Postdoc in Social Anthropology on Yemen, Gender, Descent and Race Austrian Academy of Sciences, The Institute for Social Anthropology in Austria

The Institute for Social Anthropology (ISA) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) in Vienna is offering a 4-year postdoctoral position in Social Anthropology with a focus on Yemen. The post is part of the ERC Advanced Grant project Ideology in Context: An Agential Approach to the Study of Houthism (IDEO-YEMEN), led by Dr. Marieke Brandt.

The advertised position focuses on (In)Equalities: Gender, Descent, and ‘Race’. The successful applicant will investigate how the Houthi/Ansar Allah movement’s gender discourse has changed from the early 2000s to the present and how debates with Zaydi circles, women’s rights groups, and other actors shaped those shifts. The project also asks how the movement positions itself toward racialized and other marginalized minorities, including the Muhamasheen, and how genealogical distinctions of descent (nasab) relate to broader questions of inequality and social hierarchy.

Research for this post cannot include fieldwork in Yemen. Instead, the project relies on remote and digital ethnography, analysis of Arabic-language texts and media, and engagement with Yemeni diaspora communities. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to contribute to the project’s theoretical framework, collective outputs, dissemination activities, and scholarly events, while also developing an independent research profile.

The position is research-only and full-time (40 hours/week), based in Vienna. It starts on 1 March 2027 and runs until 28 February 2031, initially for 12 months and renewable for a further 36 months after positive evaluation. The annual gross salary is EUR 70,167.44 according to the OeAW collective agreement.

Applicants must hold a PhD in Social Anthropology or a closely related discipline by 1 March 2027, and the degree should normally be no more than six years old, with recognised career interruptions taken into account. Strong English and Arabic skills are essential. Experience with digital or remote fieldwork is valued, as is familiarity with Yemen-related literature and a strong publication record or realistic publication plan.

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF via the online portal by 30 September 2026. Required materials include a cover letter, a 3-page project proposal, a scientific CV with publications, scans of academic diplomas, two writing samples, and the names and contact details of two referees. Interviews are planned for October 2026.

This is a well-funded postdoctoral opportunity within a prestigious international research project at a leading Austrian research institution, offering generous conference and open-access publication support, an interdisciplinary environment, and no teaching duties.