Job Description

At the University of Göttingen -Public Law Foundation-, RTG 2987 Mobility rights in the Global Context of Multiple Crises, there are 2 positions as

PhD researcher (all genders welcome)

Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L/75%

to be filled. Starting date is as soon as possible. The position is limited to 30.09.2029.

Mobility Rights in the Global Context of Multiple Crises

Research Focus:

Our RTG examines how mobility rights are being defined, challenged and transformed during a time when migration is often framed as a crisis. We investigate these developments on the basis of diverse regional and thematic perspectives.

Interdisciplinary Approach:

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct your own research project related to one of our key research areas (RA), RA 1 „Limits of feasibility: The right to mobility in migration ethics“ or RA 5 „Language regimes, migration and mobility control“ (see below). By engaging with different disciplinary perspectives from the Social Sciences, Cultural Science as well as Law Studies, you will learn to understand legal dynamics and complexities in diverse migration policy-related fields. Our goal is to develop an innovative socio-legal framework which recognises how legal systems and societies shape one another.

What we offer:

Personalised supervision and disciplinary training Collaborative interdisciplinary coursework Career-development support and mentorship Commitment to equal opportunities and diversity Exchange with international experts, including two distinguished judges The University of Göttingen and its Centre for Global Migration Studies, among other bodies, offer a vibrant research environment and access to different networks – from the local level for fieldwork or internship opportunities to international partnerships supporting research stays abroad.




We are seeking highly motivated candidates who wish to conduct their PhD training in a rich interdisciplinary environment. Previous research experience in collaborative contexts is beneficial. Successful applicants are expected to work together with others in this interdisciplinary environment by, among other things, sharing their own disciplinary perspectives, preliminary research insights as well as data with peers. They are also able to convince via excellent critical-thinking and communication skills.

Meeting the following prerequisites is expected:

Degree

: Completed academic university degree (Master’s or equivalent, rated good or very good) in RA 1): Philosophy or RA 5): Sociology/ Cultural Anthropology/ (Intercultural) German Studies/ Linguistics

Language skills

: Fluency in spoken and written English, as the RTG’s main working language. German or other language skills when required for the individual research proposal

Admission to the doctoral programme

: Fulfillment of all requirements for doing a doctorate at the Faculty of Humanities. Please check the requirements for your respective discipline here:https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/700894.html

Research proposal

: Must be innovative, feasible and self-designed. Making a relevant contribution to the RTG’s overall foci as well as to RA 1 or RA 5 (see below) should be demonstrated, including via the promising implementation of cross-disciplinary socio-legal perspectives.

Subject-specific or methodological skills:

Fulfillment of all requirements to conduct research in the relevant RA (see below). Please check the requirements in the description(s) of the RA you would like to contribute to.*

Supporting material to be submitted (in English or German):

CV Application letter (max. 1 page) stating your motivation for completing a doctorate as part of the RTG An outline of the proposed project (max. 2 pages). Please clearly indicate which research area (RA 1 or RA 5) you wish to contribute to*
A writing sample (10 pages in length, e.g. an excerpt from a Master’s thesis or other publications) A list of publications (if applicable) Proof of language skills (if required), such as relevant certificates Certificate of the academic university degree (including transcript of records) Names and contact information for two references Answers to the questions listed in the application portal

Further information:

More information on the RTG 2987 can be found online at: www.uni-goettingen.de/rtg2987 .


There you can find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the application process. If you have any further questions regarding the application process, please send an e-mail to: rtg2987@uni-goettingen.de .


If you have any questions regarding the advertised positions or RAs, please contact the main supervisor(s) involved (see the descriptions of RA 1 and RA 5 below).

Application deadline and procedures:

Please upload your application as one consolidated PDF file by

5 October 2025

via the University of Göttingen’s application portal (see below).


Depending on geographic distance and practical feasibility, applicants will be invited to attend interviews either in person or online. Travel expenses can be reimbursed up to an amount of 300 euros.




RTG 2987 is strongly committed to promoting equal opportunities and diversity. We consider diversity and a diversity of perspectives as particularly enriching of our work, especially from among those underrepresented in academia (or some of the disciplines involved in the RTG’s work). We therefore welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of gender, social status, religion, ethnic origin, nationality or migration background.

Research Areas (RA) for PhD project proposals

You can find an overview of the RTG’s key research areas here: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/research+areas/696116.html . Applicants are expected to contribute to:




RA 1. Limits of feasibility: The right to mobility in migration ethics


The aim of this RA is to analyse normative issues pertaining to migration ethics and to mobility rights in particular through the lens of non-ideal theorising. Possible research topics include (but are not limited to): which political-feasibility considerations give rise to legitimate constraints on migration (especially under the condition of multiple crises), and which do not?; what does it mean for a state to do its fair share within the international migration regime given that more and more refuse to do so?; how to do justice to the specific vulnerabilities of certain social groups (for instance with regards to gender, sexual orientation, religion and similar, as well as their intersections) in the context of migration?

Required subject-specific or methodological skills:

Required subject-specific or methodological skills: Doctoral students in this RA are expected to have experience in normative theorising and a background in political, moral or social philosophy or political theory. Given the methodological focus on non-ideal theorising, a willingness to actively participate in and contribute to interdisciplinary discourse and to take empirical findings closely into account while engaging in normative theorising is also expected.

Supervisor/contact:

Prof. Dr Christine Bratu , Seminar for Philosophy (christine.bratu@uni-goettingen.de).




RA 5. Language regimes, migration and mobility control


In this RA, we will explore the nexus of language (rights) and the governance of population movements by shedding light on how language requirements and testing procedures are intertwined with migration (control) rationales. Language (testing) regimes will be empirically analysed across EU member states in order to track changes in discourse and to question the underlying rationales of a restrictive language–participation nexus.

Required subject-specific or methodological skills

: Doctoral students in this RA are expected to have experience in linguistic-discourse studies and knowledge on migration (governance) related topics. They should be trained in qualitative, ethnographic research methods. Knowledge of additional languages is appreciated.

Supervisor/contact:

Prof Dr Andrea Bogner , Department of Intercultural German Studies (andrea.bogner@uni-goettingen.de).







The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in fields in which they are underrepresented. The university has committed itself to being a family-friendly institution and supports their employees in balancing work and family life. The University is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled employees and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal qualifications, applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preference. A disability or equality is to be included in the application in order to protect the interests of the applicant.




Please upload your application in one pdf file including the usual documents until 10/5/2025 on the application portal of the university using this link:

http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/76054

. For more information get in touch with Jelka Günther directly via E-Mail: Jelka.Guenther@phil.uni-goettingen.de, Tel. +49 551 39 25358 .

Please note:

With submission of your application, you accept the processing of your applicant data in terms of data-protection law. Further information on the legal basis and data usage is provided in the Information General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)