The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive, interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. The Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of Bayreuth is currently seeking to appoint a
Full Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology
at salary grade W3 to commence on 1 October 2027. This is a permanent civil service position.
The professorship of Social and Cultural Anthropology is a central pillar of the Social and Cultural Anthropology Department at the University of Bayreuth. We are seeking a candidate with a proven track record of outstanding and internationally recognized research, third-party funding, and publications in political anthropology. We are interested in candidates whose research profiles focus on issues in political anthropology, including but not limited to categories of social difference and inequality, conflicts, and social movements, as well as the theoretical examination of the intersections between politics and other areas. Requirements for a successful application also include years of empirical field research experience on the African continent and/or its global diasporas, as well as theory-building grounded in empirical evidence. A further regional focus is also desirable.
The successful candidate will represent the full breadth of the discipline. The research priorities will thematically expand existing perspectives within Bayreuth’s social and cultural anthropology programme. We seek candidates whose research in political anthropology engages pressing and current sociopolitical debates with the potential for public engagement. In addition to a focus on political anthropology, further expertise that expands Bayreuth’s research and teaching programme is desirable, e.g., religion, health, historical anthropology, public anthropology, kinship, or gender studies. Experience in the field of multimodal methods is expressly desired. Teaching will take place within the bachelor’s programmes Social and Cultural Anthropology, Interdisciplinary African Studies, Culture and Society, as well as in the master’s programmes Social and Cultural Anthropology, African Studies: Critical Perspectives on Society, Politics and Culture, the BIGSAS Graduate School, and new interdisciplinary programmes (e.g., MA Intersectionality Studies). The ability to teach courses in English and, in the medium term, in German is expected.
The University of Bayreuth’s Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology fosters an international, open approach to the discipline. We value collaborative research and a collaborative organizational structure. We offer robust opportunities for networking and collaboration, particularly in Africa-related research, as well as ideal conditions for supporting undergraduate and graduate students. We expect teamwork, resilience, and collegiality, as well as a willingness to take on responsibilities in academic self-governance. Beyond social and cultural anthropology, the professorship’s participation in the University of Bayreuth’s collaborative research priorities, programs, and research networks is expressly encouraged. Of particular interest are research questions and perspectives that align theoretically, methodologically, and/or regionally with Bayreuth’s African Studies focus (especially for the Cluster of Excellence “Africa Multiple”), as well as ideas for contributing to the strategic development of African Studies at the University of Bayreuth.
The general administrative requirements for hiring professors at universities in Bavaria apply. A complete description of the vacancy can be found at www.uni-bayreuth.de/en (University / Work at the University / Job Vacancies).
Applications (cover letter, CV including a list of publications, external funding, a research concept [max. 5 pages], teaching portfolio [max. 3 pages], recent teaching evaluations, copies of certificates, and a diversity statement [max. 1 page]) are to be addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Paula Schrode, and submitted via https://uni-bayreuth.berufungsportal.de by 4 October 2026. Applicants are welcome to direct questions and requests for further information to the Dean at [email protected]. Application documents will be deleted in accordance with data protection law following the conclusion of the appointment process.
