The University Research Priority Program (URPP) “Human Reproduction Reloaded | H2R” explores rapidly developing medical technologies in the field of human reproduction, the societal challenges they pose and their legal implications. This interdisciplinary positioned URPP is hosted by the Faculty of Law and brings together researchers from six faculties as well as from various disciplines from the humanities, social, medical and natural sciences. The URPP’s phase 2 (2025-2028) revolves around three main research foci: family, kinship and gender; declining fertility and non-reproduction; and CRISPR. More information about the URPP, the people involved, the research and the activities to date can be found here.
The PhD position is part of sub-project 3 that traces the global entanglements of human reproduction through emperical, qualitative case studies from different parts of the world. The PhD position will be attached to the Chair for Social Transformation Processes at the Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies (Prof. Dr. Annuska Derks).
Your responsibilities
- You will develop your own dissertation project within the field of human reproduction with a focus on Southeast Asia.
- You write a doctoral thesis in the field of Social Anthropology.
- You participate in the URPP’s events and actively take advantage of the opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange and interfaculty networking.
- You are able and willing to apply for a third-party-funding for your PhD thesis after a 3 year period.
Your profile
- You hold an excellent MA degree in Social Anthropology or a related discipline.
- You have a strong interest in the anthropology of reproduction, in particular in relation to changing conceptions of gender, kinship and family, fertility desires and markets, new possibilities for genetic screening and editing, and reproductive practices across borders. Previous experience with ethnographic research and/or qualitative empirical methods is highly desirable.
- You are fluent in English as an academic working language and, ideally, in the language of your intended field site; fluency in German is desirable.
- You are an enthusiastic person with a community spirit and a strong sense of initiative and you are able to work in an international and interdisciplinary environment.
Information on your application
Please attach the following documents (in a single PDF document) to the application form:
- your detailed CV, including – if applicable – relevant publications;
- brief outline of your project ideas, including problem statement, research question, methodology and relevance (approx. 2-3 pages);
- a letter of motivation;
- your (draft) Master’s thesis or, if not available in English or German, another substantial writing sample;
- academic transcripts (list of grades obtained) of Bachelor’s and Master’s.
Deadline for submission: March 3, 2025
Click on the “Apply now” button to submit your application.