Postdoctoral Researcher at Aarhus University, Denmark

About Position/Job

The Department of Anthropology at the School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher in the Mobilities, Imaginaries & Articulations (MIA) project. Funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (2024–2028), the project explores the everyday experiences of youth in urban peripheries in Nouakchott, Cape Town, and Nairobi. This 18-month position offers an opportunity to contribute to innovative multimodal, comparative anthropological research focusing on African urban peripheries.

The position begins 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter and includes significant fieldwork in Cape Town, with a base at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Position/Job Details

Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Institution: Aarhus University
Department: Department of Anthropology, School of Culture and Society
Research Field: Urban Anthropology, African Studies, Multimodal Ethnography
Location: Aarhus, Denmark (fieldwork in Cape Town, South Africa)
Number of Post: 1
Job Type: Full-time, Postdoctoral
Start Date (Anticipated): 1 September 2025
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary Range: As per the Danish collective labour agreement
Required Degree/Diploma: PhD

Research Area

Urban Anthropology and African Youth
Cape Flats ethnography
Multimodal and audiovisual research
Participatory research methodologies
Archival and collaborative research
Sound, video, and photographic documentation

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD in Anthropology, History, Urban Studies, Cultural Heritage, Film/Media, or related field
Fluency in English (written and spoken)
Experience in qualitative field research in Cape Town (preferably Cape Flats)
Familiarity with relevant critical literature on multimodality, youth studies, urban Africa

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of Afrikaans
Experience with film, sound, and/or photography
Prior engagement with collaborative/public-oriented scholarship
Ability to contribute to teaching (BA/MA level)
Skills in organizing academic/public events

Key Responsibilities

Conduct 6 months of fieldwork in the Cape Flats, Cape Town
Contribute to comparative research design and analysis
Publish at least two peer-reviewed journal articles
Co-author multimedia research outputs with project team
Organise workshops and exhibitions in Cape Town and Aarhus
Teach (up to 20% FTE) by agreement with the department
Present research at international conferences
Support the creation of a multimodal digital archive

Application Process

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the Aarhus University recruitment portal. A motivation letter and a project proposal for Cape Town fieldwork are required.

Required Documents:

Motivation letter (including interest and proposed contribution – max. 3 pages)
CV (max. 2 pages)
Two submitted publications (PDFs only)
Degree certificates
Project portfolio/multimodal work samples (optional, via links e.g. Vimeo/YouTube)

Note: Applications without submitted publications will not be assessed.