“Africa Multiple” Cluster of Excellence: Four Junior Research Group Leaders (m/f/d)
The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive, interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. The Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bayreuth, funded by the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments, is planning to establish four Junior Research Groups (JRG) to commence on July 1, 2020. We are currently seeking to appoint
Four Junior Research Group Leaders (m/f/d)
for a funding period of four years (pay grade TV-L 14). We expect the holders of the positions to implement an innovative research programme, designed for the duration of the funding period and integrating up to two doctoral students, whose selection and supervision will be the responsibility of the JRG leaders. The research projects should contribute to the theoretical agenda of the Cluster and connect to or complement the thematic fields addressed in the Cluster. The JRGs will work under the umbrella of the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies within the Cluster of Excellence, which runs an international fellow programme and specialized programmes for the training of postdoctoral scholars. The doctoral students will pursue their degrees within the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS), the graduate school of the Cluster of Excellence.
- Two JRGs are advertised with open disciplinary and thematic orientations.
- One JRG should pursue a research agenda in the field of Intersectionality Studies with links to the study of Africa and/or its diasporas. Given the transdisciplinary character of the field, applicants may come from a wide range of academic disciplines. They should have a track record in theoretical and methodological approaches in Gender Studies, Queer Studies or Postcolonial Studies. We are especially interested in candidates with competencies in debates in Black Feminist Studies and Women of Colour Feminist Studies.
- The fourth JRG will work in the field of international relations with reference to Africa. Applicants may come from different disciplinary backgrounds and are expected to have a track record in theory and method in the social sciences and the study of international relations.
Apart from directing their research projects, the duties of the JRG leaders include active participation in the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence and teaching one course with two weekly contact hours per semester. The courses will be offered in one of the bachelor’s and master’s programmes relating to African Studies (or to Intersectionality Studies, in case of the JRG in intersectionality) or in other suitable programmes, as well as in BIGSAS. The JRG in intersectionality is further expected to collaborate with the Cluster’s Gender & Diversity Office in the promotion of intersectionality and diversity perspectives. The working language of the cluster is English.
Prerequisite for applications is a very good doctoral degree in an academic discipline pertinent to the study of Africa (in the case of the JRGs with open disciplinary orientation) or to Intersectionality Studies (in the case of the JRG in intersectionality) or to the study of international relations with a social science approach (in the case of the JRG in international relations). In all cases, candidates need to have obtained their doctoral degrees no less than two years and no more than six years ago (date of the oral examination or defense/viva; periods of parental leave or severe illness are not included in the calculation). Holders of junior professorships or similar tenure track positions (W1/W2) are eligible to apply, provided they obtained the doctoral degree within the last six years. After the four-year funding period the leaders of the JRGs will have the opportunity to apply for a tenured professorship in the study of Africa at the University of Bayreuth.
The University of Bayreuth views the diversity of its staff as an asset and is expressly committed to the goal of gender equality. Women and persons who can help make the research and teaching profile of the university more diverse—especially African women and women of colour—are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with children are highly welcome. The University of Bayreuth is a member of the best practice club Family at University, and it offers dual career support for careeroriented partners of highly qualified employees. In addition, an extended audit conducted by the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) returned a favourable review for the University of Bayreuth’s commitment to internationalization. All qualifications being equal, applicants with disabilities will be given priority.
In addition to the usual application materials (CV outlining education and academic career, list of publications and courses taught, diplomas and certificates) applicants should give the names and contacts of two referees willing to provide recommendation letters on request. As a crucial part of the application candidates need to submit a research proposal in English, to be written on the basis of a template, where they outline an innovative research project suited for the format of a JRG. The template can be downloaded from the “Opportunities” section on the Cluster’s web site, available at http://www.africamultiple.uni-bayreuth.de.
Please send your application electronically as a single PDF file (up to 30 MB) to the Dean of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Seesemann, africamultiple-calls@uni-bayreuth.de. The closing date is December 31, 2019. In accordance with data protection law, the files will be permanently disposed of once the positions have been filled. In case of questions, please contact Robert Debusmann, the coordinator of the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies within the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, mentioning “JRG” in the subject line: bayreuth.academy@uni-bayreuth.de.
