Bram Büscher

We are looking for

The Sociology of Development and Change Group (SDC) at Wageningen University seeks a candidate for a (sandwich*) Postdoc in Political Ecology, as part of the Netherlands Research Foundation (NWO) funded VIDI project entitled Crisis Conservation: Saving Nature in Times and Spaces of Exception, led by Prof. Bram Büscher. Candidates with a background in relevant social sciences (anthropology, geography, sociology, political science, etc.) will be considered, especially candidates who have recently completed a PhD in the broad areas of environment and development, political ecology and conservation with a focus on crisis, conflict and/or violence. Your main responsibility will be to develop and carry out your own research project within the broad remit of the Crisis Conservation project, to publish articles based on your previous work and to contribute to the project in a broad sense (develop the website, co-organising activities, presenting at conferences, supporting the PhDs in the project, and so forth). Besides these core activities, you are expected to do some teaching and supervision of Msc theses (especially in development theory and political ecology).

We ask

As a Sandwich Postdoc in political ecology you have:

• a PhD in anthropology, sociology, geography, or a related field;
• proven or demonstrable ability to publish in high-quality academic journals and with top academic publishers;
• ability to work in interdisciplinary and international research teams;
• excellent communication and writing skills;
• good didactic qualities and enthusiasm for teaching and working with students;
• a willingness to contribute to the intellectual life of the SDC chair group and the Wageningen Centre for Space, Place and Society;
• a willingness to do (ethnographic) fieldwork

We offer

We offer a temporary sandwich postdoc contract for 40 hours per week and a monthly allowance of 2100,- EUR. You will be given the opportunity to develop your own research line. The postdoc includes additional funds for research, conferences, etc.

To apply

To apply for this position, please submit an application letter to secretariaat.sade AT wur.nl, indicating your suitability for the position and some first ideas about the direction you would want to take in the sandwich postdoc position, and how this would contribute to the goals and themes of the project (for more information on the project, see: https://crisisconservation.org/). Besides the letter, please include your Curriculum Vitae and one writing sample (a published paper or a chapter of your dissertation).

Contact info

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Prof. dr. Bram Büscher  (bram.buscher AT wur.nl or +31 317 48 2015 or 2075)
Deadline for application: 25 April 2018. Please note that (Skype) Interviews will be held on 7 or 8 May 2018.

Preferred starting date: 1 June or as soon as possible thereafter. The VIDI project (and therefore also this sandwich postdoc position) will end November 2020.

*This is an international (sandwich) postdoc position, which means that Dutch candidates unfortunately cannot be considered.

Wageningen University and Research

Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That’s our focus – each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society – such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don’t do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on ‘the quality of life’, turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. Could you be one of these people? We give you the space you need.
The Sociology of Development and Change Group (SDC)

SDC focuses on the structures and practices of development and change with a particular scientific interest in inequality, marginalization and political agency. The group’s vision is to be a world-leading, politically engaged and interdisciplinary research and educational centre in development studies, political ecology, anthropology of law and crisis and disaster studies. Our mission is to gain and communicate a deeper understanding of inequality and marginalization generated by global and local structures of power and political-economy and so contribute to social and environmental justice. At the same time we study how actors generate forms of agency and practices that enable them to deal with these dynamics and create new opportunities. The SDC group is part of the Wageningen University Centre for Space, Place and Society (CSPS), which aims to advance critical-constructive scholarship within the social sciences and with a particular focus on issues of socio-spatial and environmental justice. See: https://centreforspaceplacesociety.com/.

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For further information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look at http://www.jobsat.wur.nl.