Postdoctoral Research Associate Position in Anthropology at University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Postdoctoral Research Associate Position in Social Anthropology at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom

About Position/Job

The University of Bristol invites applications for two full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) positions in Social Anthropology as part of the UKRI-funded project INFRACURSIONS: Deregulated Infrastructures of Extraction in Rainforest Frontiers. Led by Dr Amy Penfield, the roles will involve ethnographic research on informal extractive economies in Amazonia. The positions are part of a collaborative and interdisciplinary research team aiming to understand the socio-political, environmental, and legal dimensions of small-scale extraction through immersive fieldwork and innovative methodologies.

Position/Job Details

Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA)
Institution: University of Bristol
Department: Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Research field: Social Anthropology / Human Geography
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom (with fieldwork in South America)
Number of Posts: 2
Job Type: Full-time, Fixed-term (2 years)
Start Date (Anticipated): Summer 2025
Working Hours: Full-time
Salary Range: £37,999 – £43,878 per annum

Research Area

Informal extractive economies
Environmental anthropology
Political ecology
Legal anthropology
Supply chains and infrastructure
Ethnographic and interdisciplinary research in Amazonian

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD in Social Anthropology, Human Geography, or a related discipline
Training in ethnographic fieldwork techniques
Experience in qualitative research methods such as social network analysis or archival research

Preferred Qualifications:

Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese
Experience with South American politics, policy, environment, and extraction
Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills
Willingness to travel and work in South America

Key Responsibilities

Conduct ethnographic fieldwork in Amazonian
Collaborate with remote sensing experts and ethnographers
Contribute to interdisciplinary methodology
Develop and maintain research partnerships
Publish research outcomes and co-organize academic events

Application Process

How to Apply:

Apply online through the University of Bristol’s application portal.
Refer to the “Further Particulars” document for complete details on the project and application instructions.