News

The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented University with an internationally competitive and interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. At the University of Bayreuth, the Chair for Social Anthropology is advertising two positions in two projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as

Doctoral Research Assistant (m/f/d)

for a fixed term of three years with 65% of the regular weekly working hours of a full-time employee. Remuneration is in accordance with pay group 13 TV-L.

The Chair of Social Anthropology shares research interests and expertise in theoretical areas such as kinship, generations, gender, age, and life course, as well as ethnographic topics ranging from care, class and migration to pandemics, labor and education.

Tasks:

Both research projects are concerned with the research-based accompaniment of young people in the north of the Republic of Benin. One research project is concerned with the apprenticeship of young people in villages who are learning the crafts of weaving, pottery, and/or blacksmithing.

The second research project, in the same region, is concerned with the pathways to adulthood of urban youth who are learning various technical professions and trades. 

Both projects will be part of larger research networks with international colleagues. In both projects, the work will be comparative, transnational and team-based. The employees’ tasks will be to conduct the sub-studies in Benin, as doctoral research projects leading to PhD qualification. In addition, each research assistant will carry out organizational tasks such as organizing workshops, identifying and collecting relevant literature, organizing and analyzing research data, communicating research findings in publication, and maintaining the project website. The willingness to undertake long research stays in West Africa and to travel to the countries in which the comparative studies are based is a pre-requisite.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in ethnology / social and cultural anthropology (or neighbouring disciplines)
  
• some experience in ethnographic field research (e.g. during Master’s studies)
• very good knowledge of ethnographic methods
• very good knowledge of English
• working knowledge of French
• willingness to acquire basic knowledge of Dendi or Baatonum
• willingness to undertake long research stays in the Republic of Benin
• willingness to work in a team, including by sharing research data
• resilience and openness to work with differently positioned people (research participants, local research assistants, colleagues from countries in the Global South and North) and the ability to reflect on one’s own role
• experience in the organization of workshops
• very good computer skills

Scientific Environment: 

an interesting, varied job in a research-focused environment
a good working atmosphere in a supportive chair team
the compatibility of family and work, a care-sensitive working environment and support for non-conventional configurations of research
an opportunity to undertake a doctorate at the internationally renowned doctoral school, BIGSAS
an excellent academic environment within the framework of African Studies at the University of Bayreuth

The University of Bayreuth values the diversity of its employees and is expressly committed to the goal of equal opportunities for men and women. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. First-time graduates and applicants with children are expressly welcome. The University of Bayreuth is a member of the best-practice club ‘Familie in der Hochschule e.V.’ and has successfully participated in the HRK audit ‘Internationalisation of the University’. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if equally qualified.

Your application

Please apply online with meaningful application documents (including a letter of motivation, a summary of the Master’s thesis, curriculum vitae, and certificates) by 01.01.2025 using the keyword “Handwerk” via our application portal at the University of Bayreuth. The documents will be deleted after the position has been filled in accordance with data protection requirements.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Erdmute Alber, holder of the Chair of Social Anthropology (erdmute.alber@uni-bayreuth.de; Tel. +49 (0)921 / 55-4121).

To the Applicant Portal Uni Bayreuth