The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is one of the 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.

Department 'Resilience and Transformation in Eurasia' of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is looking forward to refill 

The Project

REALEURASIA (Realising Eurasia: Civilisation and Moral Economy in the 21st Century) is a multidisciplinary comparative project rooted in economic anthropology and is supported by the European Research Council (see http://www.eth.mpg.de/erc_realeurasia).

As the project enters its final two years, a postdoctoral researcher is sought in the field of economic anthropology or an adjacent field (such as sociology or economic history). Familiarity with the concept of moral economy and/or civilisational theory are an advantage.

Your Profile

Good research skills, the ability to work in a team, and communication skills with good written and spoken English are required. As a rule dissertations and academic publications are written in English. Postdoctoral applicants should either be in possession of a Ph.D. in anthropology, sociology/economic history or a related discipline or submit evidence indicating that such a dissertation will be finished and submitted before the designated starting date.

Acquisition of the 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

The position advertised here is at the postdoctoral level. Postdoctoral research for REALEURASIA may or may not include a fieldwork component.

The workplace is Halle/Saale (Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany), except when undertaking field research.

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

Please submit your application electronically by 31 August 2017 following the link for vacancies on our homepage.

Applicants should send the following documentation:

• cover letter
• CV including a list of publications
• two-page summary of the proposed research, which should demonstrate clear links both to the applicant’s previous work and qualifications and to the respective research field
• one writing sample (e.g. a published work, or a chapter from a PhD)
• university degrees
• names of two referees, whom we may contact

Informal enquiries may be directed to Principal Investigator Chris Hann (hann@eth.mpg.de) and Scientific Coordinator Lale Yalçın-Heckmann (yalcin@eth.mpg.de).

We look forward to receiving your completed online application.