The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is a leading centre for research in social anthropology. Com-mon to all research projects at the Max Planck Institute is the comparative analysis of social change; it is primarily in this domain that its researchers contribute to anthropological theory, though many programmes also have applied significance and political topicality.

The Department of Law & Anthropology invites applications for

3 Postdoctoral (early career) Research Positions in the field of law & anthropology

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
In today’s world values and norms are circulating ever more intensely between various societies and cultures. This intensification calls for an in-depth assessment of the ways in which different normative orders and systems of morality coexist at various levels of decision-making worldwide. Research carried out in the Department focuses on legal issues raised by this coexistence, it privileges studies that are based on the in situ study of practices, procedures, institutions and concepts examined within and across normative legal orders. For this round of positions, preference will be given to research proposals that focus on the European context. Topics of particular interest include: (1) the increasing interconnectedness of law and religion; (2) divergent notions of justice in the face of cultural diversity; (3) the ethnographic study of the workings of institutions of social regulation (in, inter alia, the fields of migration; kinship, family and household; neighborhoods; identity issues; property claims and their protection, etc.).

Your Profile
Requirements:
1) an excellent PhD (or doctoral degree) in law, social or cultural anthropology, or other relevant discipline in the human sciences (received within the last five years);
2) clear evidence of familiarity with and knowledge of the topic to be addressed in the research proposal;
3) an interest in empirical field research (this can include relevant legal practice);
4) a solid publication record with articles in peer-reviewed journals.
5) language requirements: a good command of written and spoken English and evidence of relevant language skills (depending on the topic and the regional focus).

Amongst the flagship initiatives the Department is currently developing is a new project that seeks to collect judicial cases on religious and cultural diversity from different European countries. Postdoctoral researchers will be able to significantly contribute to the set-up and data collection from within their own fields to help build up this major research instrument.

Successful applicants will also be expected to collaborate with the other colleagues in the Department, contribute to teamwork and a collegial atmosphere, and generally strive to ensure cross-fertilization within the Department.

Our Offer
The Department offers a stimulating interdisciplinary forum where both anthropologists and lawyers can engage with one another and conduct interdisciplinary, cutting-edge, and policy-relevant research on some of the more urgent socio-legal issues of today. The workplace is Halle/Saale (Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany).

Employment will be on a full-time contractual basis. Remuneration will be awarded in accordance with the German public service pay scale. The positions are awarded for three years, and are open to an extension, subject to a positive evaluation, for those envisaging a (German) ‘Habilitation’ degree. Positions are to start in January 2017 (or later in 2017, depending on applicant’s commitments).

The Max Planck Society is committed to raising the proportion of women in science; we thus explicitly encour-age applications from female researchers. Individuals with disabilities will be given priority, assuming equal qualifications.

Contact
Applicants are asked to submit the following materials:
- cover letter
- curriculum vitae, including full list of publications
- writing sample (chapter or article length)
- 1-2 page summary of the doctoral thesis
- a detailed project proposal (max. 5 pages), providing information on how the research will be disseminated (publications envisaged, etc.) and evidence that the project can be completed within the scheduled three years.
- photocopies of university degrees
- 3 letters of recommendation (to be sent directly to the Max Planck Institute, marencakova@eth.mpg.de).

Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Personnel Administration
Janka Diallo (jdiallo@eth.mpg.de)

Please submit your application electronically by 15 October 2016 by going to the MPI homepage (www.eth.mpg.de), clicking on ‘Career’, and following the link for ‘Vacancies’.

We look forward to receiving your completed online application under:
http://www.eth.mpg.de/en/vacancies_external.html?url=/Vacancies/288/Application/New/2%3Flang=eng

Further information on the research agenda of the Max Planck Institute is available on our website: http://www.eth.mpg.de