reference number 72/2025

As part of the "PostDoc Funding 2025+" funding format, the University of Erfurt is looking to fill up to two positions of 40 hours per week for a fixed term of up to three years as of 1 February 2026:

Research Assistant (f/m/d)
Pay category E 13 TV-L (100 %)

Re-founded in 1994 as a reform university, the University of Erfurt considers itself as a research-oriented university that is highly committed to international cooperation as well as innovation in teaching and learning, with a special focus on teacher-training programs. With its strong profile in the humanities, cultural studies as well as social sciences and education, it is a cosmopolitan place for academic debate on key social and cultural challenges.

The funding is aimed at applicants with a clear goal of academic independence who, with the support of researchers from one of ten Graduate Centres / the Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies at the University of Erfurt, wish to apply in an excellent funding format in a competitive process for a position as head of a junior research group – in particular:

• DFG Emmy Noether Programme (subject to fulfilment of the application requirements, in particular the necessary institutional change; therefore only for applicants who did not obtain their doctorate at the University of Erfurt),
• ERC Starting Grant from the European Union.

Area of Responsibility

• Development of an independent, competitive research project with research group leadership perspective
• Selection of a suitable third-party funding programme (in particular Emmy Noether, ERC Starting Grant or comparable)
• Focusing the content of the third-party funding application on topics related to peace and conflict studies in the broader sense (local, national or global conflicts at the micro, meso or macro level)
• Preparation of the complete application, including project and budget planning
• Close cooperation with the Research and Graduate Services and specialist colleagues at the University of Erfurt
• Working on scientific problems as part of the research programme of the Graduate Centre
• Assistance in organizing academic conferences, symposia, etc.
• Coordination of the activities of the assigned Graduate Centre

Please note: According to DFG guidelines, applying for the Emmy Noether Programme usually requires a change of academic environment. Applicants who obtained their doctorate at the University of Erfurt are therefore only eligible in justified exceptional cases. Furthermore, applications must generally be submitted 2 to 4 years after completion of a doctorate. Applicants for a position in the format “PostDoc Funding 2025+” should therefore ideally have completed their doctorate no more than one year prior to submitting their application in order to be within the funding period. Please inform yourself in advance about the application requirements.

What we expect

• completed academic university degree and doctorate in a social, science or humanities subject (the dissertation must have been submitted and reviewed by the time the application is submitted; the doctorate must have been completed by the time the contract is signed at the latest)
• expertise in the field of peace and conflict studies in the broader sense
• very good knowledge of English at C1 level
• academic excellence with evidence of the researcher's personal qualifications in the postdoctoral phase based on (participation in) the production of publications and acquisition of third-party funding
• existing project idea in the field of peace and conflict studies and development of the project idea for a third-party funding application for junior research group leadership in the above-mentioned formats (It is expected that the planned and, if applicable, funded project will be based at the University of Erfurt.)
• one-page letter of support from a Graduate Centre at the University of Erfurt confirming the thematic suitability of the project idea for the Graduate Centre with a brief explanation.

What we offer

• academic networking, cooperation and support as a member of a Graduate Centre at the University of Erfurt
• strategic and administrative support from the Research and Graduate Service at the University of Erfurt

The University of Erfurt promotes the compatibility of career and family/private life and supports flexible working hours. For academic staff, it offers a wide range of further training opportunities as well as coaching and mentoring as part of academic staff development (www.uni-erfurt.de/go/akademische-pke). In addition, there are a number of health and prevention offers as part of the company health management programme.

Comments/Remarks
The German version of this job advertisement alone shall be legally binding.

The position is initially limited to up to three years, depending on the legal and personal requirements.

The advertisement is addressed to applicants who fulfill the requirements of the German Act on Temporary Scientific Contracts (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz). The general requirements for employment according to § 91 section 5 Thuringian Higher Education Act (Thüringer Hochschulgesetz) apply.

If you have a foreign university degree, it is necessary that you apply for a certificate application at the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB). We recommend that you attach the corresponding certificate to your application documents, but you can also provide this certificate at a later stage of the process. Please note that this is a chargeable service provided by the ZAB. For more information, please visit https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung.

The University of Erfurt sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this. The University of Erfurt has successfully passed the "shaping diversity" audit, has been audited as a "family-friendly university" and regulary participates successfully in the female professor programme of the federal and state governments. One of the university's strategic goals is increasing the proportion of women in re-search and teaching. Qualified female scientists are therefore particularly encouraged to apply. Severely disabled persons and those with equal status are given preference in the case of equal suitability, professional performance, and ability. It should be noted that even in the case of a repeated application or previous employment at the University of Erfurt, explicit reference must be made to the severe disability or equal status in the application, as this information is not automatically taken into account in the present procedure for data protection and organizational reasons.

Part-time employment is possible in principle. The extent to which a part-time request can be met, particularly with regard to the location and scope of the part-time work, must be examined on a case-by-case basis.

For any questions please contact:

Dr. Daniel Albrecht
E-Mail: graduiertenfoerderung@uni-erfurt.de
Tel.: +49 (0)361 737-5047

If you have any questions regarding suitable funding formats, please contact:

Margrit Elsner
E-Mail: forschungsfoerderung@uni-erfurt.de
Tel.: +49 (0)361 737 5041

On 6 October 2025 and 28 October 2025, the Research and Graduate Services will offer an online consultation hour at 1 p.m. CET, where questions can be discussed directly. You can access the consultation hours via the following links:

06/10/2025: https://uni-erfurt.webex.com/uni-erfurt/j.php?MTID=m48e85ab1024b1b64bb67aefd722b9b46

28/10/2025: https://uni-erfurt.webex.com/uni-erfurt/j.php?MTID=m013a96f672ef83b6a0e3aab4defc1704

Application and Deadline
Please send your application with the following relevant documents exclusively online by 2 November 2025 via the University of Erfurt's application management system.

The documents relevant to the application, i.e. the application for funding at the University of Erfurt and any attachments, must be uploaded to the application management system in a single PDF file.

Please use the application form for this; the application contains:

1. a one- to max. two-page outline of the project for which third-party funding as a junior research group leader is to be jointly acquired; the connection to peace and conflict studies should be clearly stated
2. information on the format to which third-party funding is to be applied for (if applicable, a specific call for proposals)
3. information on the possible start date of the position
4. annex 1 with details of the applicant:

• max. five publications relevant to the project
• list of max. five applications for (third-party) funding, scholarships or awards from the last six years
• if applicable, information on international research experience
• if applicable, connections to other ongoing projects

Further documents:

• curriculum vitae and doctoral degree certificate
• a letter of support from the Graduate Centre / Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies to which the postdoctoral position is to be assigned
• copies of at least two references for the dissertation from the doctoral procedure

Reimbursement of Expenses
The University of Erfurt does not refund any costs incurred in the application process.