Postdoctoral Researcher – Cats, Rural Populism, & Multispecies Governance (ERC-CoG, 5 years) Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC) in Spain

This postdoctoral position is part of the ERC Consolidator Grant project FRONTCAT (Frontier Cats: Reimagining Multispecies Governance and Care Ethics beyond Post-politics), hosted at the Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The successful candidate will lead Subproject 1, focusing on the intersection of cats, rural populism, and multispecies governance, with a particular emphasis on the rural–urban divide in Spain.

The research will explore how cat-related conflicts mediate tensions between rural and urban stakeholders, how populist narratives challenge expert-driven interventions, and how ecological expertise and animal-welfare principles are contested in multispecies governance. The project combines rural sociology, anthropology, political ecology, and human–animal studies, employing multi-sited ethnography and discourse analysis as core methodologies.

Key responsibilities include identifying and designing research across rural and urban field sites in Spain, establishing an ethically robust research plan, and engaging with diverse stakeholder groups such as farmers, hunters, ecologists, public officers, and NGOs. The postdoc will conduct participant observation, interviews, and walkabout methods, as well as analyze policy documents, media, and advocacy campaigns to understand how outdoor-cat practices and animal welfare principles are framed and mobilized.

Expected outputs include leading or co-authoring four peer-reviewed publications on topics such as multispecies post-politics, rural populism, digital ethnography, and resistance/legitimacy in governance. The postdoc will also contribute to project-wide activities, including workshops, PhD supervision, and dissemination to both academic and stakeholder audiences.

The position offers a full-time, 5-year contract funded by the ERC (Horizon Europe), covering salary and fieldwork expenses. The interdisciplinary environment at IPNA-CSIC provides opportunities for collaboration across political ecology, rural sociology, STS, and gender studies, as well as engagement with policy arenas and stakeholders.

Applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant field (Sociology, Social Anthropology, Human Geography, Political Ecology, Environmental Humanities, or closely related), demonstrate expertise in rural studies and human-animal studies, and have experience in qualitative fieldwork and analytical writing. Fluency in Spanish and proficiency in English are required. Desirable skills include experience with contested policy arenas, interdisciplinary teamwork, and research ethics in socio-ecological contexts.

To apply, submit a brief CV (max 4 pages) and a short letter (max 1 page) describing your fit and relevant experience to [email protected] by July 15, 2026. For further details, visit the project and institute website or contact the supervisor directly.