Postdoctoral Ethnographic - FOODCIRCUITS on Citrus Production, Transportation, and Consumption in Contexts of Migration and Environmental Change in Spain and Beyond. - Position 1

4 Feb 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universitat de Barcelona

Department

OPIR

Research Field

Anthropology
Cultural studies
Environmental science
Geography
Sociology
History
Political sciences
Other

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Positions

Postdoc Positions

Country

Spain

Application Deadline

18 Feb 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37,5

Offer Starting Date

10 Mar 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - ERC

Reference Number

Nº GA 101045424

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to support the Principal Investigator of an international research project funded by the European Research Council, based at the UB in the Department of Social Anthropology in the Faculty of Geography and History. This postdoctoral researcher will conduct in-depth, immersive field research and other academic activities with the project over approximately 3 years. With collaboration from the PI and support from the team and advisors, this postdoctoral researcher will focus on the production, distribution, and consumption of citrus in contexts of migration and environmental change in Spain and beyond. 

This project seeks to understand the invisibilization of connections between migrants and the societies of which they form part. In this regard, this part of the project specifically links this theme to the impact of climate change —such as rising heat, droughts, and especially recent important floods—, focusing on how the environment imbricates with, magnifies, or challenges existing forms of social inequality, including workplace and ethnic hierarchies. The project focuses on bodies and embodiment from a social theoretical perspective when considering invisibilization and connection between migrants and the societies of which they form part, as well as how the bodily impacts of climate change are distributed unequally and inequitably. 

The project will be based on in-depth participant observation and observant participation ethnography conducted during 18 months of immersive, full-time fieldwork with migrant farmworkers, transportation and supply chain workers, and consumers of Spanish oranges within what the project conceptualizes as “food circuits” that are also affected by climate change. The focus on Spanish oranges will take into account the ways in which national and regional identities become part of certain foods and will be in comparison and contrast to some degree with other citrus, including lemons, mandarins and more. Based on this ethnographic fieldwork and engagement with social theory, the project and, specifically, this postdoc, will relate environmental realities including climate change to the project’s theoretical approach to ethno-nationalism and gastro-nationalism, mobility and circulation, racialization and racial capitalism, embodiment and health, infrastructure and supply chains, connection and invisibilization with social inequalities in relation to agriculture, food, and eating.  The team is based at the University of Barcelona in one of the largest and most dynamic Departments of Social Anthropology in Europe that is home to multiple national and international projects and research teams working on issues of contemporary theoretical and social importance related to such tòpics as rural transition, migration, social difference, more-than-human environments, health and health care.

Job description: The postdoctoral researcher will focus on the relations between humans and the environment —including climate change, such as rising heat, droughts, or recent important floods— on the harvesting, transportation, distribution and consumption of Spanish citrus. The researcher will focus on oranges and their national and regional significance within Spanish gastronomic identity, exploring how this importance also may intersect with environmental challenges impacting the food circuit. This includes comparing the specific realities and meanings of oranges to that of related crops, such as lemons and mandarins, along with the examination of the experiences of individuals involved in their cultivation, harvesting, transportation and consumption.

In addition to the salary, the postdoctoral researcher will be eligible for a generous amount of additional funds to include: funds for computer equipment, funds for field work, and travel and food for presentations at conferences.  In addition, the postdoctoral researcher will be eligible for a funded stay as visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. 

The postdoctoral researcher will take part in collaborative co-leading of presentation and publication ventures, including conference panels and journal special issues. The researcher will also help foster visual ethnography that will be led primarily by another team member. Additionally, the researcher will actively participate in collaborative or participatory research and dissemination ventures. We seek highly motivated candidates to:

• work as part of a team in an international, innovative and multi-circuited project,conduct in-depth, immersive, in-situ ethnographic field research, with some degree of incorporation of embodied and reflexive aspects – particularly leading the Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Spanish Citrus in Contexts of Migration and Environmental Change Circuit of the project with collaboration from the PI and support from the team and advisors 
• effectively integrate the investigation on Spanish citrus, migration and environment within the frameworks and social theory literature of the project,
• read and engage social theory and ethnography in relation to the project themes in dialogue with the fieldwork, 
• help build on, critique, and develop social theory from the context of in-depth fieldwork,
• actively work with the team to innovate collaborative research and dissemination activities – including potentially paraethnography as well as multi-modal, artistic, dramatic, sonic and visual, and
• write and publish social science articles and chapters from the research – some of which will be co-authored, some of which will be in English - while taking turns leading special issues of top journals internationally.

