Zusammenfassung
- Was Stellenangebot — Doctoral Student
- Wann to (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)
- Wo Halle — Deutschland
- URL https://recruitingapp-5034.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/525/Description/2
- Termin herunterladen iCal Datei herunterladen
Beschreibung
The Department of Anthropology of Economic Experimentation is offering a position for
Doctoral Student for “an Urban Anthropology of the Nearby in China”
The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle (Saale) 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.
Background
Departmental activities have been highlighting the nearby, as the physical and social space connecting home and the intimately familiar on the one hand with the anonymous urban environment and the larger world on the other. We notice a growing sense that this space is under threat, vacated by people's increasing reliance on securitised access, electronic communication, and delivery services, so that a crucial source of social experience is diminished. We seek to support ethnographic projects that address the ongoing significance of the nearby in contemporary Chinese urban experience, both by studying people's individual perceptions of and engagements with this space and by looking at collective efforts to resuscitate and shape it. Such initiatives may centre on neighbourhood sociality, economic revitalisation, ecological concerns, the built environment, the provision of care, and artistic expression, among other possibilities.
Tasks and Profile
The essential duty of the PhD student will be to develop, write and submit a PhD dissertation on a subject of relevance to this project. This should include a substantial period of ethnographic field research.
The candidate should have completed a master’s degree or equivalent at a German university or international university of similar standing, either in social anthropology or a closely related discipline. You have a genuine interest in empirical research that draws on the theories and methods of social anthropology. Ideally, you will also have training in philosophy, art and aesthetics, urban studies, or social design. You should be proficient in English and have a strong foundation in Chinese.
The Offer
The PhD position is awarded for three years, with the possibility of an extension up to 12 months (pending a positive evaluation). Employment will be on a full-time, contractual basis, with sufficient additional funding for fieldwork. The workplace is Halle (Saale), a dynamic, historical town in central Germany (Sachsen-Anhalt) that is home to the renowned Martin Luther University and numerous scientific institutions. The MPI offers a job ticket, company health management, and childcare services in cooperation with local day-care centres.
The successful candidate will be integrated into the Institute’s International Max Planck Research School “Global Multiplicities” (https://www.imprs-gm.mpg.de), which offers comprehensive structured doctoral training and scientific exchange with doctoral students from our partner universities (MLU, Leipzig University and FAU).
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
Contact
Please submit your application electronically by 30 April 2026 following the link for vacancies on our homepage (under ‘Career’), or by going directly to the online application form using the link below.
- Signed cover letter explaining your interest in, and suitability for, the positions
- Curriculum vitae including a list of publications
- Three-page proposal for a dissertation project, including details about the state of preparation, methodology, and a possible timeline
- Writing sample (e.g., a publication or chapter from master’s thesis)
- Copies of all relevant degree certificates and academic transcripts from both the bachelor’s and master’s level
Informal enquiries concerning the positions may be directed to Jeremy Rayner (rayner[at]eth.mpg.de).
If you have any questions about the application, please contact:
Human resources management
Nadine Wagenbrett (wagenbrett[at]eth.mpg.de)
