Postdoctoral position (3) in FOODCIRCUITS (Ref. I1RN002506). Spanish Oranges Circuit: Moroccan, Ecuadorian and other migrant/refugee farm workers; transportation and supply chain workers in Europe; and consumers in Europe - 101045424

9 May 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universitat de Barcelona

Department

OPIR- International Research Projects office

Research Field

Anthropology
Cultural studies
Geography
Sociology
Other

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Spain

Application Deadline

23 May 2023 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37,5

Offer Starting Date

1 Sep 2023

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE / ERC

Reference Number

101045424

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to support the Principal Investigator of the European Research Council project FOODCIRCUITS: Hidden Connections Between Migrants and Societies based at the UB. This postdoctoral researcher will conduct field research, community collaboration, academic writing and presentation activities associated with the project throughout 3 years and 8 months (matching the academic year calendar). With collaboration from the PI and support from advisors, this postdoctoral research will lead the Spanish Oranges Circuit of the project.  In addition, this postdoctoral researcher will assist the PI in team leadership, including aspects of preparation, mentorship, collaboration and coordination.   

FOODCIRCUITS seeks to understand the invisibilization of connections between migrants and the societies of which they form part.  The project focuses on bodies and embodiment from a social theoretical perspective when considering invisibilization and connection.  The project will be based in in-depth participant observation (and perhaps observant participation) ethnography with migrant farmworkers, transportation and supply chain workers, and consumers of fruits and vegetables within what the project conceptualizes as “food circuits”.  Based on this in-depth ethnographic fieldwork in food circuits and interacting with social theory, the project will theorize ethno-nationalism and nationalism, mobility and circulation, racialization and racial capitalism, embodiment and health, infrastructure and supply chains, connection and invisibilization in relation to agriculture, food and eating. 

Job description: The postdoctoral researcher will assist the PI in collaboration and leading of the FOODCIRCUITS project and team. Specifically, the postdoctoral researcher will – with collaboration from the PI and support from advisors – lead and enact the Spanish Oranges Circuit of the project.  The postdoctoral researcher will take part in collaborative co-leading of presentation and publication ventures, including conference panels and journal special issues.  The postdoctoral researcher will also help foster visual ethnography, which will be led by a different member of the FOODCIRCUITS team.  The researcher will lead the Spanish Oranges Circuit research and writing, and explore collaborative research and dissemination ventures. We seek highly motivated candidates to:

• work as part of a team in an international, innovative and multi-circuited project,
• conduct in-depth ethnographic field research, with some degree of interest in incorporating embodied and reflexive aspects – particularly leading the Spanish Oranges Circuit of the project with collaboration from the PI and support from advisors,
• help build on, critique, and develop social theory from the context of in-depth fieldwork,
• explore and seek to innovate collaborative research and dissemination activities, and
• write and publish social science articles and chapters from the research – some of which will be co-authored - while taking turns leading special issues of top journals internationally.

Key responsibilities

• Lead Spanish Oranges Circuit of research project
• Conduct in-depth fieldwork with Moroccan and Ecuadorian (including Indigenous) migrant farmworkers (and other migrant/refugee as appropriate), transportation and supply chain workers, and consumers – with collaboration from PI and support from advisors
• Work with PI and circuit advisors to explore and seek respectful ways to engage with Moroccan and Ecuadorian (including Indigenous) migrant workers in fieldwork
• Support PI in preparation of project.
• Help mentor other team members and help support PI in leadership of project team overall
• Travel to and help lead meetings, conferences and presentations.
• Read literature and conduct research to prepare for Spanish Oranges Circuit at the intersection of migration, labor, food systems, embodiment and health, Spain and Morocco and Ecuador (and other places as appropriate), social inequity and racialization.
• Interact and communicate well as the member of an interdisciplinary and multi-circuited project team.
• Seek ways to explore collaborative research and collaborative dissemination – the latter of which could be multi-modal / sensory.
• Analyse ethnographic data and interact actively with other team members through the process of analysis and theorization.
• Write and publish articles and chapters – some co-authored - in top journals in English – and consider other local and regional languages.
• Help in leading the development and publication of special issues to disseminate findings in top journals in English – and consider other local and regional languages.
• Show dedication to writing, publishing, dissemination, and presentation especially during the years of the project as well as, to some degree, after the years of the project. 
• Help support and foster the work of the visual ethnographic member of the team.
• Explore ways for the project to have positive impact on social change beyond the academy. 
• Show dedication and flexibility to the project and its goals of in-depth fieldwork, social science research and positive social change through active dissemination of findings and collaboration, all while on an interdisciplinary team. 
• Participate actively in the activities of the UB research group, including being present at the UB and in Barcelona during crucial times of preparation, analysis, writing, discussion, conferences, workshops and meetings.  Interact actively virtually during times when the team is not present together at the UB and in Barcelona.

