PhD Research Associate (m/f/d)

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Review of applications will begin on 7 September 2026.

 The Cluster of Excellence EXC 2052 Africa Multiple is seeking to fill the position of a

from 1 October 2026 or at the earliest possible date thereafter for a fixed term of 48 months (75% part-time employment; salary grade TV-L E13).

The Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence is a major collaborative and transcontinental research institution in the field of African Studies. It is comprised of five Africa Multiple Research Centres (AMRCs), based at the University of Bayreuth, Germany; Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa; Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and University of Lagos, Nigeria. The AMRCs conduct their work via six Research Sections with members from all locations.

The advertised position is part of the Research Section “Ecologies” and the project “Extinctions: Reconfiguring Knowledge and Discourses of Biodiversity and Species Loss in Africa.” The interdisciplinary project is jointly conducted by three institutions and includes three interconnected PhD projects investigating how integrating underrepresented knowledge can reframe dominant understandings of biodiversity and species loss in Africa.

This PhD project combines quantitative ecological analyses with critical social-science perspectives on knowledge production. The candidate will compile, synthesize, and analyze biodiversity data from across Africa to reconstruct patterns of biodiversity change and species extinction, while investigating how biodiversity knowledge is produced, where important knowledge gaps remain, and what the available scientific evidence can and cannot reveal about these processes. The successful candidate will be based at the University of Bayreuth and collaborate closely with researchers at the partner institutions in Kenya and South Africa.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with complementary backgrounds, such as quantitative ecologists interested in critical perspectives on knowledge production or anthropologists or scholars in closely allied fields with quantitative analytical experience and/or data science skills.

Your profile

Required

• Successfully completed master's degree in ecology, environmental sciences, conservation, data science, or anthropology/science and technology studies, with experience in data/computer science  
• Strong quantitative skills and experience in statistical modelling and data analysis
• Interest in ecology, biodiversity research, and environmental protection
• Interest in science and technology studies, digital humanities, or critical data studies
• Very good written and spoken English
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international, interdisciplinary team

Desirable

• Experience with interdisciplinary research
• Interest in combining qualitative and quantitative approaches
• Familiarity with African Studies and post-, de-, and anticolonial debates.
• Experience with qualitative research methods (e.g. ethnography, in-depth interviews, archival research)

What you can expect:

• Integration into the internationally connected research environment of the Cluster of Excellence EXC 2052 Africa Multiple
• A funded 75%, TV-L E13 PhD position for four years
• A dedicated research budget, including funding for more than four months of fieldwork in Kenya and South Africa
• Close interdisciplinary supervision and support in developing an international publication profile
• Opportunities for international networking through research stays and conference participation across Africa and Europe
• Membership in the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS)

The University of Bayreuth values the diversity of its employees and is expressly committed to the goal of equal opportunities for all genders. Applicants with children are also very welcome. The University of Bayreuth is a member of the best-practice club “Familie in der Hochschule e.V.” (Family in the University) and has successfully participated in the HRK audit “Internationalization of the University”.  In case of equal qualifications, people with disabilities will be given preferential consideration.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please submit your application by 7 September 2026. Please apply online quoting the keyword “extinctions” via the application portal of the university.

Your application should include a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts and degree certificates, and a writing sample (e.g. chapter of the MA thesis). The documents will be deleted in accordance with data protection regulations once the position is filled.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Lisa Hülsmann (lisa.huelsmann@uni-bayreuth.de) or Prof. Dr. Sandra Calkins (sandra.calkins@uni-bayreuth.de).