11 Doctoral Positions in the GRF-Funded Research Training Group 'Literature and the Public Sphere'

The interdisciplinary Research Training Group 2806 “Literature and the Public Sphere in Differentiated Contemporary Cultures”, funded by the German Research Foundation, invites applications for 11 Doctoral Positions (m/f/d), for a duration of three years respectively, starting 01.10.2025.

The RTG aims to analyze contemporary literatures since 1945 in different public and cultural contexts. It examines the conditions that enable and influence different literatures in the public sphere, thereby focusing on their cultural specificities, potentials and functions. It uses a broad concept of literature, including the digitalization of society and its consequences, socio-cultural political and economic contexts, (inter-)mediality and media competition, institutional conditions, the literary industry and literary life as objects of enquiry.

The RTG considers literatures from different cultural contexts and language areas, including ‘small literatures’ and minority cultures on different continents. Accordingly, it investigates the interactions between literatures and public spheres in a differentiated manner. Adopting a comparative and transnational perspective, the RTG takes into account digital, praxeological, cultural studies and philological methods and supports research from social, media, material, ethical or economic studies.

If your field of study was Digital Humanities, Book Studies, (Cultural) Sociology, Media/Communication Studies, Romance Studies, Comparative Literature, American Studies, English Studies or German Studies and you have a suitable project idea, please apply by May 1, 2025!

For more information on the research program, the respective advisors, and contact information, see: https://www.literaturundoeffentlichkeit.phil.fau.de/en/

If you have any content-related questions, please contact the speakers of the research training group: dirk.niefanger@fau.de and antje.kley@fau.de, for organizational matters please address the coordinators: grk2806-koordination@fau.de.

Requirements:

• an excellent academic degree in a relevant subject
• an innovative project idea
• intercultural competence and an interest in interdisciplinary work
• proficiency in abstract theoretical thinking
• methodological competence
• adequate language skills: B2 German and English, C1 German or English
• first publications, academic talks, or academic administrative experience (e.g. as a student assistant) are desirable

Documents to submit:

• cover letter
• CV
• research proposal (ca. 8-10 pages)
• degree certificates (MA, State Exam, or equivalent degree)
• certificate(s) of language skills (may be submitted within the first year if necessary)
• work sample (e.g. master thesis)

Please submit your application (English or German) electronically as one single PDF file (plus writing sample in a separate PDF file) to kontakt-grk2806@fau.de by May 1, 2025.

FAU is a modern, cosmopolitan and family-friendly employer. We welcome your application regardless of your age, gender, cultural and social background, religion, ideology, disability or sexual identity. If you have a severe disability or are equivalent to severely disabled persons, we will give you preferential consideration if your suitability, performance and qualifications are essentially equal.