The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is one of the world’s leading centres for research in social anthropology. Common to all research projects at the Max Planck Institute is the comparative analysis of social change; it is primarily in this domain that its researchers contribute to anthropological theory, though many programmes also have applied significance and political topicality.
The Research Group ‘Integration and Conflict along the Upper Guinea Coast (West Africa)’ headed by Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Knörr is offering:
2 PhD positions
starting 1st of February 2015 (or as soon as possible thereafter).
The research group is part of the Department I “Integration and Conflict” and is currently the only group of anthropologists worldwide engaging in long-term systematic and comparative research on this particular region of the world. We study the region’s involvement in transregional and transnational interactions which occur as the result of current processes of (re-)integration and conflict and as the legacy of the historical expansion of colonialism and the Atlantic slave trade. We study integration and conflict as interrelated dimensions of social relationships and alliances, identifications and identity constructions within society at large. Further information can be found on our website: http://www.eth.mpg.de.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The group is open to research in all countries along the Upper Guinea Coast of West Africa and concerning transnational connections and interactions involving Upper Guinea Coast societies. The group will work together in Halle/Saale (except when undertaking field or archival research elsewhere, the costs of which will be covered).
Your Profile
Good field research skills, the ability to work in a team, communication skills with good written and spoken English are required. Acquisition of German language is encouraged, especially if there is relevant literature on the research topic in German. Field Research is carried out in the local language. The Max Planck Institute aims at assisting in language learning.
Our offer
PhD positions are generally awarded for 3 years, with the possibility of two six-month extensions. We expect our PhD students to complete a one year period of fieldwork as part of their studies.
The Max Planck Society strives to employ more persons with disabilities and explicitly encourages applications. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society is committed to raising the proportion of women in underrepresented fields; we thus explicitly encourage applications by women.
Contact
There is no application form, but applications should include the following standard documentation:
- Cover letter
- CV, including a list of publications
- Project proposal (two to four pages only)
- Photocopies of university degrees
- Names of 2-3 referees, who may be contacted for confidential references
Please submit your application electronically by 1st of November 2014 following the link for vacancies on our homepage.
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Nadine Wagenbrett
wagenbrett@eth.mpg.de
Informal inquiries may be directed to Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Knörr: knoerr@eth.mpg.de