Call for Affiliated Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research (closed)

The DFG Research Training Group „East Asian Futures: Visions and Realizations on National, Transregional and Global Scales” (GRK 2833) offers three affiliated fellowships in Bochum and Duisburg for postdoctoral research

 Starting date: 1 October 2023

Fields of research

Area studies: Sinology/Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies

And/or further disciplines with a strong focus on East Asia, such as Social Sciences (Political Science, Economics, Sociology), History, Religious Studies, Linguistics, Literary Studies

Scope of the programme

This interdisciplinary RTG solicits postdoctoral research on East Asian projections and conceptions of the future: how they emerged, on what premises they were based, and how they have been and continue to be applied to the paradigmatic fields of (1) language, religion, and ideology, (2) self and society, (3) resources and technology, and (4) sovereignty and governance. The temporal focus is on the modern and contemporary periods. The postdoctoral research project should include at least two East Asian regions and should develop a transnational perspective. Moreover, the postdoctoral researchers are expected to mentor the doctoral researchers through peer teaching, especially concerning fieldwork, and to co-organize project-specific workshops on the four subthemes.

The fellowships are provided for researchers with own scholarships or other funded positions. Fellows are eligible for support of their fieldwork by travel grants of the German Research Foundation (DFG) for associated postdoctoral researchers in the research training group GRK 2833 “East Asian Futures”. The postdoctoral studies will be conducted at the Faculty of East Asian Studies at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) and the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), respectively its constituting faculties, with periods of field work and archival / library research in East Asia. The participating researchers cooperate and coordinate their activities in the Alliance for Research on East Asia (AREA) Ruhr.

What we offer

  • You will work within the stimulating and inspiring research environment of the coordinated research programme „East Asian Futures“.
  • You will benefit from being a member of the AREA Ruhr with its wide research network and of the respective graduate centres Research School at RUB and Graduate Centre Plus at UDE under the umbrella of the Research Academy Ruhr (RAR), which provide research and learning environments with structured guidance on academic skills training, support for attending conferences, and manifold opportunities for networking and career development.
  • High visibility and enhanced options of employment in a tenure track academic position.
  • Equality in research includes the element of empowerment and diversity. To work towards these aims, both Universities offer separate and joint programmes for gender mainstreaming and mentoring.

Your profile

  • Your doctorate is completed with submission of an excellent doctoral thesis.
  • You have a strong interest in research on East Asian future conceptions and realizations.
  • You have research experience in East Asia and methodological competence in East Asian area studies and in the disciplines of the humanities and/or social sciences.
  • You are willing to counsel doctoral researchers as part of your activities.
  • Strong written and oral skills in the English language (to be demonstrated by a writing sample, experience in giving presentations, and the recruitment interview)
  • Excellent knowledge of at least one, but ideally two, East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, classical and/or modern), depending on the research topic.

Recognising the relevance of gender and diversity is a central strategic criterion of sustainable university development for the RUB and the UDE. Both RUB and UDE are committed to integrating talented people into the groups of researchers and educators, regardless of gender, socioeconomic background, and ethnicity, and to promoting their careers in areas where they are underrepresented. Applications are also welcome from suitably qualified candidates with severe disabilities.

For details of the application process, please visit the GRK 2833 website with the explanation of the documents required for submitting an application.

Relevant dates for applications

Starting date for applications (platform opening): 1 February 2023

Deadline for submitting applications: 31 March 2023

Screening of applications: April 2023

Online interviews: May 2023

Notification on admission: Late May 2023

Upload and contact

Applications should be uploaded via the application platform and be addressed to Prof. Dr. Christine Moll-Murata, Speaker of the GRK 2833.

For questions, please refer to the FAQs or send an E-mail to  application@east-asian-futures.de.