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TWO 2-3 YEAR POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS: The experience and cultivation of love in religious and contemplative traditions

Postdoctoral Positions At The Department Of Anthropology And The Interacting Minds Centre, Aarhus University

The School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for two 2-3 year postdoctoral positions. The two positions are full-time and are expected to begin on 1 February 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their personal background.

Deadline for applications: 15 September, 2021

Research Context

The two postdocs will be part of the core research team in the project HEART OPENINGS: THE EXPERIENCE AND CULTIVATION OF LOVE IN BUDDHISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM, headed by Associate Professor Christian Suhr, who is the principal investigator, and funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s research and innovation programme (ERC-STG project 2021-2026, grant agreement No 950386).

The HEART OPENINGS project focuses on the experience and cultivation of love in religious and contemplative practice. The project is planned to be conducted over five years in collaboration with Buddhists, Christians and Muslims in Denmark, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Egypt (and possibly also including additional contemplative communities in other parts of the world).

Using audiovisual and microphenomenological methods, HEART OPENINGS will examine in detail the sensory and emotional structures of concrete experiences of love. Through participant observation and life history interviews, the project will examine and compare how the cultivation and experiences of love impact and emerge from people’s everyday lives across different contemplative and religious traditions.

The project has originally envisioned postdoctoral projects of 2-3 years focusing on communities in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in Denmark and Nepal and Pentecostal communities in Denmark and Papua New Guinea.

However, postdoctoral candidates with other specialisations and regional competences are also encouraged to apply with suggestions for sub-projects with other contemplative traditions in different parts of the world. A final decision on the exact composition of the sub-projects will be made based on the specific qualifications of the postdoctoral candidates. 

The PI, Christian Suhr, will be responsible for a sub-project involving Sufis in Denmark and Egypt.

For further information, potential candidates are welcome to contact the PI: Christian Suhr, suhr@cas.au.dk.

For more information on the positions, visit the Aarhus University website.