Postdoc (f/m/x) in Social Anthropology with a focus on Yemen

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 4 years, starting on 1 March 2027 and ending on 28 February 2031.

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. The project offers insights into how the Houthi (Ansar Allah) movement’s ideology shapes (and is shaped by) the social, religious, intellectual, historical, and institutional frameworks it inhabits. It aims to explore ideology’s relational, dynamic, and “agential” nature and generate innovative impulses for the anthropology of ideology. Further information on the project is available here.

What you will do

Postdoctoral Position on “(In)Equalities: Gender, Descent, and ‘Race’”

We invite applications for a postdoctoral research position within IDEO-YEMEN focusing on the theme “(In)Equalities: Gender, Descent, and ‘Race’.” The postdoctoral researcher will trace the diachronic evolution of the movement’s multidirectional and often contradictory gender discourse from the early 2000s to the present, and the underlying debates and discussions (e.g., with Zaydi circles, women’s rights groups) that led to its numerous shifts and turns. In terms of “race,” the researcher will explore the movement’s positions towards racialized and other social minorities, including how its reassertion of genealogical distinctions of descent (nasab) – setting it apart from other Islamist ideologies – relates to, and differs from, its treatment of racialized minorities such as the Muhamasheen. The postdoctoral researcher will investigate how these ideological agendas are experienced, debated, resisted, and/or implemented by the people, particularly women and racialized or otherwise marginalized minorities living under the rule of Ansar Allah. Candidates are welcome to propose further research questions within this theme.

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 possible. Research will be based on remote and digital ethnography, as well as the 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 36 months. 

Your Tasks

• Conduct independent and collaborative research within the “Gender and ‘Race’” 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 development of the project’s theoretical framework and collective research outputs
• Produce research publications for leading international journals and book chapters for IDEO-YEMEN
• Present research findings at international conferences and scholarly workshops
• Support project-related events and organisational activities
• Produce research dissemination materials for the project’s website and social media.
• 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 March 2027 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 and willingness to work with a broad range of 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 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
• You should be a team player with high social skills to be able to successfully work and collaborate with the IDEO-YEMEN team.
• Successful candidates must be resident in Austria for the duration of the appointment

Our Offer

• A 48 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

The minimum annual gross salary for this position is EUR 70.167,44 (full-time based), in accordance with the collective agreement of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW).

Application Process

Please submit your application as a single PDF file (max. 5 MB) via the online portal (see link below) uploaded under “CV” field by 30 September 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 how it aligns with the overall theoretical orientation of this ERC project. The proposal is expected to outline a well-conceived research idea rather than a fully developed project. 

(3) Scientific 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. 

Deadline for application: 30 September 2026

Interviews are scheduled to take place in October 2026.

For project-related questions please contact:
Dr. Marieke Brandt: [marieke.brandt(at)oeaw.ac.at]

For administrative questions:
Sandra Forster: [sandra.forster(at)oeaw.ac.at]

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.