Two Postdoctoral Researchers in Urban Anthropology of Africa

The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki invites applications for the position of    

2 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN URBAN ANTHROPOLOGY OF AFRICA
 

for a fixed term period of 18 months, starting as agreed, but latest in June 2025.

These full-time positions are part of Dr Lalli Metsola’s project Vital infrastructures and Urban Residential Politics, funded by the Academy of Finland and the University of Helsinki. Dr Metsola is an urban and political anthropologist who has carried out research on urban precarity, state formation, and ex-combatants in Namibia and Botswana.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Vital infrastructures and Urban Residential Politics project studies solutions that arise from the needs and aspirations of urban inhabitants in precarious circumstances.

How do these ‘vital infrastructures’ interact with other forces and materials that participate in city-making? What social, transactional, experiential, and political patterns do such practices generate and what effects do they have on the making of urban space and its everyday governance?

The project approaches these questions through four dimensions:

•    The theme of governing focuses on the effects of various regulatory tools as well as the diversity of residents’ political agency.
•    The theme of inhabiting explores the ways in which residents seek to entrench themselves in place and social fabric, the daily solutions related to basic needs, as well as the webs of relations, exchanges, and obligations that these solutions mobilize.
•    The theme of experiencing relates to the sensory and affective aspects of living in precarious urban circumstances.
•    Finally, the theme of spacing analyses city-making through the interaction of multiple forces over time, and how the cumulative pressure of resident solutions changes the face of the city.

We focus on three different African urban contexts – Windhoek which is covered by the PI, and two others covered by the postdoctoral fellows. The aim is to produce detailed ethnographic knowledge on the above themes in each individual context, as well as to work comparatively to generate novel conceptual resources on the urban condition in our rapidly changing world.

ABOUT THE POSITIONS

We are looking for researchers with a doctoral degree in socio-cultural anthropology or other relevant social science discipline, who have a track record of successful ethnographic fieldwork in African urban contexts. Familiarity with anthropological and social science theorizations of precarity, infrastructures, and urban politics is considered an advantage.

The main task of each appointed researcher is to coordinate and conduct ethnographic research in a selected African urban context, preferably at a field site where they have prior experience, language proficiency and connections. It is therefore required that applicants specify the context that they propose to work in and give a clear account of their competence for carrying out empirical research at their suggested site. The appointed researchers are also expected to contribute to the project’s theoretical aims on the basis of their ethnographic findings. Other main tasks include writing publications individually and jointly, actively participating in other research activities of the group, and contributing to teaching in Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Helsinki (up to 5% time commitment annually).

QUALIFICATIONS  

The appointees must hold a doctoral degree in anthropology or a related discipline; have the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research team; and have strong communication and academic writing skills in English. The default assumption is that the degree requirement must be met by the beginning of the employment. The period following the completion of doctoral degree should not exceed four years, excluding family leave and equivalent periods of absence. The chosen applicants are expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki.

WHAT WE OFFER  

We are an equal opportunity employer and offer an attractive and diverse workplace in an inspiring environment with a variety of development opportunities and benefits. The annual gross salary range will be approximately €43,000 – €47,000, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. In addition, University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and opportunities for professional development. The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months. The Faculty of Social Sciences provides assistance in relocation.

Finland is a member of the European Union, has high quality free schooling (also in English) and generous family benefits and healthcare. Finland was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families, and Helsinki in the world’s top ten most livable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region feature leading research and innovation facilities, clean environment, affordable accommodation, and excellent international, national, and local transport connections. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see the websites.

HOW TO APPLY  

Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link "Apply now" below. Use your current email address to register to the Recruitment System. Only applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the link "Employee login". The closing date for applications is 23.1.2025.

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following documents in English:

1) A curriculum vitae, 2) A statement (max 2 pages) outlining how the applicant would contribute to the project, highlighting the proposed field site as well as the particular phenomena or interests you might want to pursue, and 3) A numbered list of publications on which the applicant has marked in bold their three key publications to be considered during the review.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in February 2025. Detailed information on the CV and list of publications can be obtained online.

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minorities.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information about the positions and the research project may be obtained from Dr Lalli Metsola, email lalli.metsola@helsinki.fi.