A postdoctoral position in social anthropology with focus on East Africa is open in the context of Swiss National Science Foundation Sinergia project FamilEA: The Remaking of the Family in East Africa, to be assumed at the Graduate Institute, Geneva.
Application deadline: 10.04.2026 ; starting date: 01.06.2026 ideally (depending on the selected candidate)
*See full advertisement at:
https://erecruit.graduateinstitute.ch/recrutement/?page=advertisement_display&id=659
Project FamilEA seeks to understand the dynamics of family transformation in East Africa (Kenya and Uganda). FamilEA’s core data includes a quantitative survey, conducted in the two East African capitals of Kampala and Nairobi in the summer 2024 (n= 2000 in each city), which documents the composition and structure of families along a number of parameters: co-residence, kinship, subjective importance, frequency of contacts, and physical distance. The survey further documents exchanges, perceived obligations, and conflicts between family members. Based on the survey data, the FamilEA quantitative team is currently finalizing three typologies: one for co-residing households, one for contacts with non resident relatives, and one for support from significant others.
Following the completion of the quantitative survey, it was complemented by a second layer of ethnographic data, which included in-depth interviews and observations. In total, more than 100 in-depth interviews were conducted across the two cities, with survey respondents selected to reflect diversity. These extensive interviews are currently being summarized as portraits by the qualitative members of the team.
The postdoctoral fellow will analyze the core qualitative data (both portraits and in-depth interviews) to identify and categorize the various ways of “doing family” in the two capital cities. This analysis, which will
be done in consultation with the project coordinators and the team at large, may focus on dimensions such as social position and deprivation, violence and support in the family of origin, gendered expectations, varying life stages, the symbolic and practical role of extended kin, and the role of non-kin ties and networks. The fellow will cross his or her results with the quantitative typologies and will write an article to be submitted before the end of their contract (May 31, 2027). Concurrently, the fellow will document “family archipelagos” observed in both Nairobi and Kampala, based on the qualitative interviews, and will identify patterns of engagement and exchange between geographically dispersed family members. A draft report on the topic will be submitted to the project by the end of the contract (May 31, 2027).
To be successful in this role, you should have:
– A doctoral degree in anthropology or related field of relevance to the
position
– Excellent knowledge of English
– Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
– Willingness to relocate to Geneva
Assets:
– Established familiarity with East Africa and especially with
family-related themes
– Experience with interdisciplinary research and with mixed methods
– Experience publishing in reputed peer-reviewed academic outlets
– Knowledge of additional languages spoken in Uganda and Kenya, as well as
French
Also see the project’s website:
https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/research-centres/gender-centre/familea-remaking-family-east-africa
.