Postdoctoral fellowship in frontier ecologies

The Department of Anthropology, School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for a 24-month postdoctoral position. The appointment begins on October 1, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Place of employment: Aarhus University, Department of Anthropology, School of Culture and Society, Moesgård, Moesgård Allé 20, 8270 Højbjerg, Denmark

The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.

About the research project 

The position is affiliated with the AUFF NOVA research project “

Settler Colonial Beasts

” headed by

Associate professor Michael Eilenberg, Aarhus University

and

Associate Professor Jason Cons, University of Texas

.  The research project study the history and present roles of feral animals in forming frontiers. Frontiers continue to be critical material and discursive formations that structure the relations of extraction, migration, domesticity, and race. Drawing loosely on assemblage theory we argue that to understand frontiers—their spatio-temporal dimensions, the diverse imaginaries that shape their production, the particular forms of extraction that unfold within them—it is necessary to broaden our optics to think through the more-than-human, more-than-economic, and more-than-material dynamics of frontierization. Thus, while classical articulations of resources frontiers might see the formation of animal resource frontiers, primarily, as the appropriation of value through the exploitation of cheap nature we argue that the animals themselves need to be centered as an active agent in ongoing frontier production.

The position

We are looking for an innovative scholar with a background in anthropology, geography, development studies, political ecology, area studies or related disciplines who can contribute to this project and who can demonstrate international commitment and the ability to collaborate with key areas of national and international research within the research area of the overall project. The postdoctoral fellow is expected to participate in research-based project activities, lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as supervising students.  

The successful applicant will have an individual research project relevant for the AUFF NOVA research project. The postdoctoral fellow will also be expected to work collaboratively with the project team and engage actively in interdisciplinary team research. The application should contain a research proposal for the postdoctoral fellowship, highlighting how the project will complement the research agenda of the AUFF Nova Grant research project. The proposal must detail how and where such a study will be carried out (including a timetable) as part of the application. Fieldwork is envisaged.

Teaching

The position will involve some teaching as agreed upon with the department head and the director of the AUFF NOVA research project. 

Knowledge exchange

The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to exchange knowledge with various sectors of society and to contribute actively to the general public debate in areas related to the position.

Qualifications

Eligible applicants for this position must hold a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications in anthropology, geography, development studies, political ecology, area studies or related disciplines.

The successful applicant must document:

• Extensive empirical research, including prior ethnographic fieldwork in the country proposed for the research.
• An international research profile as well as an excellent research quality.
• The ability to work independently and in collaboration within a research group.
• Excellent English skills, with additional languages being an advantage.

Moreover, the appointed postdoc is expected to:

• Conduct three months of independent fieldwork in the country proposed for the research, within the framework of the AUFF NOVA project.
• Co-author and publish research results together with the other project members
• Contribute to the organization of research workshops at Aarhus University.
• Convey the research questions and results to a wider audience in text and other formats.
• Contribute to existing research groups at the Department of Anthropology.

Applicants must submit a CV (maximum 2 pages) and a concise description of their proposed research project (up to 4 double-spaced A4 pages). The research plan must sketch out methodology and demonstrate how the applicant will work with the conceptual framework of the “Settler Colonial Beast” research project in a country of the applicant’s choice. The completion of the project should be feasible within the time frame of the position. The plan should be attached as an appendix to the letter of application.

A maximum of five submitted publications should be uploaded with the application. A list of publications is not sufficient and applications without submitted publications will not be assessed.

References or recommendations should not be included with the application. Applicants who are selected for a job interview may be asked to provide professional references.

The application must be submitted in English.

For further information about the position, please contact associate professor Michael Eilenberg,  [email protected]

For more information about the application, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn, [email protected]

The work environment

The key research environments related to the project are at the Department of Anthropology. Read about Department of Anthropology here: 

https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/anthropology
The School of Culture and Society

At the School of Culture and Society, the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:

• From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
• From Antiquity to the issues facing contemporary societies
• From local questions to global challenges

The school’s ambition is to produce compelling research with an international resonance as well as to offer teaching and talent development of the highest quality. The school has a broad cooperative interface with society as a whole, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.

For further information about the school, please see http://cas.au.dk/en/

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to check

family and work-life balance

and

attractive working conditions

for further information about the benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a

relocation service

and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see

Taxation aspects of international researchers' employment by AU