Postdoctoral researcher for DFF Project “THE SOCIAL LIFE OF CRYPTO - How Digital Currencies Impact Informal Economies in the Global South

BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet

The Department of Anthropology, School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for two 30-month postdoctoral positions set to begin February 1st, 2024.

Place of employment: Aarhus University, Department of Anthropology, Moesgaard, 8270 Højbjerg, Denmark.

The postdoctoral researchers will contribute to a DFF-funded project that will examine how cryptocurrencies have become integrated into everyday informal economic practices in countries at the margins of financial and technological power.

The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.

About the project

The project explores the social practices that form around cryptocurrencies and asks what problems they solve for participants in informal economies. It further investigates what new intermediaries gain importance in these novel financial arenas, what communities they afford, and how trust is negotiated in them.

The project will comparatively study three empirical themes: Digital currency systems as (1) generators of informal income (for example via play-to-earn video games), (2) a means to transfer remittances, and (3) alternative local payment and credit systems for unbanked people. The two postdoctoral researchers will conduct fieldwork in the Philippines, and Kenya, where cryptocurrencies have emerged as a significant tool to ease economic hardship.

The position

The successful applicants will be expected to:

• contribute to the development of a comparative research design
• conduct nine months of independent fieldwork within the framework of the project
• present their research results at international meetings and publish results in international outlets
• contribute to the organization of an international conference at Aarhus University
• co-author and publish research results in textual and multimodal formats together with the other project members.

Applicants must submit:

• a concise statement of motivation for applying for the position [maximum two pages]
• Up to 5 of the most relevant publications. Please attach one pdf-file for each publication. Only submitted publications will be assessed; a list of publications is not sufficient. As a result, applications without submitted publications will not be assessed.
• Certificates/Diplomas
• A CV
• A list of publications.
• If available: a project portfolio/ examples of multimodal works (photographs, film, sound work, artistic products, etc.). Such audiovisual materials can be included as links to external media webpages such as Vimeo and YouTube.

Qualifications

Applicants for this position must hold a PhD degree or equal qualifications in anthropology or a related field.

Applicants must document:

• an international research profile including fluency in written and spoken English 
• qualitative research experience in one of the two respective field sites including competence in local languages (The Philippines and Kenya)
• familiarity with relevant methods, theories and critical texts related to digital anthropology, the anthropology of value and money, and/or the anthropology of infrastructures.

Skills in media practice (film, sound, photo, web, performance, exhibition-making) are not required but a plus.

Professional references or recommendations should not be included. Applicants who are selected for an interview may be asked to provide professional references.

The application must be submitted in English.

For further information about the position, please contact steffenkoehn@cas.au.dk

For more information about the application, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn, e-mail mbb@au.dk.

The work environment

The key research environments related to the project are at the Department of Anthropology, and the Eye and Mind Lab.
Read about Department of Anthropology here: https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/anthropology
Read about the Eye and Mind Laboratory here: https://eyeandmind.dk/about/

School of Culture and Society

At the School of Culture and Society the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:

• From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
• From Antiquity to the issues facing contemporary societies
• From local questions to global challenges.

The school’s goal is to produce compelling research with an international resonance, as well as offering teaching and talent development of high quality. The school has a broad cooperative interface with society, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education. 

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to check  family and work-life balance and attractive working conditions for further information about the benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see Taxation aspects of international researchers' employment by AU


Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

The Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).

• Appointments shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

Aarhus University also offers a junior researcher development programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. The application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 550 academic staff members, 240 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.
Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.


Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:

- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:

Aarhus Kommune

-Virksomheden tilbyder:

-Arbejdsgiver:

Aarhus Universitet, Moesgård Allé 20, 8270 Højbjerg

-Ansøgning:

Ansøgningsfrist: 11-09-2023; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet

Ved skriftlig henvendelse: https://AU.emply.net/recruitment/vacancyApply.aspx?publishingId=f1fa82be-1b20-4a4d-8e44-e06ad00b03bf

Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/5891575