Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Modern History

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg; Freiburg; Vor Ort; CHF 53.000 - 68.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Travel funds

Conference funding

Mentoring & professional development

Zusammenfassung

Die Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg sucht eine Postdoktorandin/einen Postdoktoranden (m/w/d) im Fach Moderne Geschichte im Rahmen des Horizons Europe-Projekts „BLOCKADE“. Die Position ist auf vier Jahre angelegt und startbereit um den 1.

Dezember 2026. Sie arbeiten am Lehrstuhl für Transatlantische und Nordamerikanische Geschichte und fokussieren sich auf das Work Package Atlantic Blockade and Transatlantic Strains.

Qualifikationen

• Erforderlich: abgeschlossenes Doktoratsstudium in Modern History oder Kurz vor Verleihung.
• Gute Englischkenntnisse (mind. B2) in Wort und Schrift.
• Gute Lesefähigkeiten in relevanten Sprachen der untersuchten Regionen (B2).
• Erfahrung im Umgang mit Archivquellen.
• Teamfähigkeit und Engagement für das Projekt.

Aufgaben

• Eigenständige Forschungsarbeiten im Work Package Atlantic Blockade and Transatlantic Strains.
• Publikation von mindestens zwei Artikeln in Peer‑Review Journals.
• Verfassen eines Kapitels im Projekthandbuch und Mitwirkung an Organisation/Moderation von Veranstaltungen.
• Aktive Teilnahme an Forschungs- und Outreach-Aktivitäten des BLOCKADE‑Projekts.
• Beiträge zu Berichten an die Fördermittelgeber und zur Organisation von Workshops.

Kenntnisse

English B2

Archival sources

Teamwork

Publication track record

Ausbildung

Doctoral degree in modern history

Jobbeschreibung

Vollzeit

Forschung und Lehre

• Bewerbungsfrist: 4. Oktober 2026
• Veröffentlichungsdatum: 4. September 2026
• Eintrittstermin: 1. Dezember 2026
• Arbeitsumfang: Fulltime position

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Modern History

NEU Vollzeit Forschung und Lehre

The Horizon Europe project BLOCKADE and the Department of History at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg are looking for Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Modern History

• Bewerbungsfrist: 4. Oktober 2026
• Veröffentlichungsdatum: 4. September 2026
• Eintrittstermin: 1. Dezember 2026
• Arbeitsumfang: Fulltime position
• Kennziffer: 00005175

The project

BLOCKADE (ERC Synergy Grant #101166983) explores the two blockades of the First and Second World Wars, and their aftermaths. In these total wars, the Allies imposed a global blockade on their enemies, and the Central and Axis powers responded with blockades of their own. Over a period of six years, the BLOCKADE team, based in Trondheim, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Freiburg, will analyse the impact of blockades on households, states, corporations and the international order; on the development of political and military strategy; on how the wars were prepared, experienced and remembered; and on how peace was made. BLOCKADE sets out to prove that these blockades are crucial to understanding not only the way the world wars were fought but also their globality and totality, their immediate effects and their long-term global repercussions. More information can be found on the project website www.blockades.eu

The position

The 4-year full-time (100%) postdoctoral position will be located at the Chair for Transatlantic and North American History (Dr. Elisabeth Piller) and will be part of the European Research Council project, “The Hidden Weapon. Blockade in the Era of the Two World Wars (BLOCKADE)”. The position is scheduled to start on or around 1 December 2026.

The postdoctoral researcher will focus on the work package “Atlantic Blockade and Transatlantic Strains”. The blockade aimed not only to bar critical supplies from enemies but also to isolate them from the outside world. Based on newspapers, diplomatic correspondence, the records of diaspora organisations and parliamentary debates, the work package will determine blockades’ impact on personal communication (telegraphy, mail), mobility (travel) and emotional connections across the Atlantic as well as the bitter debate about neutral rights and British/Allied power in both world wars. It will ideally focus on the United States and at least one South American country (such as Argentina, an important trade and immigrant nation) during, among others, periods of shared neutrality (1914‑1917; 1939‑1941). As previous research focused mainly on the British ‘blacklisting’ of companies, the work package will offer a different, ‘bottom up’ approach to identify blockade’s disintegrative effects and the strains it placed on transatlantic (and domestic) relations in the Americas. If diaspora relations are to be explored, a focus on the experience of German immigrant communities in both world wars seems especially rewarding; the successful applicant is expected to have the relevant language and research skills at, or close to, the start of the position.

The work package is one of five positions across the four BLOCKADE locations that should speak to the theme of integration and disintegration, exploring the short‑ and long‑term integrative and disintegrative effects of blockades with regard to markets, wartime societies and the international order. The team members will work together across locations to build a rich source base for BLOCKADE. In Freiburg, the postdoctoral researcher will work closely with the PI of the Freiburg team, Elisabeth Piller.

Your Tasks

• Contribute to the project by carrying out research of high ambition and excellent quality
• Publish at least two articles relating to your work package in leading peer‑reviewed journals
• Publish at least one chapter in the project’s handbook on the history of blockades and help with the coordination and editing of that handbook
• Actively participate in the research and outreach activities of BLOCKADE
• Contribute to scientific and financial reporting to the funding body
• Actively participate in the project’s workshops, seminars and conferences as well as in organizing and hosting Freiburg‑based events.
• Help organize BLOCKADE’s (online) research and reading seminars
• Contribute to data collection (qualitative and quantitative primary souces) for the central database located at the University of Amsterdam

Your Profile

• You must have completed a doctoral degree in modern history or be able to show that the degree will be conferred shortly
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English (equivalent to at least level B2)
• Excellent reading skills in the languages of the countries to be examined in the postdoctoral project (equivalent to level B2)
• Experience in dealing with archival sources
• Enthusiasm about the project and about working in a team
• Prior knowledge of the historiography and primary sources related to the period of the World Wars is desirable
• Publication record in international journals is desirable

We offer

• Experience in an exciting, multi‑location international research project
• Generous travel and conference funds and opportunity to invite guest scholars
• Opportunity for intellectual growth and career advancement, including a wide variety of training, mentoring and professional development offerings available at the university
• Open, inclusive and supportive work environment with committed colleagues
• Working in an attractive German university town and in close proximity to the culinary and cultural delights of Switzerland, France and the Black Forest
• Salary according to the levels set by the public sector agreements TV‑L E13 (https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tv-l/allg)
• There is no teaching obligation associated with the position

If you have questions, please contact Jun.-Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Piller via the above email address.

The position is limited to 30. November 2030.

For further information, please contact Dr. Elisabeth Marie Piller on the phone number +49 761 [phone] or E-Mail [e-mail] .

Werden Sie Teil der Universität Freiburg, einer der renommiertesten und forschungsstärksten Universitäten Deutschlands - mit einer einzigartigen Vielfalt und Verschränkung von Fächern und Perspektiven in einer der beliebtesten Städte im Herzen Europas.