2025-2119551 Post-PHD Position in sociology of motorcar uses

Université de Limoges; France; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A French university seeks a postdoctoral researcher for a 12-month contract. The role involves field research on the sociology of vehicle inspections and the market for affordable used vehicles, focusing on ethnographic studies and interviews. Candidates should have a PhD received within the last three years and a strong background in sociology, particularly in rural contexts. Excellent knowledge of French and English is required, and a personal vehicle is recommended.

Qualifications

• Mastery of theoretical frameworks in sociology of social relations, rural worlds, and public action.
• In-depth knowledge of ethnographic survey techniques through observations and interviews.
• Willingness to articulate investigation methods and conceptual frameworks.

Responsabilités

• Conduct field research on vehicle inspection and used car markets.
• Participate in MOTEURS seminars at the University of Limoges.
• Engage in ethnographic observations and interviews.

Connaissances

Sociology of social relations

Ethnographic survey techniques

Analysis of regulatory texts

Scientific writing

Critical sociology

Formation

PhD in sociology or related field

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Université de Limoges Department DRH-RECHERCHE Research Field Sociology » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Country France Application Deadline 4 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2026

Offer Description

The person recruited on the ANR MOTEURS postdoctoral contract will conduct field research under the scientific supervision of Stéphane Vaquero (12 months) and Sofian Beldjerd (6 months). Most of the working time will be devoted to the two research projects mentioned above.

The first survey, which focuses on vehicle inspection checks (contrôles techniques automobiles, CTA), will be structured in two parts. The first part aims to analyze the historical and political genesis of this measure to understand its significance in shaping the technical obsolescence of cars, particularly in regard to pollution and car crash risk. This sociology of public action will focus on the analysis of European regulatory texts and their national application since the introduction of CTAs in 1992, as well as a series of interviews with representatives of the professional branch.

The second part, through a series of observations in CTA centers and interviews with CTA agents and car owners, seeks to understand how this public policy tool operates in practice: how technical criteria related to vehicle compliance are assessed and evaluated by agents, how more implicit criteria such as the overall condition of the vehicle and its maintenance by owners may be incorporated into the technical criteria, and how CTA agents certify and facilitate, daily, the obsolescence of the automobile fleet, especially for households owning older, used vehicles. Some of these observations will take place in the ethnographic field mentioned in the first objective of ANR MOTEURS.

The second survey will contribute to a better understanding of the supply of affordable used vehicles (VO) in the rural area under ethnographic study and mentioned in objective 3 of the MOTEURS project. This part of the work will describe the contemporary forms of used car marketing in a broader economic context where the second‑hand supply is increasingly taken over by major distribution players (online marketplaces, as well as physical shops). More specifically, it will analyze the market environments individuals surveyed are exposed to and the variations in the construction of the offer for used vehicles depending on the specificities of each distribution channel. Attention will be paid to both physical and digital sales propositions from automotive professionals (manufacturers and used car specialists, specialized independents, non‑specialist garages, brokers) and those from private individuals.

Qualifications & Skills

• Knowledges: Mastery of theoretical frameworks in the sociology of social relations, rural worlds, and public action. Knowledge in the sociology of techniques and economic sociology will be appreciated.
• Hard Skills: In‑depth knowledge of ethnographic survey techniques through observations and interviews; familiarity with the reading and analysis of regulatory texts; writing scientific reports and producing summaries.
• Soft Skills: Willingness to articulate ethnographic investigation methods and conceptual frameworks borrowed from the sociology of techniques, markets, and public action with a critical sociology of social relations.

Specific Requirements

Account must be taken that the post‑doctoral researcher will be available during work hours at the University of Limoges and nearby areas to access survey fields. The recruited person will participate in the MOTEURS seminars organized at the University of Limoges. Given the rural context of the survey, a personal vehicle and/or a driving license are highly recommended. A good knowledge of the automotive world is strongly valued.

Languages

FRENCH Level Excellent

ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field

Sociology » Other

Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Eligibility Criteria

According to French legislation, the applicant must have received a PhD degree no later than three years before the beginning of the contract