Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Associate (Fixed term)

The Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge, wishes to appoint three full-time Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Associates, to start on 01 October 2025, as part of a development programme.

The 12-month fixed-term positions are designed for early career researchers and provide training opportunities in teaching and research to enhance the role holders' future career prospects. The objective of this development programme is to put the role holder in the best possible position for a future academic career, preparing them for the next stage of postdoctoral work. The programme combines teaching experience with a structured development programme of research career development.

The role holders are expected to conduct teaching, including supervising, in Social Anthropology. The contribution to teaching will include undergraduate supervision and possibly some lecturing, under the direction of the Director of Undergraduate Education, and some postgraduate teaching under the direction of the MPhil Co-ordinator.

The structured development programme will also provide:

1. Individual mentoring from a dedicated senior academic, meeting regularly to discuss training, career development, drafts of articles, job applications, and funding applications.
2. Group mentoring from senior academics on themes related to academic careers (e.g., writing a book proposal, making grant or job applications).
3. A personal training and development plan drawn from University training programmes and designed in discussion with the Mentor. This could include training in methods, career development, research grant writing, and communication skills. It can also include department-provided training as available.
4. Each role holder would be encouraged to organise or co-organise a workshop in Cambridge or a panel at a large international Anthropological conference, and/or to present a paper in an academic context outside of Cambridge, for which they would be allocated a small budget.

The post holder must have a PhD in social anthropology, or have clear evidence that completion of a doctorate is imminent. They must have a proven specialist academic interest in social anthropology and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Experience of successfully delivering teaching at university level is desirable. The ability to teach the anthropology of kinship is desirable for some candidates.

Fixed-term: These posts are part of a training development programme and as such they are 12 month fixed-term or until 30 September 2026, whichever is earlier.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our department.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a full list of publications and a covering letter, which should include a short summary of your research interests and teaching experience.

If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

After shortlisting, where you have given permission, your nominated referees will be asked to provide a reference via the on-line system.

The closing date for applications is 28 April 2025

It is anticipated the interviews will take place soon after the closing date for applications.

Enquiries about the application process should be directed to the HSPS Faculty HR Team (hr@hsps.cam.ac.uk). Informal enquiries may be addressed to Monica Baker (da@socanth.cam.ac.uk).

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Advert information