Funded by the DFG, Close Encounters is an anthropological enquiry into the politics of intimacy and development between the Hmong of Laos and China. It seeks to understand what the politics of intimacy reveals about how Hmong youth develop their own lives and how far the politics of intimate connections mirrors macro level processes of development.
We are pleased to announce a doctoral position as part of the DFG research project “Close Encounters: Development, Aspiration, and Intimate Politics among the Hmong of Laos and China” (2026–2029), led by Phill Wilcox, a researcher in social anthropology at the Department of Sociology at Bielefeld University.
Your Tasks
Research tasks (100 %):
- carry out ethnographic research in Laos, studying personal motivations for intimate connections and their links to broader processes of development (approx. 65 %)
- contribute to the events and publications of the project in the form of conference presentations and one co-authored journal article (approx. 25 %)
- participate in project activities and work together with the research team on the common goals of the project (approx. 10 %)
Employment is conducive to scientific qualification and provides the opportunity for further academic development.
We offer
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- fixed-term (36 months; until 30.09.2029) (§ 2 (1) 1 of the WissZeitVG; in accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases)
- part-time 75 %
- internal and external training opportunities
- variety of health, consulting and prevention services
- reconcilability of family and work
- flexible working hours
- 30 days holiday
- supplementary company pension
- collegial working environment
- open and pleasant working atmosphere
- various offers (canteen, cafeteria, restaurants, Uni-Shop, ATM, etc.)
Your Profile
We expect
- relevant, successfully completed scientific university degree (e. g. master, diploma or equivalent) in anthropology, sociology or related disciplines from an internationally recognised university (Master's thesis should be in English, French, or German)
- ability to conceptualise and design empirical research
- previous experience with ethnographic research
- familiarity with the obligation to comply with data protection requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and with data protection topics
- genuine interest in readiness to undertake ethnographic field research with young Hmong women in Laos
- familiarity with the political and economic contexts of Laos and ability to navigate its social and cultural settings
- intermediate command of Lao, Thai, or Hmong
- excellent spoken and written English language skills
- independent, self-directed, and dedicated work style
- high communication skills
- strong ability to collaborate and work in a team
strong organizational and coordination skills
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Preferred experience and skills
- Interested in writing a dissertation in this field
- interest in academic discussions of romantic and intimate relationships
- awareness and experiences with ethical matters of social research
- experience in working with marginalised social groups
- advanced language skills in Lao, Thai, or Hmong
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to receiving your application, which should include the following documents:
- a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and what makes you a good fit for it
- a short research proposal of 3–5 pages outlining how you plan to proceed with the study if selected
- a CV
- degree certificates
- a summary of your master’s thesis
- one writing sample (a thesis chapter, working paper, journal article, etc.)
To apply, please preferably use our online form via the application button below.
application deadline: 06.08.2026
Contact
PD Dr. Phill Wilcox
+49 521 106-12981
[email protected]
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Fakutlät für Soziologie
PD Dr. Phill Wilcox
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
