Postdoctoral position M/F – Reproductive technologies and kinship practices in contemporary China

Job Description

Missions

Project Presentation
The use of reproductive medicine is not new in China. While artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization are authorized and widely practiced, the commercialization of gametes and surrogacy remain prohibited by law. However, an informal and partially regulated market involving agencies and clinics has developed in major cities, in response to increasing demand from the LGBTQIA+ community and from couples who have lost their only child.
The ERC Starting Grant project “DouMotherChina” takes these practices as a starting point for a comparative and diachronic study of reproductive arrangements involving a third party: concubines in polygynous families before 1950, mistresses in extramarital relationships, and surrogates today.
By analyzing these marginal forms of kinship and conjugality, the project aims to shed light on broader social transformations in contemporary China and to renew anthropological approaches to kinship, while critically examining issues of gender, bioethics, and racialization in national and transnational assisted reproductive practices.
Position Description and Research Project
The postdoctoral researcher will conduct a study on reproductive trajectories and kinship practices among single women, lesbian individuals, and/or non-binary persons in China.
The main scientific objectives are to:
1. Analyze kinship and filiation practices among LGBTQIA+ individuals using assisted reproductive technologies (ART);
2. Examine the functioning of the ART market in China, including its informal and transnational dimensions;
3. Investigate issues of gender, race, and bioethics in gamete selection and assisted reproduction practices;
4. Analyze transnational circulations linked to assisted reproductive practices involving China.
The postdoctoral researcher will actively contribute to the collective dynamics of the ERC project, both scientifically and organizationally. Particular attention will be paid to ethical issues related to research in sensitive fieldwork contexts and to the protection of participants' anonymity.

Activity

• Contribute to the development of the project's theoretical framework and literature review
• Conduct fieldwork research in China, including life histories, semi-structured interviews, ethnographic observations, and group interviews
• Participate in the organization and facilitation of monthly workshops within the DouMotherChina team
• Contribute to the organization of national and international conferences
• Participate in research seminars
• Write and publish scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals
• Participate in project meetings
• Contribute to editorial and coordination activities within the DouMotherChina project

Your Profil

Skills

• PhD in Social Sciences (Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Chinese Studies, or related disciplines)
• Proven experience in qualitative research methods, particularly life histories and ethnographic fieldwork
• Strong knowledge of scholarly debates on kinship, gender, and Science and Technology Studies (STS) in China
• Ability to work within an international and interdisciplinary research team
Language Requirements
• Fluency in either French or English
• Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese is required for conducting fieldwork in China

Your Work Environment

The successful candidate will be employed by the CNRS and affiliated with the LISST research unit (UMR 5193), Centre d'Anthropologie Sociale, in Toulouse, France.
The postdoctoral researcher will join the ERC DouMotherChina team led by the Principal Investigator, Renyou HOU, and will be integrated into LISST-CAS, one of the leading research centers in France on contemporary forms of kinship.

Application Procedure
Applications, written in French or English, must include the following documents:
• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter
• Names and contact details of two referees (letters of recommendation will be requested only after the first stage of selection)
• A research proposal related to the advertised topic (maximum 10 pages), including a preliminary bibliography
• PDF version of the PhD dissertation
• One writing sample (e.g., a published article, chapiter, etc.)
• Copy of the PhD diploma
• PhD defense report (if available)
This position is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the Starting Grant scheme. Funding is available for fieldwork missions, international conferences, and research-related activities.

Application Deadline: 30 April 2026
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview within two weeks after the deadline

For further information regarding the scientific framework and expectations of the position, please contact Renyou HOU Principal Investigator renyou.hou@cnrs.fr

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

entre 3143€ et 3403€ selon expérience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions