Praedoc (Diss) (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

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

 (part-time, 30 hours per week, 75%)

for a duration of 48 months (4 years), starting 1 December 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 doctoral position focusing on the theme “Media Expressions and Rituals of Ideology”. Ideological work is fundamentally communicative, extending beyond mere discourse to encompass processes of communication through signs and symbols. This theme enquires into the multimodal symbolic, media, and ritual expressions of the Ansar Allah/Houthi movement, focusing on how these evolve through the movement engaging with indigenous histories and identities and encounters with regional and global influences. It seeks to understand how these expressions influence and are influenced by those of other Islamist and revolutionary movements, and how they work towards embedding ideology into the fabric of quotidian life and public spaces, transforming public spaces and everyday life practices, such as public and private behaviour, dress code, and language.

Applicants should be aware that this is a collaborative project under the direction of a Principal Investigator. The PhD 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 media, texts, and other relevant sources. 

The position is offered at 75% FTE for research within the ERC project. The remaining 25% of the candidate’s time will be allocated to mandatory enrolment in the PhD programme in Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Vienna. The PhD researcher will be supervised by Doz. Dr. Martin Slama, member of the advisory board of IDEO-YEMEN and senior researcher at ISA working on new media and Islam, and the PI Dr. Marieke Brandt.

The appointment will initially be for 12 months and, upon positive evaluation, extended for additional 3 years. It is expected to result in the completion of a PhD thesis, either in cumulative or monographic form. 

Your Tasks

• Finalize your dissertation agreement within the first 12 months.
• Complete and submit your doctoral thesis within 4 years in either cumulative (collection of articles) or monographic form.
• Conduct independent and collaborative research within the project’s “Media Expressions and Rituals of Ideology” work package.
• Contribute to the project’s theoretical development, collective research output, and activities.
• Produce research publications for leading international and/or peer reviewed journals and book chapters for IDEO-YEMEN.
• Present research at international conferences and workshops.
• Produce research dissemination materials for the project’s website and social media.
• Actively participate in ISA’s academic environment, including team meetings and workshops.

Your Profile - Essential Criteria

• Completed (or near to completion) Master’s or Diploma degree in Anthropology (or a closely related field), obtained within the last seven years (exceptions for parental leave possible).
• If the candidate does not hold a Master’s or Diploma degree in Anthropology, additional coursework may be required to acquire the necessary foundational knowledge for the PhD program. These courses will be organized as part of the enrolment in the PhD program.
• Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic, including the ability to work with a wide range of Arabic-language materials.
• A strong interest in media and visual anthropology.
• A strong interest in theoretical debates in anthropology and related disciplines.
• Experience with or a strong interest in digital/remote fieldwork methodologies.
• You should be a teamplayer with high social skills to be able to successfully work and collaborate with the IDEO-YEMEN team.
• Successful candidates will have to be based in Austria for the duration of the position.

Our Offer

• A 4-year 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 for employees

The annual gross salary for this position is EUR 53,140.92 (full-time based), in accordance with the collective agreement of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). As this position is offered at 75% employment, the actual annual gross salary amounts to EUR 39,855.69.

Application Process

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

(1)   Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages)

(2)   Research Proposal (max. 3 pages), describing your proposed project, including main research questions, the choice of theories and methods, and how your idea aligns with the overall theoretical framework of IDEO-YEMEN. This proposal is expected to outline a preliminary research idea rather than a fully developed project. 

(3)   Scientific CV, including a list of publications (if any).

(4)   Scanned copies of all academic diplomas (BA and MA or equivalent degrees).

(5)   Writing sample (15-20 pages, e.g., excerpt from MA thesis).

(6)   Names and contact details of two referees.

Deadline for application: 31 July 2026.

Interviews are scheduled to take place in mid-August 2026.

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

For administrative questions:
Sandra Forster: [sandra.forster@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.