We are looking for a visual anthropologist to support the Principal Investigator of the European Research Council project FOODCIRCUITS: Hidden Connections Between Migrants and Societies based at the University of Barcelona. The visual anthropologist will conduct visual ethnography (ideally videography, but perhaps also photography, or other form of multi-modal / sensory ethnography) during a period of 3 years to to explore making visible or sensory the connections  between migrants and the societies of which they form part via food circuits, using videography but also potentially photography and/or other sensory ethnographic methods.

The EU-funded FOODCIRCUITS project will study the connections between immigrants and the societies of which they form part to understand how these connections become invisibilised. The project will focus on asparagus from Germany, oranges from Spain and strawberries from California to investigate the embodied experiences of migrant farm labourers, supply chain workers and consumers. FOODCIRCUITS proposes a new way of seeing social and embodied links between migrants and societies by developing a theory of connections and re-conceptualising how indirect connections between different categories of people are invisibilised.

Job description:

The visual anthropologist will utilize visual and/or other sensory anthropology methods, including film and photography, to document the production, transportation, and consumption of asparagus in Germany, oranges in Spain, and strawberries in California.

The visual anthropologist will collaborate with the PI and the three postdocs on the team and is expected to produce one ethnographic film (or one ethnographic film for each of the circuits) and photography essays that uncover the lives of migrants involved in producing and transporting these fruits and vegetables, as well as the value consumers place on them and/or other sensory ethnographic products.

The visual anthropologist is  expected to explore and develop their own videographic, photographic (and/or other multi-modal / sensory ethnography) style and techniques while elucidating connections, differences, and commonalities across circuits.

In conversation with the Principal Investigator, they could decide to work on three projects - one for each circuit - or one large project  with different themes, styles and approaches.  It is recommended that applicants explain in a cover letter (not required) their discipline of expertise and make a proposal of which visual and/or sensory methods they would envision utilizing  to fulfill FOODCIRCUITS’ research objectives.

They will focus their visual/ multi-modal / sensory work in each theme (production, distribution, and consumption) in all three circuits – supported by the PI and the postdoctoral researchers focused on each circuit. The postdoctoral researchers will help the visual ethnographer gain access to field sites and will be available to contribute visual ethnography under the coordination of the visual anthropologist.

The visual ethnographer will contribute to group team discussions of research and findings.

The visual ethnographer will also be expected to contribute to the writing and publication of articles, and to participate in the collaborative co-leading of presentation and publication ventures, including conference panels and journal special issues. 

The visual ethnographer will be encouraged to explore collaborative practices in research, production and dissemination.

We seek highly motivated candidates to:

• Collaborate with the PI and the postdocs leading each circuit as part of an international and innovative and multi-circuited project.
• Lead, produce, and help disseminate visual or multi-modal /sensory media projects that uncover the otherwise often invisibilized connections and realities of migrants in the societies of which they form part.
• Write and publish social science articles and chapters from the research – some of which will be co-authored - while helping lead special issues of top journals internationally.
• Use innovative and collaborative research and dissemination activities – including potentially artistic, dramatic, sonic and visual as well as participatory approaches.
• Conduct visual / sensory ethnography based on  in-depth ethnographic field research, with some degree of interest in incorporating embodied and reflexive aspects.
• Contribute to build on, critique, and developing social theory within the context of visual ethnography.

• Key responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the Visual Ethnography arm of the research project in conversation and agreement with the Principal Investigator and the Postdocs leading each circuit.
• Film, photograph, and/or utilize other media techniques to explore portraying and visualizing the connections studied during in-depth fieldwork with migrant farmworkers, transportation and supply chain workers, and consumers – with collaboration from PI, researchers of each circuit and support from advisors.
• Collaborate with the PI,  post-doctoral circuit researchers and circuit advisors to explore and seek respectful ways to engage with migrant workers in fieldwork.
• Travel to all the countries where fieldwork will take place and visit key locations of each circuit – following the advice of circuit researchers and circuit advisors (“German” asparagus in relation to “Romania” and other potential countries; “Spanish” orange in relation to countries potentially in “North Africa” or “Latin America”; “California” strawberry in relation to “Mexico”).
• Travel to meetings, conferences, and presentations.
• Read literature and conduct research to prepare for the project.  Get to know the circuits at the intersection of migration, labour, food systems, embodiment and health, the relations between the countries implicated, social inequity and racialization.
• Interact and communicate well as a member of an interdisciplinary  project team.
• Explore collaborative practices in research, production and dissemination.
• Analyse ethnographic data and actively interact  with other team members through the  data analysis process.
• Contribute to the writing and publication of articles and chapters – some co-authored – in top journals in English – whileconsidering other local and regional languages.
• Lead the development and distribution of the film, multi-modal / sensory products, or any other media content produced.
• Show dedication to filming, photographing, editing, writing, publishing, dissemination, and presentation especially during the years of the project as well as, to some degree, after the years of the project. 
• Explore ways for the project to have positive impact on social change beyond the academy. 
• Show dedication and flexibility to the project and its goals of social science research and positive social change through visual ethnography, in-depth field research and active dissemination of findings and collaboration, all while on an interdisciplinary team. 
• Participate actively in the activities of the UB research group, including being present at the UB and in Barcelona during crucial times of preparation, analysis, writing, discussion, conferences, workshops, and meetings.  Interact actively virtually during times when the team is not present together at the UB and in Barcelona.

Gross salary per year:  37.037,72 €