The doctoral researcher should conduct an ethnographic study of the use of digital technologies on farms in Australia. The ideal candidate will have a background in the social sciences and an MA degree, preferably in the areas of cultural anthropology, human geography or global and area studies. They will have a demonstrated interest in, and command of, critical agrarian and agri-food studies; qualitative methods; and curiosity to learn about digitization and technology. Special consideration will be given to candidates with experience with food sovereignty, degrowth, and/or social and environmental justice.
Project summary
This project investigates the reimaginations of land and agriculture in the context of digitization. It focuses especially on the role of digital technologies within the conceptualization of agriculture as an alternative financial asset class. The project explores how actors discursively construct digital agriculture as well as how digital technologies are being used at the farm level. The project asks how digital and non-digital elements merge within processes of spatialization, and how these spatializations are impacting existing ‘spatial formats’ such as commodity chains or the nation state. The project builds on the results of the previously funded project (2016-19) ‘Land Imaginations: The Repositioning of Farming, Productivity, and Sovereignty in Australia’ (https://research.uni-leipzig.de/~sfb1199/project/project-c4/).
Project leader: Dr Sarah Ruth Sippel, University of Leipzig, Institute of Cultural Anthropology
Project start/end: 1 October 2020 – 31 December 2023
The position will include the following tasks and responsibilities:
• Develop an independent PhD project within the framework of the project goals
• Collect and analyse data for the project; specifically, long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Australia on the digitization of agriculture
• Present results to academic community (conferences, publications)
• Assist with the organization of academic events (workshops, meetings, etc.)
• Participate in and contribute to activities of interdisciplinary research centre SFB 1199
Requirements:
• Degree (MA) in the social sciences, preferably in the areas of cultural anthropology, human geography or global and area studies
• Experience with qualitative social research methods
• Ability to spend an extended period of time (6+ months) in an unfamiliar and potentially challenging research environment
• Research interests in the areas of globalization, spatial theory, critical agrarian studies, agri-food studies and digitization
• Interest and willingness to work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative team-based research context
• Excellent command of English language (German would be welcomed) The position offers the possibility for further scientific qualification (PhD).
The application should include the following documents:
• CV
• Letter of motivation (up to 2 pages)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Copy of university degrees
• Proof of language proficiency
• Writing sample (e.g. Master’s thesis, publication; preferably in English)
Please send your application (in one PDF document) in English to: sippel(at)uni-leipzig.de
The deadline for applications is 10 July 2020.
For further information please contact Dr Sarah Ruth Sippel.