Postdoctoral Position in Socio-Cultural Studies, France |HigherJobz

About Position/Job

The Savoie Mont Blanc University (USMB) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Socio-Cultural Studies. This Position is a part of the ANR-funded ECOS Project (The Emotional Consumption of Vulnerable Spaces). This two-year position is jointly affiliated with the IREGE laboratory (USMB, Chambéry) in the first year and the MRM laboratory (University of Perpignan Via Domitia) in the second year, in close collaboration with the LUMEN laboratory (University of Lille).

The postdoc will focus on investigating how visible environmental changes—such as glacier retreat, drought, coastal erosion, and extreme climate events—shape emotional experiences, consumption patterns, and socio-cultural practices in vulnerable regions. Using a multi-sited ethnographic approach, the researcher will conduct fieldwork in the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Alps, gathering qualitative data to examine how individuals, communities, and markets adapt to ecological vulnerability. This is a unique opportunity to work across disciplines in anthropology, management sciences, geography, and cultural studies within an international research network.

Position/Job Details

Position: Postdoctoral Researcher – Socio-Cultural Studies of Environmental Change
Institution: Savoie Mont Blanc University
Department: IREGE Laboratory (Year 1), MRM Laboratory (Year 2)
Research Field: Management Sciences, Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Geography, Sociology
Location: Chambéry, France (Year 1) and Perpignan, France (Year 2)
Number of Posts: 1
Job Type: Full-time, fixed-term Postdoc (2 years)
Start Date (Anticipated): 9 October 2025
Working Hours: Full-time
Salary Range: As per institutional guidelines
Required Degree/Diploma: PhD

Research Area

Emotional consumption and environmental vulnerability
Climate change impacts on lifestyles and markets
Socio-cultural perspectives on consumption practices
Ethnographic fieldwork and multi-sited qualitative research

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD in management sciences, anthropology, geography, cultural studies, sociology, or related discipline
Strong expertise in qualitative research methods and ethnographic approaches
Knowledge of socio-cultural and market dynamics in the context of environmental change
Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary research team

Preferred Qualifications:

Research interest in eco-anxiety, solastalgia, and emotional vulnerability
Experience with fieldwork in environmentally sensitive regions
Publications in peer-reviewed journals on related themes

Key Responsibilities

Conduct in-depth ethnographic fieldwork in the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Alps
Carry out semi-structured interviews with local residents, tourism workers, farmers, and institutions
Analyse the emotional, socio-cultural, and economic dynamics of vulnerable territories
Contribute to research on sustainable consumption and adaptive practices in the Anthropocene
Collaborate with project teams at USMB, University of Perpignan, and University of Lille
Disseminate research outcomes through publications, conferences, and workshops