Job Description

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Up to five Postdoc Positions (m/f/d) for Cluster of Excellence "Transforming Human Rights"

Your workplace

The Cluster of Excellence “Transforming Human Rights”, based at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), addresses fundamental questions about the potential and limits of human rights in the context of several major worldwide transformation processes. The Cluster’s Postdoc program is unique both in content and scope providing an exceptional environment to unite outstanding talents and to prepare them for human rights careers in academia and praxis. For more information, see: https://www.humanrights.fau.eu/research-chren/exzellenzcluster-transforming-human-rights/ .



Within an intellectually stimulating, highly collaborative and international team environment, the postdocs will conduct independent as well as collaborative, conceptually and empirically ambitious research on human rights that aligns with the Cluster’s overall research agenda. The Cluster examines the transformation of human rights norms, institutions, and practices in the context of five megatrends: autocratization, planetary environmental crises, migration, fragmented economic globalization, and digitalization.



Our benefits



Regular promotion to the next level and increase in salary pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement for the public service of the German Länder (TV-L) or remuneration pursuant to the Bavarian Public Servants Remuneration Act (BayBesG) plus an additional annual bonus 30 days annual leave at five working days per week with additional free days on December 24 and 31 Occupational pension scheme and asset accumulation savings scheme

Your Tasks

Successful candidates are expected to conduct independent and collaborative research on the transformation of human rights, norms, institutions, and/or practices, preferably related to at least one of the five megatrends. Research that bridges two of these megatrends are particularly welcome. Each Postdoc project is going to be accompanied by an individual Postdoc Advisory Committee that offers both academic mentoring and an opt-in/opt-out structure for tailor-made skills development. The Postdocs will receive their own research budget and will have opportunities to visit the Cluster’s international partner institutions or human rights organizations for extended stays. The Cluster will actively support the Postdocs’ further academic development and career progression within its early career support schemes both within the Cluster and the broader environment at FAU.



Your Profile



Completed PhD/doctorate (thesis must be submitted by the starting date of the contract), with a strong focus on human rights research (interdisciplinary research experience is an asset) University degree (or equivalent) with excellent results (in disciplines, e.g. law, political science, philosophy, anthropology, human geography, management studies, history or computer sciences) Initial experience in publishing academic work Fluency in English; additional languages are an asset

Supplementary description

We seek to realize equal opportunities, and encourage applications from interested individuals regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, religion, or belief. The Cluster has appointed an Equity and Diversity Steward and an Equity and Diversity Coordinator who will participate in the selection process.



Please submit your application documents as a single PDF (cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of certificates) plus a project proposal (five pages) on the planned research project via the FAU online application platform (please refrain from sending applications by post or email). The application deadline is 05.01.2026 and interviews will take place in early February 2026.



For further questions about this position, you can contact the Cluster’s Executive Director Dr. Robert Fischer (



robert.fischer@fau.de



).



Apply now



Application deadline



2026-01-05



Title



Up to five Postdoc Positions (m/f/d) for Cluster of Excellence "Transforming Human Rights"



Job start date



2026-04-01



Payment



E13



Working time



full time



Weekly working hours



40



Temporary Contract yes



Period of Temporary Contract



36 Months



Further general conditions



Work location



Andreij-Sacharow-Platz 1

90403 Nürnberg



Contact



Dr. Robert Fischer

Tel.:

+49 1520 4976834

Mobil:

robert.fischer@fau.de



Please apply via our online platform instead of sending applications by post or e-mail. Applications sent to us by post will not be returned.



With regard to the personal data collected during the application process, please refer to our information pursuant to Art. 13 and 14 of the General Data Protection Regulations at



www.fau.de



. FAU is a modern, cosmopolitan and family-friendly employer. We welcome your application irrespective of your age, gender, cultural and social background, religion, ideological beliefs, disability or sexual identity. Applicants with a disability or who are considered to be equivalent to people with a disability will be given preference provided their aptitude, performance and capability are essentially the same. We are happy to offer part-time positions, provided a job-sharing arrangement means that the tasks in the area are fully covered.



If you wish, you may invite a person responsible for ensuring equal rights to accompany you to the job interview without incurring any disadvantages.



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