Post Doc - ECOFUNERAIRE project funded by the ANR

Université Jean Monnet; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading university in France is offering a postdoctoral position in sociology at the Centre Max Weber to study innovative burial techniques. The role involves conducting interviews, preparing scientific publications, and participating in workshops. Candidates must have a PhD in social sciences, preferably focusing on funeral services, and possess strong qualitative research skills. Proficiency in French is essential, with reading skills in scientific English required. This is a full-time position for an 18-month fixed-term contract.

Qualifications

• PhD in social sciences, especially sociology or anthropology, awarded before 20 January 2026.
• Thesis work in funeral services.
• Mastery of qualitative research techniques.

Responsabilités

• Conduct comprehensive interviews with stakeholders across countries.
• Write reports based on observations and interviews.
• Monitor the dissemination of new burial techniques.

Connaissances

Qualitative research techniques

Document analysis

French language proficiency

Writing skills

Formation

PhD in social sciences

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Université Jean Monnet Research Field Sociology Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Postdoc Positions Country France Application Deadline 20 Jan 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

NATURE OF THE POSITION: Category A

Full-time

Duration: 18-month fixed-term contract until 31 August 2027

Regulatory references: Decree No. 2021-1450 of 4 November 2021 relating to the post-doctoral contract under public law provided for in Article L. 412-4 of the Research Code

Target audience: young doctors recruited no later than three years after obtaining their doctoral degree under contract as part of a research project

APPLICATION FILE and CONTACT:

The application file must include the following documents, compiled into a single PDF file:

• Detailed CV
• Scientific output (published or forthcoming article with the journal's approval / chapter of the thesis)
• Thesis defence report

To be sent before 20 January 2026(12 noon Paris time)by emailto the following addresses:

Gaëlle Clavandier & Valérie Souffron – scientific coordinators of the project

Jean Monnet University is a multidisciplinary university with more than 20,000 students across five campuses in Saint-Étienne and Roanne. It offers courses in the humanities and social sciences, law, economics, management, arts, literature and languages, science, technology and health.

With a strong international focus, UJM also offers particular expertise in supporting student success and professional integration, within a rich and dynamic student environment.

Thanks to its high-level education, cutting-edge research, international appeal, and modernised campuses, it is a university that is transforming itself in line with a responsible and people-focused institutional project.

LABORATORY PRESENTATION:

The Centre Max Weber (CMW) is a general sociology laboratory and a joint research unit (UMR) affiliated with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Jean Monnet University in Saint-Étienne (UJM), the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS) and Lumière Lyon 2 University (ULL2), brings together a large number of sociologists from the Lyon-Saint-Étienne area.

The CMW has 172 members, including 89 researchers and tenured or contract lecturers, 13 research support staff and 70 doctoral students.

Due to its size and history, the CMW is committed to pluralism. It covers a wide range of research topics and is organised into six research teams and six cross-disciplinary areas.

The successful candidate will be a member of the Social and Political Dynamics of Privacy team.

RESEARCH PROJECT OVERVIEW:

As part of the ECOFUNERAIRE project funded by the ANR, a postdoctoral position is available at the Centre Max Weber (UMR 5283). The project aims to study new modes of burial and new techniques for treating human remains (aquamation, funeral composting) in the context of ecological transition, and therefore has an exploratory dimension. The project aims to document and analyse the logic behind the deployment of these processes (including the actors involved), the narratives that underpin them, and the way in which they challenge the legal and social (including professional) norms governing funeral practices, at a time when various European countries are considering their legalisation. The aim is to understand whether the changes in other countries (where these practices are being trialled, or even legalised and/or commercialised) are a continuation of past technical developments (particularly cremation) or whether these changes represent a more radical break with current funeral systems.

MISSIONS:

The successful candidate will participate in data collection with the coordinators and in a scientific publication (50%):

• Conducting comprehensive interviews with various stakeholders: institutions, professionals and associations in France, Switzerland and Belgium (around 20 interviews per country) and carrying out field observations;
• Writing reports on observations and interviews (transcripts of the latter using dedicated software);
• Monitoring the dissemination of these techniques (websites, conferences, documentaries, training courses, social networks, etc.);
• Participation in a collective scientific publication.

The successful candidate will be assigned administrative and dissemination tasks in conjunction with the coordinators (50%):

• Participation in the organisation of two research workshops bringing together project members (dissemination, monitoring of tasks, etc.);
• Contribution to the research notebook (creation, updating and monitoring of the blog presenting the project and its achievements);
• Participation in the submission of data to the dedicated platform;
• Supervision of interns.

She/he will contribute in particular to the production of the following deliverables:

• Report presenting the results of the survey based on interviews and observations.
• Formatting of observation and interview reports.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS and RESEARCH PROFILE:

• PhDin social sciences, particularly sociology or anthropology, awarded before 20 January 2026.
• Thesis or research work in the field of funeral services.
• In-depth mastery of qualitative research techniques (interviews and observations).
• Proficiency in mixed methods, particularly document analysis: legal and digital sources.
• Knowledge of one or more fields: techniques, bodies, law and institutions, transition studies.
• Writing skills and ability to format qualitative results.
• Excellent command of French, reading scientific English.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Sociology Education Level PhD or equivalent

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Centre Max Weber Laboratory (UMR 5283) - Jean Monnet University Saint-Etienne & MSH-Lyon Saint-Etienne Country European Union State/Province France City Saint-Étienne Geofield