Call for Applications: Two-year postdoctoral position at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient

Call for Applications: Two-year postdoctoral position at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient

Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) is a public-funded research centre for interdisciplinary research on the history, society and cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East and their interconnections among one another and with Europe. The centre currently employs about 30 research fellows from diverse national backgrounds, the majority of them anthropologists, historians, and scholars of Islam. ZMO is one of three humanities’ research centres which together form Geisteswissenschaftliche Zentren Berlin (GWZ) e.V. ZMO is part of the Leibniz Association. With more than 220 employees at two sites in Berlin, GWZ e.V. is one of the leading extra-university research centres in the humanities.

ZMO seeks to recruit a postdoctoral scholar from February 2027 for two years. The ideal candidate pursues a historical project connected to at least one of ZMO’s research units, with a regional focus on South or Southeast Asia. The candidate is expected to contribute to ZMO through their publications, participation in ZMO’s scholarly life, as well as through public outreach. Furthermore, they should develop an application for further funding at ZMO, which should be submitted to the German Research Association (DFG), the ERC, or a similar funding agency, in accordance with the candidate’s preferences and advice from ZMO. If successful, the project position would offer the candidate medium term employment at ZMO.

Responsibilities:

• Participation in the activities of the selected research unit and ZMO
• Development and submission of a funding application
• Assistance with the organization of academic events and writing academic reports
• Contribution to outreach and knowledge transfer activities

Candidate profile:

• Completed PhD in History, Historical Anthropology, Area Studies or a related discipline
• Experience with archival research, including knowledge of relevant languages
• Excellent communication and team skills
• Excellent command of English is required; German is desirable but not mandatory
• Ability to work independently

Application Process

Application in a single PDF including a CV, copies of relevant degrees and a project outline of a maximum of 3 pages (not including sources/bibliography) as well as a writing sample should be sent by 3 November 2026 to [email protected]. The interviews are expected to take place in mid-November.

Remuneration will be according to Tarif des öffentlichen Dienstes (TvöD), grade 13 (http://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tvoed/bund/).

When filling positions in areas of employment in which one gender is underrepresented or diversity is low, applicants with the same qualifications and suitability who belong to underrepresented groups are given priority. Search committees represent gender equality and diversity while looking for high standards of academic rigour in the candidates.

For further information on ZMO and its programme see www.zmo.de or contact the secretariate at [email protected]