          Key responsibilities 

• Lead Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Spanish Citrus in Contexts of Migration and Environmental ChangeCircuit of research project
• In conversation with the PI and advisors, take initiative to develop and to conduct in-depth and in-situ immersive ethnographic fieldwork with Moroccan and Ecuadorian (including Indigenous) or other migrant farmworkers, transportation and supply chain workers, and consumers – with collaboration from PI, the team and support from advisors – for a planned total of 18 months (6 for production, 6 for transportation and 6 for consumption).
• Engage respectfully with minoritized and marginalized migrant workers (such as Moroccan and Ecuadorian including Indigenous people) in fieldwork
• Read literature and conduct research to prepare for Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Spanish Citrus in Contexts of Migration and Environmental Change Circuit at the intersection of climate change, migration, labor, food systems, embodiment and health, Spain, Morocco and Ecuador (and other places as appropriate), social inequity and racialization.
• Seek ways to work with the team in exploring collaborative research and collaborative dissemination – the latter of which could be multi-modal / sensory. 
• Analyse ethnographic data and interact actively with other team members through the process of analysis and theorization.
• Write and publish articles and chapters – some co-authored, some in top journals in English. 
• Help in leading the development and publication of special issues to disseminate findings in top journals in English - especially during the years of the project and after the years of the project. 
• Help support and foster the work of the visual ethnographic member of the team.
• Present research with the team in conferences and panel discussions
• Co-organize the final conference for the project with the PI and the rest of the team
• Help the project have positive impact on social change beyond the academy. 
• Show dedication and flexibility to the project.
• Participate actively in the team’s collaborative or participatory research activities with research interlocutors. 
• Follow the project’s ethics and data management protocols.
• Participate actively in the activities of the UB research group, including being present at the UB and in Barcelona during crucial times of preparation, analysis, writing, discussion, conferences, workshops and meetings.  Interact actively virtually during times when the team is not present together at the UB and in Barcelona.

Gross salary per year: 37.037,72 €

Where to apply

Website

https://t.ly/zQ_-4

Requirements

Research Field

Anthropology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Cultural studies

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Environmental science

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Geography

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

History

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Sociology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Political sciences

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Other

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Expertise/Competence/Skills

1.          Motivation, experience and expertise to conduct immersive, in-depth field work through ethnographic research methods, ideally with embodied and reflexive components.

2.          Top-level written and verbal command of academic English is required, as well as Spanish; other languages of migrant farmworkers in Spain would also be helpful.

3.          Evidence of expertise, dedication and motivation to write and publish top-quality publications, including in English.

4.          Knowledge of and interest in social theoretical, ethnographic and social science literatures relevant to migration and its relation to environment.

5.            Interest in human and environmental interactions in social theory and social science. 

 Qualifications (IT/Academic/Vocational)

6.          An undergraduate degree in anthropology, sociology, social sciences or related subject.

7.          A PhD in anthropology, sociology or social sciences or related subject with strength in ethnographic field research.

Experience

8.          Published or accepted articles in top journals in English. 

9.          Expertise in in-depth ethnographic research, ideally with embodied and reflexive components. 

10.       Interdisiplinary team-work experience.

 Specific Qualities (e.g. attitudes)

11.        Interest and availability to travel for project meetings and conferences periodically.

12.       High level of motivation and dedication to help lead aspects of the dissemination of findings – including writing articles – some of which will be co-authored, helping lead one special issue of a top journal, exploring collaborative means for dissemination. 

13.       Perseverance, dedication and flexibility to work on a multi-circuited ethnographic project with multiple team-members. 

Desirable Criteria: 

14.       Experience or interest in exploring collaborative and/or participatory means for research and dissemination of research findings.

15.        Interest in academic and social impact both in the regions and countries involved in the circuit and beyond. 

Specific Requirements

Recommended: Catalan basic level

Helpful: French Good Level

Helpful: Arabic Good Level

Helpful: Indigenous Languages of Ecuador Good Level

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Languages

SPANISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

AnthropologyCultural studiesEnvironmental scienceGeographyHistorySociologyPolitical sciencesOther

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

• CV (maximum 50)
• Cover letter (maximum 35)
• Referees (maximum 15)

The minimum score to pass the selection process 70/100 points.

Selection process

An interview will be conducted if the evaluation committee deems it necessary.

Required documentation:

• CV (include contact details of people from whom references or reports can be requested)

• Motivational letter

• Registration form (Appendix 3)

*Be in possession of the doctor's degree at the time of the formalization of the contract.

Additional comments

Duration of the contract of employment:  12 months, renewable up to 31/01/2028.

In addition to the salary, the postdoctoral researcher will qualify for full social and health benefits available from Spain and may be eligible for the expatriate tax scheme in Spain. Furthermore, the postdoctoral researcher will be eligible for a generous amount of additional funds to include: funds for new computer equipment, funds for field work, and funds for travel and food for presentation at conferences.  In addition, the postdoctoral researcher will be eligible for a funded stay as visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. 

The candidate proposed for hiring must accept the job offer within 3 working days from the date of notification of selection.

Priority will be given to people with disabilities (Law 89/2015 of June 2, reserve of quota 2% in favour of people with disabilities in companies of 50 or more people).

For additional information regards this offer, please, contact Dr. Mateu Font: mateufontimugnaini@ub.edu

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universitat de Barcelona

Country

Spain

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Barcelona

Postal Code

08001

Street

Montalegre, 6

Geofield

Contact

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Barcelona

Website

https://web.ub.edu

Street

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585

Postal Code

08007

E-Mail

mateufontimugnaini@ub.edu

STATUS: EXPIRED

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