About Position / Job
The University of Cologne, one of Europe’s largest and oldest universities, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Social and Cultural Anthropology within the Collaborative Research Center CRC-TRR 228: Future Rural Africa. Future-making and Social-Ecological Transformation. The position is part of the Project Energy Futures, jointly led by the University of Cologne and the University of Bonn, and begins on 1 April 2026. This full-time, fixed-term role focuses on ethnographic research into the socioeconomic impacts of geothermal and renewable energy expansion in Kenya and East Africa. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct extensive qualitative fieldwork, contribute to household surveys, and collaborate in an interdisciplinary research environment addressing future-making and social-ecological change. Embedded in the Global South Studies Center (GSSC), the position offers strong international collaboration, academic visibility, and opportunities to publish and present research at leading conferences.
Position / Job Details
- Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
- Institution: University of Cologne
- Department: Global South Studies Center (GSSC) / CRC-TRR 228
- Research field: Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Location: Cologne, Germany
- Number of posts: 1
- Job Type: Full-time, Fixed-term Postdoctoral Position
- Start Date (Anticipated): April 2026
- Working Hours: 39.83 hours per week
- Salary Range: TV-L E13 (German public sector pay scale)
- Required Degree/Diploma: PhD
Research Area
- Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Energy futures and renewable energy transitions
- Social-ecological transformation
- Ethnographic research in East Africa
- Rural and urban livelihoods in Kenya
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Excellent PhD in Social/Cultural Anthropology or a closely related discipline
- Proven experience in qualitative ethnographic research methods
- Excellent command of written and spoken English
- Willingness to conduct extended fieldwork in East Africa, including urban and rural contexts
Preferred Qualifications:
- Internationally relevant publication record
- Experience working in interdisciplinary research teams
- Strong academic writing and presentation skills
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct ethnographic field studies on the socioeconomic impacts of geothermal and renewable energy projects
- Support the design and implementation of a household survey in Kenya
- Produce individual and collaborative scholarly publications
- Present research findings at international academic conferences
- Participate actively in team meetings in Cologne and Bonn
- Support PhD researchers and contribute to project management within CRC-TRR 228
Application Process
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the University of Cologne job portal.
Required Documents:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Proof of PhD degree
- List of publications
- Relevant academic certificates and documents
Important Dates
- Application Opens: Open now
- Deadline: 18 January 2026
- Interview Date: Not specified
Useful Links
- Institution Website: University of Cologne
- Official Notification Link: Click here
- Apply Now: click here
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