SAP+D - Postdoctoral Researcher – Urban Heritage and Spatial Justice

Location: School of Architecture, Planning and Design (SAP+D), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Benguerir, Morocco
Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed-term (24 months)
Start Date: As soon as possible

About UM6P and SAP+D

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is a forward-looking institution dedicated to research and innovation in Africa and beyond. The School of Architecture, Planning and Design (SAP+D) at UM6P fosters interdisciplinary research that bridges architecture, urban studies, and planning, with a focus on African contexts and global challenges.

Position Overview

SAP+D invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to contribute to a project exploring the intersection between urban heritage and spatial justice. The postdoc will work within a multidisciplinary research team and contribute to developing new theoretical, historical, and practice-based insights on how heritage preservation and urban development interact in creating (or addressing) spatial inequalities in African and Middle Eastern cities.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct original research on urban heritage and spatial justice, including case studies in Morocco and other regions of the Global South.
• Develop conceptual and methodological frameworks that interrogate the politics of heritage, memory, and space.
• Contribute to academic publications, policy briefs, and public outreach related to heritage and urban justice.
• Collaborate with faculty and graduate students in seminars, workshops, and exhibitions.
• Assist in the development of grant proposals and interdisciplinary research initiatives.
• Present findings in national and international conferences.
• Designing and teaching academic courses related to urban heritage, spatial justice, or affiliated domains.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Architecture, Urban Studies, Geography, Anthropology, History, or a related discipline.
• Proven research record in urban heritage, spatial justice, or related fields, demonstrated by publications and/or fieldwork.
• Experience with qualitative research methods (e.g., ethnography, archival research, spatial analysis).
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary and Global South perspectives.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English; proficiency in French and/or Arabic is highly desirable.

Desirable Skills and Assets

• Familiarity with Moroccan or North African urban contexts.
• GIS or mapping skills are a plus.
• Experience in community-engaged research or heritage activism.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an international, multilingual academic environment.