3 Postdoctoral research positions
The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is a leading centre 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 theory building, although there is also an applied dimension to much of our work, as well as legal and political topicality.
The Law & Anthropology Department invites applications for
3 Postdoctoral research positions
Background
One of the aims of the Law & Anthropology Department is to offer a stimulating interdisciplinary forum where both anthropologists and lawyers can engage with one another and conduct cutting-edge, policy-relevant research linked to the intensification of exchanges and encounters among and between societies, communities, and cultures in today’s world. Of particular interest for this call are projects that that engage in empirically informed research in an effort to find legislative, administrative, judicial, or practical solutions to issues of accommodating diversity (cultural, religious, ethnic, etc.) under state law. Appointees will contribute to the development of the Department’s research agenda, not only by gaining insights into how solutions in concrete cases could – or could not – be achieved, but also to critically assess the various normative frameworks within which accommodation takes place. Appointees are expected to engage with the methodological and epistemological challenges that accompany the effort to combine law and anthropology.
Both lawyers and anthropologists who are actively involved in the study of the accommodation of diversity are welcome to apply. Preference will be given to research proposals that address the European context.
Prerequisites
1) an excellent PhD (or other doctoral degree) in law, social / cultural anthropology, or other relevant discipline in the human sciences;
2) clear evidence of familiarity with the topic addressed in the research proposal;
3) an interest in empirical field research (this can include relevant legal practice);
4) a solid publication record with articles in peer-reviewed journals;
5) excellent command of written and spoken English and evidence of other relevant language skills (depending on the topic and the regional focus).
Successful applicants are expected to collaborate with the other colleagues in the Department, contribute to teamwork and a collegial atmosphere, and generally strive to ensure cross-fertilization within the Department. This includes the expectation that they provide informal supervision to doctoral students. For those wishing to gain teaching experience, opportunities exist at the Martin Luther University in Halle. The Department is currently developing a new project that seeks to gather information on judicial cases related to religious and cultural diversity from different European countries and organize it in the form of a database. Postdoctoral researchers will be expected to contribute data from their own fields to help build up this major research instrument.
Positions are to start on 1 October 2018. Employment will be on a full-time contractual basis. Remuneration will be awarded in accordance with Germany’s Collective Wage Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD). The positions are awarded for three years, and are open to an extension, subject to a positive evaluation, for those envisaging a (German) ‘Habilitation’ degree.
The workplace is Halle/Saale (Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany).
The Max Planck Society is committed to raising the proportion of women in science; we thus explicitly encourage applications from female researchers. Individuals with disabilities will be given priority, assuming equal qualifications.
Application procedure
Applicants are asked to submit the following materials:
- cover letter
- curriculum vitae, including full list of publications
- writing sample (chapter or article length)
- 1-2 page summary of the doctoral thesis
- a detailed project proposal (max. 5 pages) providing evidence that the project can be completed within the scheduled three years and information on how the research will be disseminated (publications envisaged, etc.).
- photocopies of university degrees
- 3 letters of recommendation (to be sent directly to: marencakova@eth.mpg.de).
Please submit your application materials electronically by 31 January 2018 by following the link for vacancies on our homepage (under ‘Career’), or by going directly to the online application form using the link below.
Interviews with shortlisted applicants will be held in spring 2018.
If you have further questions regarding the application procedure, please contact:
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Personnel Administration
Janka Diallo (jdiallo@eth.mpg.de)
We look forward to receiving your completed online application under:
https://recruitingapp-5034.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/340/Application/New/2%3Flang=eng
Further information on the research agenda of the Max Planck Institute is available on our website: http://www.eth.mpg.de
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5 Positions for Doctoral Students
The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is a leading centre 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 theory building, although there is also an applied dimension to much of our work, as well as legal and political topicality.
The Law & Anthropology Department invites applications for
5 Positions for Doctoral Students
Background
One of the aims of the Law & Anthropology Department is to offer a stimulating interdisciplinary forum where both lawyers and anthropologists can engage with one another and conduct cutting-edge, policy-relevant research linked to the intensification of exchanges and encounters among and between societies, communities, and cultures in today’s world. This calls for an in-depth assessment of the ways in which different normative orders and systems of morality coexist at various levels of decision-making.
This call invites research proposals that address the European context. The object is to allow a small group of doctoral students to assess, both from a legal and from an empirical point of view, some of the challenges that come with requests – both before public authorities (including the judiciary) and in private relationships – to accommodate, directly or indirectly, the increasing social, cultural, and demographic diversity in Europe today.
Within the framework of this call, three scenarios/challenges in particular are under scrutiny: (1) situations in which fundamental rights and liberties are in conflict with one another; (2) situations or practices that are not recognized or are explicitly denied validity under state law; (3) situations that are addressed very differently in the several domestic legal orders of European countries. Research proposals will focus on at least one of the three abovementioned scenarios/challenges, and applicants should make clear to what extent their project engages with both law and anthropology.
Prerequisites:
1) an academic degree (master’s or equivalent) in law or social / cultural anthropology in hand at the time of taking up the position (1 October 2018), with outstanding results;
2) evidence of serious interest in law & anthropology;
3) willingness to conduct empirical field research (this may require familiarity with relevant legal practice);
4) very good command of written and spoken English;
5) evidence of proficiency in other relevant languages.
Applicants are expected to work in interdisciplinary collaboration with the other colleagues in the Department, and should therefore have an intrinsic interest in interdisciplinary as well as team work.
Positions are to start on 1 October 2018. They are awarded for three years, with the possibility of two six-month extensions (pending a positive evaluation). Employment will be on a full-time contractual basis. The workplace is Halle/Saale (Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany).
Please note that the Max Planck Institutes do not award doctoral degrees. Doctoral students must therefore enrol at a university in or outside Germany. The choice of university will be agreed jointly by the successful applicant and the director of the Department of Law & Anthropology (for practical reasons, most PhD students enrol at the Martin Luther University in Halle, but that is not a requirement).
The Max Planck Society is committed to raising the proportion of women in science; we thus explicitly encourage applications from female researchers. Individuals with disabilities will be given priority, assuming equal qualifications.
Application procedure
Applicants are asked to submit the following materials:
- cover letter;
- curriculum vitae, including a formal record of university courses and degree credentials and list of publications (if any);
- a succinct description (3 to 5 pages) of the doctoral project the applicant intends to pursue;
- two letters of recommendation from professors, teachers, or professional supervisors who are well acquainted with the work of the applicant (letters to be sent directly to the Department at marencakova@eth.mpg.de).
Please submit your application materials electronically by 31 January 2018 by following the link for vacancies on our homepage (under ‘Career’), or by going directly to the online application form using the link below.
Interviews with shortlisted applicants will be held in spring 2018.
If you have further questions regarding the application procedure, please contact:
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Personnel Administration
Janka Diallo (jdiallo@eth.mpg.de)
We look forward to receiving your completed online application under:
https://recruitingapp-5034.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/341/Application/New/2%3Flang=eng
Further information on the research agenda of the Max Planck Institute is available on our website: http://www.eth.mpg.de