Two Postdoctoral Positions in the Sociology of Quantification in Africa – ERC Project “Modelling African Futures: A comparative technography of evidence-based welfare policy in Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and Botswana”

The Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites candidates for two postdoctoral positions within the ERC Starting Grant project “ModelFutures” led by Associate Professor Alena Thiel. The postdoctoral positions consist of 24 months of employment and have no teaching obligation. The intended start date is 1 April 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

About the ModelFutures project
The two positions form part of the research project “Modelling African Futures: A comparative technography of evidence-based welfare policy in Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and Botswana” (ModelFutures) funded by a European Research Council Starting Grant. ModelFutures is located at the intersection of African Studies, anthropology, STS, and population statistics. The project undertakes comparative ethnographic research at the nexus of four African statistical and welfare systems – Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and Botswana – where the design, production and application of innovations in population statistics participate in shaping the future of public welfare. The aim of the project is to connect statistical innovation and anticipatory welfare politics in contexts of major demographic transitions. Postdoc 1 will carry out the project’s case study of Senegal, Postdoc 2 will carry out the case study of Kenya.

ModelFutures carries out comparative ethnographic research into the foundational knowledge practices and infrastructures that inform the planning and implementation of evidence-based welfare policy in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Botswana. Drawing on a unique cross-disciplinary and comparative approach to the study of statistical innovation in practice, ModelFutures studies experts’ skilful adaptations to the demands of globally circulating computational models and standards. At the same time, it is interested in the symbolic practices attached to such models, and the infrastructural arrangements in which they are situated. Taken together, this allows us to examine in a systematic manner how variously positioned knowledge practices, including computational vernaculars and skilful adaptions, participate in the production of African welfare systems.

You can read more about the project here: https://teol.ku.dk/cas/research/dokument3/modelling-african-futures/  You are also welcome to contact the Principal Investigator of the project, Alena Thiel, for further information on the academic content of the project (email: ath@teol.ku.dk).

Job content
The postdoctoral researchers will carry out sub-projects 3 (Senegal) and 4 (Kenya), which investigate innovations at the intersection of statistical and welfare systems in the respective country case. An overall framework for this project was included in the project application; however, the specific design and implementation of each case study will be developed by the Postdoc. The application should contain a description of the planned research project (max. 5 pages/12,000 keystrokes incl. spaces) that reflects the aims of the project.

The positions are located at the Centre of African Studies and require physical presence in Copenhagen, including participation in project meetings and workshops. The Postdocs will be expected to carry out independent fieldwork in Senegal or Kenya, contribute to the comparative investigation of the project, and participate in joint publication and outreach activities. The position involves travel for conducting long-term fieldwork and conference participation, all of which are funded by the project.

Qualification Requirements
Employment as a Postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. For more information on careers at UCPH, and more general information about postdoctoral positions and qualifications requirements, please follow the links below:

Career at The University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (In Danish only)

Required qualifications

• PhD degree in anthropology, African Studies, STS, or related fields.
• Proficiency in qualitative research methods.
• Statistical training will be considered an asset.
• Fieldwork experience, preferably in the context of African state bureaucracies and/or welfare systems.
• Ability to develop comparative analyses and to write at high-quality academic level.
• Experience in disseminating research for diverse audiences, including key stakeholders.
• Excellent English language skills, for the case of Senegal excellent French language skills are an additional requirement.
• Knowledge of relevant African languages will be considered an asset.

Assessment Criteria
Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above.

Application

Please submit your application online. To  apply, please click on the "Apply now" icon at the bottom of this page. The application must be written in English, and include the following attachments in PDF or Word format:

• Cover letter detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific position
• CV (max. 2 pages, including contact details and language proficiency)
• Research plan (maximum 5 pages/12,000 keystrokes including space)
• List of publications
• One sample publication
• Copies of degree certificates
• Other information for consideration (if relevant)

Salary and Terms of Employment

Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range for postdoctoral positions starts at DKK 39,200/approximately EUR 5,200 + an 18.07 % pension contribution. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

Recruitment Process
After the application deadline, the Dean will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Dean will then set up an expert assessment committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. Each shortlisted applicant will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee's assessment before the appointment is announced.

You can find further information on our recruitment process at: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

International Applicant?

The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about our services at: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The university of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. To learn more about our diverse workplace and our participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in research, please visit HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

Contact Information
For more information about the recruitment process, please contact HR South at hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-2366/25-2I #2.

For additional information about the position, please contact Alena Thiel, email: ath@teol.ku.dk.

The Application Deadline is 15 December 2025 at 23:59 [CET).

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered. However, changes may be made to the submitted application right up until the deadline.