Postdoctoral Researcher in Modern History (m/f/a)

The Horizon Europe project BLOCKADE and the Department of History at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Modern History Postdoctoral Researcher in Modern History (m/f/a)

• Application deadline: 18. April 2025
• Publication date: 28. February 2025
• Start-date: 1. September 2025
• Scope of work: Fulltime position
• Id no.: 00004250

Description

The 4-year full-time (100%) postdoctoral position will be located at the Juniorprofessur for Transatlantic and North American History (Jun.-Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Piller) and will be part of the European Research Council project, “The Hidden Weapon. Blockade in the Era of the Two World Wars (BLOCKADE)”.

 

The position is scheduled to start on or around 1 September 2025.

 

The project  

BLOCKADE (ERC Synergy Grant #101166983) explores the two blockades of the First and Second World Wars, and their aftermaths. In these total wars, the Allies imposed a global blockade on their enemies, and the Central and Axis powers responded with blockades of their own. Over a period of six years, the BLOCKADE team, based in Trondheim, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Freiburg, will analyse the impact of blockades on households, states, corporations and the international order; on the development of political and military strategy; on how the wars were prepared, experienced and remembered; and on how peace was made. BLOCKADE sets out to prove that these blockades are crucial to understanding not only the way the world wars were fought but also their globality and totality, their immediate effects and their long-term global repercussions. More information can be found on the project website www.blockades.eu

 

The position

The postdoctoral researcher will focus on the work package “Autarky ‘from below’: Female Mobilization.” Next to better-known autarky measures in industry and at state level, all blockaded countries (and those fearing to become blockaded) had households and institutions adopt measures to overcome or prepare for blockade and the scarcity of food, clothing and other essentials attributed to it. The work package should focus on women’s role in these endeavours, how they conserved and substituted scarce goods, and try to understand everyday practices and experiences in a world of shortages; in a second step, based on historical source analysis, the work package should determine whether and how women may have transmitted such ‘resilience knowledge’ from one world war to another and/or from one country to another. The idea is to produce an innovative history of transnational learning and ‘autarky from below’ in (potentially) blockaded countries, and to see how the experience and perceived effects of the blockades of the Great War, in particular, influenced such preparedness measures. Japan, Italy, Austria or Germany seem possible case studies; and the records of ministries of health and nutrition, women’s organizations and magazines, as well as wartime cookbooks seem possible sources. However, the postdoctoral fellow is encouraged to develop their own approach to these questions and the BLOCKADE team is very open to alternative suggestions.

 

The work package is one of five positions across the four BLOCKADE locations that should speak to the themes of resilience and vulnerability, that is, exploring the impact of blockades on economic, strategic and social vulnerabilities and the corresponding ability of societies and individuals to prepare for or adapt to shocks caused by blockade from different angles. In Freiburg, the postdoctoral researcher will work closely with the PI of the Freiburg team, Elisabeth Piller.

 

Your Tasks

• Contribute to the project by carrying out research of high ambition and excellent quality
• Publish at least two articles relating to your work package in leading peer-reviewed journals
• Publish at least one chapter in the project’s handbook on the history of blockades and help with the coordination and editing of that handbook
• Actively participate in the research and outreach activities of BLOCKADE
• Contribute to scientific and financial reporting to the funding body
• Actively participate in the project’s workshops, seminars and conferences as well as in organizing and hosting Freiburg-based events.
• Help organize BLOCKADE’s (online) research and reading seminars
• Contribute to data collection (qualitative and quantitative primary souces) for the central database located at the University of Amsterdam

 

Your Profile

• You must have completed a doctoral degree in modern history or be able to show that the degree will be conferred shortly
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English (equivalent to at least level B2)
• Excellent reading skills in the languages of the countries to be examined in the postdoctoral project (equivalent to level B2)
• Experience in dealing with archival sources
• Enthusiasm about the project and about working in a team
• Prior knowledge of the historiography and primary sources related to the period of the World Wars is desirable
• Publication record in international journals is desirable

 

We offer

• Experience in an exciting, multi-location international research project
• Generous travel and conference funds and opportunity to invite guest scholars
• Opportunity for intellectual growth and career advancement, including a wide variety of training, mentoring and professional development offerings available at the university
• Open, inclusive and supportive work environment with committed colleagues
• Working in an attractive German university town and in close proximity to the culinary and cultural delights of Switzerland, France and the Black Forest
• Salary according to the levels set by the public sector agreements TV-L E13 (https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tv-l/allg)
• There is no teaching obligation associated with the position

 

Please Submit (in English)

• a letter of motivation detailing your prior experience and your fit for the project
• a research plan (2-4 pages; Calibri, 11 font size, 1.5 line space)
• a full academic CV
• Up to 3 academic works - published or unpublished – as writing samples
• Name and contact information of two referees to be contacted for references
• Grade transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-, Master's- and PhD degrees

 

Please send your complete application documents – in one PDF file – to Elisabeth.piller@geschichte.uni-freiburg.de

 

If you have questions, please contact Jun.-Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Piller via the above email address.

 

The position is limited to 31. August 2029. The salary will be determined in accordance with TV-L E13.

Application

Please send your application in English including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number 00004250, by 18. April 2025 at the latest. Please send your application to the following address in written or electronic form:

Universität Freiburg,
Transatlantische und Nordamerikanische Geschichte
Rempartstr. 15
79098 Freiburg im Breisgau
Germany

For further information, please contact Dr. Elisabeth Marie Piller on the phone number +49 761 203 3441 or E-Mail elisabeth.piller@geschichte.uni-freiburg.de.