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Postdoctoral Position in Anthropology, Kalahari Landscapes, Cattle Production, and Environmental Anthropology Aarhus University in Denmark
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Anthropology
Funding
2-year fixed-term full-time postdoctoral position at Aarhus University. Salary and terms are governed by Danish collective agreements; the post is employed as a postdoctoral fellow at base pay level 4–8 with additional supplements. The project is funded by the Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond/Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF).
Deadline
Oct 6, 2026
Country
Denmark
University
Aarhus University
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About this position
Postdoctoral position in Anthropology at Aarhus University, Denmark
Aarhus University’s Department of Anthropology (School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts) is inviting applications for a 2-year, full-time postdoctoral position in the project “Beyond the Hoof: How Cattle Production shaped landscapes and anthropological knowledge of the Kalahari Desert.” The project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) and is led by associate professor Pierre du Plessis.
The post focuses on the social and ecological impacts of cattle production and cattle infrastructures in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. The successful candidate will lead a research package on contemporary cattle expansion in historical hunting-and-gathering territory, including cultural and natural heritage, human-wildlife interactions, community perceptions, and landscape change. Methods include ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, community-based mapping, oral histories, archival research, and participation in ecological surveys.
Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent in anthropology or a related field such as environmental humanities, geography, political ecology, or archaeology. Strong ethnographic experience is required, ideally with southern African field experience. The post also calls for familiarity with hunter-gatherer and pastoral economies, indigenous land use, territorial access, agroecology, multispecies ethnography, landscape analysis, and the history of anthropology. Interdisciplinary collaboration with social and natural scientists is an important part of the role.
The position is based at Aarhus University in Denmark, and the successful applicant must reside in Denmark while employed. Fieldwork periods of 3–4 months in Botswana are expected in both 2027 and 2028. The deadline is 2026-10-06, and applications must be submitted in English through Aarhus University’s recruitment system.
Application materials include a cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of degree certificates, and up to two publication samples. No references should be included at the application stage. For more information, contact Pierre du Plessis at [email protected] or HR at [email protected].
Funding details
2-year fixed-term full-time postdoctoral position at Aarhus University. Salary and terms are governed by Danish collective agreements; the post is employed as a postdoctoral fellow at base pay level 4–8 with additional supplements. The project is funded by the Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond/Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF).
What's required
Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent qualifications in anthropology, environmental humanities, geography, political ecology, or archaeology. Required experience includes immersive ethnographic field research, preferably in southern Africa, and demonstrated original research on landscapes, more-than-human relations, infrastructure, agricultural development, human-wildlife conflict, hunter-gatherer and/or pastoral economies, foraging and herding livelihoods, indigenous land use, property/territorial access, historical and archival sources, and historical ethnography. Fluency in English is required; familiarity with regional languages is advantageous. Experience with interdisciplinary research across social and natural sciences is beneficial. The successful candidate must be willing to reside in Denmark and conduct fieldwork in Botswana for 3-4 months in both 2027 and 2028.
How to apply
Submit the application through Aarhus University’s recruitment system via the job advertisement page. Include a cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of degree certificates, and up to two publication examples. Applications must be in English and should not include references unless requested later.
More information can be found here
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