Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Associate [Fixed-term]

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 2026, 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 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:

• Individual mentoring from a dedicated senior academic, meeting regularly to discuss training, career development, drafts of articles, job applications, and funding applications.
• Group mentoring from senior academics on themes related to academic careers (e.g., writing a book proposal, making grant or job applications).
• 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.
• 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.

Appointment at Grade 7 PDRTA is dependent on having a relevant PhD by the start of the appointment, including applicants who have submitted their thesis but not yet received their PhD at the time of interview (in which case appointment will initially be made at Grade 5 PDRTA and amended to Grade 7 when the PhD is awarded).

Fixed-term: These posts are part of a training development programme and as such they are 12 month fixed-term or until 30 September 2027, whichever is earlier.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

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.

The closing date for applications is: Sunday 07 June 2026.

It is anticipated the interviews will take place as soon as possible after the closing date.

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 Jon Bolderson, Departmental Administrator, (da@socanth.cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference JF49687 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.