Gross salary per year: 41.616,00 €

Requirements

Research Field

Anthropology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Cultural studies

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Geography

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Sociology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Other

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Expertise/Competence/Skills

1. Expertise in ethnographic research methods, ideally with embodied and reflexive components.

2. Interest and expertise in social science and social theory aspects of some of the following: migration, mobility and post-migrancy; transnationalism; racialization and racism, also related to islamophobia as appropriate; indigeneity; discrimination, exclusion and hierarchy; borders and bordering; bodies and embodiment; health and healthcare; social inequity; capitalism; infrastructure; supply chains; food systems; ethno/nationalism; labour. 

3. Evidence of expertise, dedication and motivation to write and publish top-quality publications, including in English.

4. Evidence of ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as evidence of ability to help collaboratively lead aspects of joint processes of a team.

5. Proven effective interpersonal and communication skills including written and oral presentation skills, importantly including in English.

6. Top-level written and verbal command of academic English is required.

7. Knowledge of and interest in social theoretical, ethnographic and social science literatures relevant to migration and its relation to Spain, Morocco and South America.

8. Interest in and some degree of knowledge of collaborative research and dissemination methodologies and techniques.

 

Qualifications (IT/Academic/Vocational)

9. An undergraduate degree in social sciences or related subject.

10. A PhD in in social sciences or related subject with strength in ethnographic field research.

Experience

11. A minimum of two published or accepted articles in top journals in English. 

12. Experience in conducting in-depth ethnographic research, ideally with embodied and reflexive components.

13. Experience working effectively in interdisciplinary contexts and teams.

 

Specific Qualities (e.g. attitudes)

14. Interest and willingness to play an active part in the research team at the University of Barcelona.

15. High level of interest and availability to conduct in-depth field research in distinct sites throughout the circuit.

16. Interest and availability to travel for project meetings and conferences periodically.

17. High level of motivation and dedication to help lead aspects of the dissemination of findings – including writing articles – some of which will be co-authored, helping lead one special issue of a top journal, exploring collaborative means for dissemination.

18. High degree of interest in conducting research that will have positive impacts for social change locally and internationally. 

19. High degree of curiosity about the social world and social theory without foreclosing on pre-existing interpretations or assumptions.

20. High level of energy, excitement, and interest in the topics of the project. 

21. Perseverance, dedication and flexibility to work on a multi-circuited ethnographic project with multiple team-members. 

 

Desirable Criteria:

22. Some experience or at least interest in exploring collaborative means for research and dissemination of research findings.

23. Interest in academic and social impact both in the regions and countries involved in the circuit and beyond, which could include publishing or presenting and disseminating findings in local and regional languages as well as in English (the latter of which is required). 

 

Specific Requirements

Recommended: Catalan basic level

Recommended: French Good Level

Recommended: Indigenous Languages of Ecuador Good Level

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Languages

SPANISH

Level

Excellent

Languages

ARABIC

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Anthropology

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Research Field

Cultural studies

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Research Field

Geography

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Research Field

Sociology

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Research Field

Other

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

• CV (maximum 50)
• Cover letter (maximum 35)
• Referees (maximum 15)

Selection process

Minimum 70 points

Additional comments

Duration of the contract of employment:  3 years with a possibility of extension.

In addition to the salary, the postdoctoral researcher will qualify for full social and health benefits available from Spain and may be eligible for the expatriate tax scheme in Spain.  Furthermore, the postdoctoral researcher will be eligible for a generous amount of additional funds to include: funds for new computer equipment, travel funds for field work, funds for food during field work, and travel and food for presentation at conferences.  In addition, the postdoctoral researcher will be eligible for a funded 1 to 4 months stay as visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. 

The candidate proposed for hiring must accept the job offer within 5 working days   from the date of notification of selection.

Priority will be given to people with disabilities (Law 89/2015 of June 2, reserve of quota 2% in favour of people with disabilities in companies of 50 or more people).

Be aware that the starting date sets in this offer is an estimate date. The official starting date will depend on the bureaucratic time that will take the preparation of the labour contract and presentation of the necessary documents to be hired by the selected candidate.

For additional information regards this offer, please, contact:

Dr. Seth Holmes:  [email protected]

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universitat de Barcelona

Country

Spain

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Barcelona

Postal Code

08034

Street

Montealegre, 6

Where to apply

Website

https://lnnk.in/eUgz

Contact

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Barcelona

Website

http://www.ub.edu/opir

Street

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585.

Postal Code

08007

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED