Jobs and Opportunities

4 three-year (65%) postgraduate positions
(f/m/d)

The Research Training Group 2571 “Empires: Dynamic Change, Temporality and Post-Imperial
Orders” invites applications for 4 three-year (65%) postgraduate positions (f/m/d)

• Application deadline: 21. June 2026
• Start-date: 1. November 2026
• Scope of work: Part-time position (65 %)
• Id no.: 00005001

Description

Funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the
interdisciplinary Research Training Group (RTG) focuses on imperial temporalities and their
representation, reflection, memories, resonance, experiences, and manipulation in the context
imperial transformation and in post-imperial orders. Within this framework, the RTG focusses on
three main aspects: (a) imperial space, (b) imperial institutions and normative structures, and (c)
imperial economies. Representatives of the following disciplines are involved: History of any
global area from antiquity to the present, Sociology, Political Science, Near Eastern Studies, and
English Literature. In addition, the RTG collaborates with representatives of Economics and
European and International Law, who can be involved in the supervision of specific research
projects. In this call we particularly welcome applications from:

Political Science
Sociology
Islamic Studies
History of East Asia
North American and Transatlantic History
Modern History of Europe
Medieval History
Roman History

We are committed to supporting gender, ethnic and cultural diversity and strongly encourage
international applicants.

We offer:

• a structured research training programme that supports individual research and prepares doctoral
  candidates for an academic career and other related professional fields
• continuous supervision by two professorial members of the RTG
• in-depth professional and interdisciplinary exchange
• opportunities for international academic networking and career advancement
• funding for up to six months abroad at a research institute (https://unifreiburg.
  de/empires/partners/) cooperating with our programme, as well as for attending
  conferences in Germany and abroad.

We expect:

• an excellent Master’s degree or equivalent, preferably in a field of study represented in the RTG
• a dissertation project on a topic within the research framework of the RTG
• participation in the research training programme and the events and activities of the RTG
• enrollment in the doctoral degree programme at the University of Freiburg
• English language proficiency at the level of B2 by the start of the employment
• willingness to acquire the German language for communication purposes in the course of
• employment.

There is a statutory requirement of residence in or around Freiburg for the duration of the
employment, except for periods of study abroad.

Please submit the following documents in either English or German:

• letter of motivation (1-2 pages)
• CV
• a copy or copies of the university certificate(s) including a transcript of records
• outline of the proposed research project (7-10 pages) including a working title, abstract, state of
• the art, main research questions, theoretical approaches and methodology, and a time schedule
• names of two academic referees whom we may contact regarding the scientific qualification,
• personal suitability, and quality of the application and the project. Applicants who are invited for
• an interview will be asked to contact their referees and request that they submit their
• recommendation letter to kontakt@grk2571.uni-freiburg.de by 16 July 2026. We recommend that
• you inform your referees about the submission details at the time of your application to help them
• meet the deadline.

Employment is in accordance with the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Law (WissZeitVG) of
Germany. Positions will be filled on a fixed-term basis, initially for a period of three years. An
extension for the successful completion of the doctorate is possible within the limits of the
WissZeitVG.

We specifically invite applications from women.

Please submit your application by 21 June 2026 exclusively via the university’s application system:

Please note: Applications via email cannot be accepted and will be deleted to ensure
compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation. <<<

Invitations for interviews will be sent out on or around 1 July 2026. Interviews will be held between
16 and 23 July 2026. In case of transatlantic or other long-distance travel, digital interviews will be
arranged.

For further information on the RTG and its research programme, please visit https://www.unifreiburg.
de/empires. For inquires, contact our administrative office kontakt@grk2571.unifreiburg.
de.

Application

Please apply via the university’s application portal at https://uni-freiburg.de/en/job/00005001/ by

21. June 2026 at the latest.

Submissions via email cannot be accepted.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Sitta von Reden on the phone number +49 761
203-5453 or E-Mail sitta.von.reden@grk2571.uni-freiburg.de.