Postdoctoral fellowship in frontier ecologies

BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet

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,  etnome@cas.au.dk

For more information about the application, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn, mbb@au.dk

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


Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

The Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).

• Appointments shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

Aarhus University also offers a junior researcher development programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. The application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 550 academic staff members, 240 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.
Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.


Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:

- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:

Aarhus Kommune

-Virksomheden tilbyder:

-Arbejdsgiver:

Aarhus Universitet, Moesgård Allé 20, 8270 Højbjerg

-Ansøgning:

Ansøgningsfrist: 10-03-2024; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet

Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/5990085