Postdoctoral position: Transforming environmental engagement: scrutinising the digital-environment nexus in Indonesia (DIGINEX)

Invitation to apply
The Department of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, invites applications for a 2-year postdoctoral position to work on a project entitled ‘Transforming environmental engagement: scrutinising the digital-environment nexus in Indonesia’ (DIGINEX) funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark. The position will be based in Copenhagen and includes substantial amounts of fieldwork in Indonesia. The starting date is 1 August 2023, or as agreed.

The Department of Anthropology is one of Europe’s largest anthropological research establishments with an academic staff of 50 (including PhD students), and approximately 550 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Department represents a broad approach to anthropology, expressed in regional foci, theoretical orientation, and methodology, which results in a dynamic practice of anthropology, acutely aware of its own traditions and upcoming challenges.

About the research project
Indonesia is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change, but in recent years also among the top 10 greenhouse gas emitters worldwide due to rapidly changing land use patterns. This includes the destruction of its vast rainforests that are home to some of the highest levels of biological diversity in the world through large-scale mining and plantations. At the same time, digital media have spread rapidly in Indonesia and have been key in raising awareness about these environmental issues. However, digital media do not by nature contribute to green transformation. DIGINEX aims to develop a broad understanding of the transformative potential of the connection between environmental challenges and digital media (what we call ‘the digital-environment nexus’) towards more environmental sustainability. Ethnographic research in Indonesia and the digital spaces used for environmental engagement are at the core of DIGINEX. Working with the hypothesis that digital media play important roles in the creation and continuation of, the mobilisation around, and the transformation of environmental issues and behaviour, DIGINEX aims to develop an integrative and transformative understanding of the digital-environment nexus and foster communication across stakeholder categories to inform future policy-making.

Job description
The postdoc will be mainly looking into environmental engagement and activism and how framing and activism in digital spaces trigger environmental behavioral change among media users. The postdoc conducts long-term fieldwork in Indonesia (including social media usage and research) and collaborates closely with the project’s PI, Associate Professor Birgit Bräuchler, on designing and coordinating field research, organising project workshops in Copenhagen, Indonesia and Singapore, writing conference papers and project publications.

Job requirements
The successful candidate will hold a PhD in anthropology (or a related discipline with a strong focus on ethnographic research) and have

• a good grasp of relevant academic literature (e.g. research on mediatisation of environmental issues and conflicts; environmental activism and behavior; social media; digital media practices; culture, politics, human rights and environment in Indonesia),
• the ability to establish academic contacts around the world, and, ideally have good networks and familiarity with visa formalities in Indonesia,
• excellent skills in English (spoken and written), Indonesian (spoken), and in using and researching digital media,
• strong academic writing skills and a record of high-ranking publications (quality over quantity),
• the ability to work independently and innovatively as well as collaborate with other members of the research team or project partners, and
• good interpersonal skills.

Moreover, the appointed postdoc is expected to

• publish project-focused articles in international journals with high impact,
• 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, and
• actively participate in the department’s academic activities and events more generally.

The applicant should also be aware that postdocs at the UCPH are expected to work full-time and will be asked to spend up to 20% of their working hours on teaching or supervision within the department’s curriculum, or perform other relevant tasks.

Strategy of the Faculty of the Social Sciences
The Department of Anthropology is part of the Faculty of the Social Sciences. The Faculty is a successful academic community that strives to put knowledge into action by:

• Engaging partners in the co-creation of knowledge, learning and social change.
• Empowering our students to become reflective and responsible citizens who have the vision, the knowledge and the competences to change society for the better.
• Energising global, European and Danish communities of knowledge by innovating research methodologies and by research findings with impact.

For more on the Faculty strategy, see: https://samf.ku.dk/fakultetet/strategi/ .

Terms of Employment

The recruitment process
Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here:  https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/ .

International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: https://ism.ku.dk/ .

Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR, e-mail: [email protected], please refer to ID number: 211-1313/22-2I.

Additional information about the position can be obtained from the project PI, Associate Professor Birgit Bräuchler, [email protected].

Application procedure
Submit a complete application at our online portal. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page to apply. The documents must be in Adobe PDF or Word.

Your application must be written in English and include the following documents:

• Motivated application (max. 1 page),
• Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages),
• Full list of publication, marking those particularly relevant for the project and those handed in together with the application,
• Academic certificates and transcripts,
• A write-up, of no more than 800 words, explaining the candidate’s past research experience and aptitude in relation to the research project,
• Max. two selected scholarly articles that speak to the project theme, one way or the other. In case of co-authored publications, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly stipulated. Only publications in English can be expected to be assessed.

The closing date for applications is 17 February 2023 at 23:59 [CET]

Applications or enclosures received thereafter will not be considered.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.