4 topics. Please specify in your application the title of the topic you would like to apply for. If you intend to apply for more than one topic, please provide the order of your choice:

1. Legacy of the Olympic Games (JGU together with KU Leuven and International Olympic Committee)

Based on the relevant scientific and IOC frameworks, the impact and legacy of the Olympic Games will be evaluated through a data driven approach as a first step in an evaluation of the ethical justification of the long-term impacts for the host territory and population. Then, good governance, in particular accountability, and other policies changed due to Olympic Games will be investigated and analysed from an ethical perspective based on a newly developed model validly measuring legacies of good governance. Expected Results: Identifying best practices and developing a model and methods to examining the mentioned legacies. This will mainly be done regarding economic, social and environmental lasting impacts in the host territory/population, national sport federations’ governance and relevant policies in host countries of Olympic Games. Moreover, recommendations for furthering these legacies will result.

2. Crisis communication after ethical misconduct on social media (JGU together with Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and Biathlon Integrity Union)

The project will analyse which strategies that selected athletes, federations and other stakeholders use to communicate on social media after a crisis has been caused by an ethical misbehaviour (e.g., suspected doping, corruption, racism, discrimination etc.). Based on their statements on social media, it will be analysed which communication strategy (e.g., apologizing, justification, etc.) triggers which reactions among the followers. From both, the communication of the misbehaviour and the reactions of the fans, a model depicting certain behaviours and typical reactions is derived. Expected Results: Different crises (e. g., internal vs. external; intentional vs. unintentional) are assigned to image repair strategies. In addition, user reactions and comments on social media are examined to find out which strategy is best suited for which type(s) of crises in order to minimise damage to the image of the ‘person concerned’ and/or loss of trust among followers. From this, recommendations and guidelines for sports organisations and athletes on how to communicate on social media in case of an ethical crisis will be presented in order to protect credibility and trustworthiness and avoid negative image effects.

3. Esport Integrity – Ethics and Governance (JGU together with KU Leuven and Federation of International Football Associations)

The project will critically assess the current governance structures of eSports to lay the foundation for sport governing bodies to collaborate with relevant institutions in the eSports ecosystem. It will also define a strategy how sport governing bodies can include eSports competitions into current/future competition formats and analyse the main integrity-related issues of eSports (e.g., performance-enhancement, match-fixing and technological fraud). Finally, it will identify existing and further required regulatory powers and instruments to address these issues in mutual cooperation between sport governing bodies and eSports institutions. Expected Results: Development of recommendations and strategies for sport governing bodies on how to open sporting cultures to eSports. Development of a holistic and inclusive governance framework reflecting the culture and logic of both, the (traditional) sport system as well as the eSports system. Development of tools to regulate integrity related issues in eSports by building on the knowledge and already existing policies and structures in traditional sport and adapting them to meet particular demands of eSports.

4. The erosion of sport autonomy and its impact on traditional models of sport (JGU together with KU Leuven and European Olympic Committee EU Bureau)

The project critically assesses developments (2000-25) that affect sport’s autonomy and traditional models of sport organisation and governance. It will identify the stakeholders involved in these processes, critically explore how sport governing bodies have tried to respond to these developments by means of regulation and policy. Finally, it will develop recommendations how sport governing bodies could better develop autonomy preserving strategies Start month Duration Deliverables Expected Results: Structuring and classifying the different streams (e.g., technological, geopolitical, ecological) that affect the autonomy of sport governing bodies. Development of an ethical position regarding the value of safeguarding traditional models of sport (such as the European model). Development of recommendations how sport governing bodies could react to selected threats to their autonomy.

JGU is diverse and welcomes qualified applications from people with varied backgrounds.

We aim to increase the number of women in the fields of research and teaching and therefore encourage female researchers to apply.

Candidates with severe disabilities and appropriate qualifications will be given priority.

Are you ready for a new challenge and interested in this varied and responsible position? Then submit your complete application until September 11^th 2023 preferably via the „Apply now“ button (cover letter stating your motivation to apply as well as research and career interests, CV, scans of your certificates and transcripts, and contact details of two or three references in one PDF file).

For questions and further information please contact Mathias Schubert by e-mail: schubert.m@uni-mainz.de.

We anticipate that interviews will be held for all candidates between October 9^th - 23^rd 2023.

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