Contract PhD Student for ERC Project AnceStra – Restitution of Ancestral Remains in Postcolonial Contexts Ecole des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in France

The Ecole des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris, France, invites applications for a contract PhD student position as part of the ERC-funded project “AnceStra.” EHESS is a renowned graduate-only research institution specializing in the social and human sciences, with a vibrant international community and a strong tradition of interdisciplinary research. The successful candidate will join the Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Politique, a center dedicated to critical and anthropological studies of contemporary societies.

The AnceStra project investigates the meanings attributed to ancestral remains repatriated in postcolonial contexts, focusing on a specific collection from former German colonies in Africa currently housed at the University of Strasbourg. The project employs a sociological and anthropological approach, conducting qualitative studies across France, Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Germany, and Togo. The PhD student will be actively involved in organizing monthly seminars, conferences (including one in Tanzania), team meetings, literature reviews, and collective empirical studies.

The doctoral research will be integrated into the AnceStra project, with a thesis centered on the meanings of ancestral remains for stakeholders involved in restitution processes in Tanzania. The candidate will conduct biographical and semi-structured interviews, ethnographic observations, and group interviews, analyzing concepts such as (post)colonial memory, intergenerational transmission, mourning rituals, transnational memories, and restitution in postcolonial contexts. Comparative approaches, including cross-country analysis, are encouraged.

Specific working conditions include travel and fieldwork in Tanzania and other project countries, teamwork with the project director, manager, and contract researchers, and collaborative interviews. The doctoral student will be enrolled in the EHESS Doctoral School and reside in France for the contract duration. Proficiency in French or willingness to learn is essential; the dissertation may be written in English but must include a substantial French abstract, and the defense will be conducted in both languages.

Funding is provided through Horizon Europe - ERC, offering a gross salary of 2300 € per month for 36 months. Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in the social sciences, have experience in qualitative research, knowledge of restitution debates in postcolonial contexts, and be fluent in English and Swahili. Skills in Word and Excel are required. Applications should include a CV, motivation letter, and research proposal, submitted via the EHESS employment interface by June 1st, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by June 8th and invited to a videoconference interview between June 15th and 19th, 2026. For further information, contact Dr. Elise Pape at [email protected].