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Job ID: ISA018PD226

The Institute for Social Anthropology (ISA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), Austria’s leading non-university research and science institution, is offering a position as

POSTDOC (F/M/X)

in Social Anthropology with a focus on Yemen

(full-time, 40 hours per week)

for a duration of 56 months, starting 1 September 2026.

This position 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. Further information on the project is available here.

We invite applications for a postdoctoral research position focusing on the theme “Religion and State”. The successful candidate will examine the relationships between Houthi (Ansar Allah) doctrine, different strands of Zaydism and Shiism, and Islamist thought. The postdoc will examine how the Houthi movement engages with religious authority and political leadership, manages religious diversity, and articulates principles of statehood and foreign policy. The postdoc will further explore the religious institutions and networks that sustain, negotiate, or contest Houthi ideology, with particular attention to tensions between ideological visions and their practical implementation.

Applicants should be aware that this is a collaborative project under the direction of a Principal Investigator. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to contribute actively to the project’s core research questions, objectives, and collective activities while also developing an independent research profile.

Please note: Fieldwork in Yemen is not foreseen. Research will be based on remote and digital ethnography, as well as the systematic analysis of Arabic-language texts, media, and other relevant sources.

The appointment will initially be made for 12 months and, subject to a positive evaluation, extended for an additional 44 months.

Your Tasks

• • Conduct independent and collaborative research within the “Religion and State” work package
• • Analyse Arabic-language texts, media, and other relevant source materials
• • Carry out digital and remote ethnographic research, including with Yemeni diaspora communities
• • Contribute to the project’s theoretical framework and joint research outputs
• • Organise a workshop and co-edit the resulting publication(s)
• • Present research findings at international conferences and workshops
• • Support project-related events and organisational activities
• • Actively participate in ISA’s academic environment, including team meetings and internal workshops

Your Profile - Essential Criteria

• • A PhD in Social Anthropology or a closely related discipline, awarded by 1 September 2026 and normally not more than six years prior to the start of the position (periods of parental leave or other legally recognised career interruptions will be considered)
• • Excellent command of English and Arabic, including the ability to work with a broad range of written Arabic-language materials
• • Experience with, or a strong interest in, digital/remote fieldwork methodologies
• • Demonstrated interest in theoretical debates in anthropology and related fields
• • Familiarity with the academic literature on Yemen and Zaydism is an asset
• • Ability to work independently and to develop original research questions within a collaborative framework
• • A track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals, or a clear and realistic publication plan for early-career researchers
• • Successful candidates must be resident in Austria for the duration of the appointment

Our Offer

• • A 56 months postdoctoral position within a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant project
• • Employment at a leading research institution in Austria with an international and interdisciplinary working environment
• • Generous funding for conference participation and open access publication
• • Numerous voluntary social benefits
• • A research-only position with no teaching obligations
• • An annual gross salary of € 70.167,44 in accordance with the collective agreement of the Austrian Academy of Sciences

Please submit your application as a single PDF file (max. 5 MB) via the online portal (see link below) uploaded under “CV” field by 31 March 2026. Your application must include:

(1) Cover Letter (max. 1 page), outlining your motivation and addressing the essential selection criteria

(2) Project Proposal (max. 3 pages), describing your proposed project, including the main research questions, the scholarly context, proposed methods, originality and anticipated contribution to the state of the art, and its alignment with the theoretical framework of the ERC project. The proposal is expected to outline a well-conceived research idea rather than a fully developed project.

(3) Academic CV, including a list of your peer-reviewed publications

(4) Scanned copies of all academic diplomas obtained in higher education

(5) Two writing samples (e.g. peer-reviewed publications or PhD dissertation chapters)

(6) Names and contact details of two referees, one of whom must be the primary supervisor of the PhD thesis.

For project-related questions please contact:
Dr. Marieke Brandt: marieke.brandt@oeaw.ac.at

APPLY NOW

The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) pursues a non-discriminatory employment policy and values equal opportunities, as well as diversity. Individuals from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. The OeAW cooperates with NEBA and is a member of MyAbility in order to provide appropriate workplace structures, in particular for persons with disabilities.