Research Position for Pursuing a PhD (m/f/d) in Poliltical Sciences

Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS)

The Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS) in Regensburg is an interdisciplinary and international non-university research organisation that focuses on the historical, economic and political development of Eastern and Southeastern Europe (www.leibniz-ios.de). The IOS combines basic research with scientific infrastructure services and knowledge transfer, both in Germany and internationally, and is committed to the ideas of Open Science. The institute has been a member of the Leibniz Association since 2017. The IOS works closely with the University of Regensburg, for example as part of the Leibniz ScienceCampus “Europe and America in the Modern World”.

From 2025, the multidisciplinary research of the IOS will be expanded to include a new Politics Department. The research of the Department will focus on theoretically sound, methodologically innovative and diverse research on politics and interstate relations in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in their transregional and global contexts. The research of the Politics Department will encompass various fields of political science and neighbouring disciplines that research politics. The individual research and qualification projects of future members of the Politics Department are invited to address different analytical levels – from local to global contexts – and to integrate comparative and transnational perspectives.

The new research area is headed by a newly established Professorship for Normativity in International Politics at the Faculty of Law, jointly established with the University of Regensburg. The leading ideas for the Politics Department are described here: https://leibniz-ios.de/en/research/new-research-department-politics.

In order to establish the Politics Department, the IOS announces the following research positions to be filled as soon as possible:

Two part-time Research Positions for Pursuing a PhD (m/f/d).

The weekly working hours of the doctoral positions are 65% of the standard working hours.

Employment contracts are initially limited to three years. The salary of doctoral research assistants is based on their personal and professional qualifications according to the TV-L (tariff agreement for the public servants of the Free State of Bavaria) up to salary group 13.

You have the following tasks:

• Development and implementation of a theoretically and empirically based social science research project with a regional focus on Eastern and/or South-Eastern Europe with the aim of a doctoral degree;
• Development of own, nationally and internationally visible research publications;
• Presentation of the doctoral project and own research results in relevant national and international forums
• Participation in knowledge transfer and science communication of the IOS.
   

We expect you to:

• hold a very good university degree (Master’s, Diploma) in political science, international relations or related disciplines, including e.g. sociology, geography (political geography), economics (political economy), law, political anthropology, regional studies;
• aim of further academic qualification (doctorate);
• have good to very good basic knowledge in the application of qualitative and/or quantitative methods of social science research;
• have very good knowledge of written and spoken English; good to very good knowledge of one or more Eastern and/or South-Eastern European languages; knowledge of German is desirable or willingness to learn German;
• be open to interdisciplinary cooperation, flexible, communicative, reliable, able to work under pressure and in a team.

We offer:

• the opportunity to carry out a self-defined research project within the research priorities of the IOS as a member of the Politics Department;
• the opportunity to be part of the establishment of the new Politics Department at IOS;
• support for research (e.g. through funding opportunities for field research and travel expenses for conference participation and publication projects);
• Support for further academic qualification (doctorate) and supervision;
• the opportunity to attend further education programmes and training courses (e.g. methods courses and soft skills courses);
• an affiliation of doctoral students with the Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies at the University of Regensburg;
• a job in a very dynamic environment where innovation, multidisciplinarity, transparency and internationality are essential;
• to benefit from joining the federal and state pension institution (VBL, https://www.vbl.de/en/homepage);
• a workplace on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town of Regensburg;
• equal opportunities and work-life balance.

For further information on the positions, please contact Dr Cindy Wittke, future Head of the Politics Department at the IOS (wittke@ios-regensburg.de ).

Applications must be submitted electronically via the IOS application portal at https://leibniz-ios.de/en/vacancies-and-internships. Applications by e-mail or post cannot be considered.

The application documents must include

Cover letter, CV, if available list of publications and presentations and, if available, a sample publication, max. 2-page summary of the Master’s, diploma or state examination thesis; name and contact details of two references, max. 5-page outline (including work plan) of a doctoral project.

The closing date for applications is 28.03.2025.

The interviews are expected to take place in the weeks commencing 14.04.2025 and 22.04.2025.

Severely disabled applicants will be given preference if they have essentially the same aptitude.

The IOS strives for a balanced gender ratio in all employment groups. We promote women and therefore expressly encourage them to apply. The Institute is also committed to improving the compatibility of family and career.

Please note: Your personal data will be deleted no later than six months after the selection process has been completed.

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