Postdoctoral positions in Social Anthropology: The Social Life of Dead Bodies. A new ethnograph[...]

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Postdoctoral positions in Social Anthropology: The Social Life of Dead Bodies. A new ethnographic approach to migrant deaths in and around the Mediterranean Sea.

The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites candidates for two postdoctoral positions in the research project "The Social Life of Dead Bodies: A new ethnographic approach to migrant deaths in and around the Mediterranean Sea" from 1 September 2025. The positions consist of 36 months each and have no teaching requirements.

About The Research Project

The postdoc positions are part of the research project “The Social Life of Dead Bodies: A new ethnographic approach to migrant deaths in and around the Mediterranean Sea” [SOLID 101163777] funded by the European Research Council through an ERC Starting Grant. SOLID is led by Principle Investigator Dr. Anja Simonsen.

Thousands of people have died in the attempt to migrate into Europe through irregular channels. In fact, 2023 has seen the highest number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean since 2017. The SOLID research project seeks to explore which roles the dead bodies play in the social world of the living as the different actors respond to migrant deaths. It does so by employing a research strategy that is ethnographic, global, and collaborative as it brings together forensic, social, economic, humanitarian, political, and criminological actors and perspectives on the same unidentified bodies of deceased migrants. The project focuses on four field sites: Somaliland as a country of origin, Morocco as a busy transit point for irregular migration, and Spain and Greece as destination countries. The fieldwork for the three subprojects is divided into three phases. SOLID makes use of two methodological approaches across the four field sites and three subprojects: qualitative methods (semi-structured interviews, participant observation, generative collaborative workshops), and quantitative methods (statistical information, recurring images of anonymous and unrecognised dead migrant bodies).

Job content

Postdoc Position 1:

The postdoc will be in charge of subproject 2. In subproject 2, 'Tracing narratives and testimonies', the Postdoc will explore narratives of irregular migration and migrant death through the stories of migrants, relatives, and humanitarian workers at the transit point of Morocco and through the testimonies extracted from dead migrant bodies at the Laboratorio de Medicina legal de la Universidad de Malaga in Spain. These testimonies reveal evidence of poverty in the country of origin, abuse or torture en route or at transit points, and ultimately of harmful death in or close to Europe. The Postdoc will look specifically at how humanitarian organisations are used and get involved in the search for missing migrants.

Qualifications

Appointment as a postdoc presumes research qualifications on at least PhD level. The candidates will be assessed according to the following qualifications:

• Specialization: PhD degree in anthropology or a related field.
• Methods: Proficiency in ethnographic data collection is required. Experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods will be considered an asset.
• Analysis and writing: The ability to develop critical analyses and produce high-quality academic texts.
• Dissemination: Experience in disseminating research for audiences in public and private sectors.
• Research experience: Experience in conducting research among hard-to-reach research participants on issues related to migration, death, policy, forensic anthropology, or related fields and/or in Morocco and Spain will be considered an asset.
• Language: Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken. Excellent/Good language skills in Arabic, French, and/or Spanish will be considered an asset.

Postdoc Position 2:

The Postdoc will be in charge of subproject 3. In subproject 3, 'Exploring political decision-making and generative collaborations', the Postdoc will conduct fieldwork among Spanish and Greek politicians to explore how national and European policies on migration and migrant deaths are developed and implemented.

How To Apply

Submit a complete application at our online portal. Your application must be written in English and include the following documents:

• Cover Letter (max one page)
• Research plan (max. three pages)
• Curriculum vitae (max two pages)
• Documentation of qualifications (PhD diploma, Master’s diploma)
• List of publications
• Applicants may choose a maximum of one publication for assessment.

Terms of Employment

• Further information on qualification requirements as postdoc can be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.
• Terms of appointment and salary is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• The salary range starts at DKK 38,575 per month + a 17.1 % contribution to the pension scheme.

The closing date for applications is 3 March 2025 23:59 [CET]

Applications or enclosures received thereafter will not be considered.