Postdoctoral Researcher in Holocaust and Genocide Studies with a Specialization in Memory Studies and Transitional Justice in Ethiopia

Postdoctoral Researcher in Holocaust and Genocide Studies with a Specialization in Memory Studies and Transitional Justice in Ethiopia

Uppsala Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (UHGS) is an interdisciplinary research center at Uppsala University, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in the field of Holocaust and Genocide Studies through research and education.

This position is linked to the research project “Transitional Justice Afterlives as Memory Regimes: Tracing the Legacy of the Red Terror Trials in Ethiopia's Current Transitional Justice Process.” The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) through its International Postdoc grant.

The project examines how previous transitional justice processes continue to shape later attempts to address violent pasts. Focusing on Ethiopia, the project investigates how the Red Terror trials of the 1990s have influenced contemporary efforts toward accountability, recognition, and justice. Using the concept of memory regimes, it analyses how the archives, categories of victims and perpetrators, and silences regarding certain forms of violence by the Red Terror trials are mobilised, contested, and reworked in the transitional justice initiatives that followed the 2018 political transition and the 2020–2022 war. Drawing on memory studies, transitional justice scholarship, heritage studies, and studies of political violence, the project explores the long-term effects of earlier accountability processes on present-day transitional justice initiatives. The project is conducted in collaboration with the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia) and the Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture at the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands).

Duties

The successful candidate will conduct independent research within the project and contribute to its scientific development.

Responsibilities include

• planning and conducting empirical research,
• archival and documentary research,
• conducting qualitative interviews,
• analysis of policy documents and public consultation processes,
• observation of public forums and consultations within ongoing transitional justice processes in Ethiopia,
• publishing research in international peer-reviewed journals,
• presenting research findings at national and international conferences,
• active participation in seminars and activities at UHGS.

The position includes research stays totalling 24 months at the project’s international partner institutions: twelve months at the Center for Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa University, and twelve months at the Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture, University of Amsterdam. For the remainder of the employment, the position is based at UHGS in Uppsala.

The position is primarily devoted to research. Teaching and supervision within the Centre’s study programmes may be included to a limited extent, not exceeding 20 percent of working time.

Qualification Requirements

Applicants must hold a PhD in Peace and Development Research or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a PhD in the subjects.

The PhD degree must have been obtained by the time the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to applicants who obtained their doctoral degree within the last three years before the application deadline. Earlier degrees may be considered where special circumstances apply.

Applicants must demonstrate

• research experience in memory studies, transitional justice, or closely related fields,
• research experience concerning political violence, mass violence, accountability, or conflict legacies,
• documented research experience from Ethiopia, including fieldwork,
• sound knowledge of modern Ethiopian political history and transitional justice processes,
• experience with qualitative research methods, including interviews, document analysis, and archival research,
• a demonstrated ability to design and conduct independent research,
• a record of academic publication relevant to the project's research areas,
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English,
• excellent oral and written proficiency in Amharic, as the project’s archival material and interviews are largely in Amharic,
• strong collaborative skills and the ability to work in international research environments.

Great importance will be attached to personal suitability.

Assessment Criteria

Particular emphasis will be placed on scientific excellence and the applicant's ability to contribute to the objectives of the project. Assessment will focus on the quality of previous research and publications, expertise in memory studies and transitional justice, research experience from Ethiopia, language proficiency enabling work with Ethiopian source and interview material, and methodological competence in qualitative research. Academic independence and the ability to contribute to an international research environment will also be taken into account.

The application must include

• curriculum vitae,
• list of publications,
• copy of PhD diploma,
• up to three selected publications,
• research statement (maximum five pages) outlining how the applicant's expertise and experience can contribute to the project.

About the position

Fixed-term postdoctoral position in accordance with the applicable collective agreement. Starting date: 14 December 2026 or by agreement. The position is full-time (100%). The place of employment is Uppsala, with research stays in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Amsterdam (the Netherlands).

Further information about the position can be obtained from Roland Kostic, Director of the Uppsala Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, +46 (0)18-471 5731, directoruhgs@uu.se.

Welcome to submit your application no later than 30 October 2026. Reference number: UFV-PA 2026/3136.