Associate Professor in Cultural Heritage German Colonialism Tenure Track W3 in University of Bonn – Germany

Summary

The University of Bonn’s Faculty of Arts seeks a W2 professorship in Cultural Heritage with a focus on German Colonialism, offering a tenure‑track to W3. The position is based in the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS) and involves interdisciplinary research, teaching English‑language master courses, and developing new degree programmes. Candidates must hold a PhD and habilitation (or equivalent), have secured external funding, and possess practical museum or cultural‑heritage experience. Proficiency in English is required for teaching, while C1‑level German is expected within five years. The appointment promotes diversity, equal opportunity, and family‑friendly policies. Application deadline is 31 October 2026 via the university’s online portal.

Key Facts

Department	Faculty of Arts
Position Type	W2 Professorship (Tenure Track to W3)
Discipline	Cultural Heritage
Research Area	German Colonialism
Degree Required	PhD and habilitation or equivalent qualification
Experience	Secured external funding; practical cultural heritage or museum work
Language	English (teaching) and German (C1 within five years)
Deadline	2026-10-31
Employer Contact	[email protected]

About the Project

The professorship will advance research on cultural heritage and German colonialism from a global perspective, investigating the historical structures of dependency and slavery. The role integrates interdisciplinary approaches across the humanities and social sciences, linking memory studies, museum studies, material cultures, and artistic practices. It supports the BCDSS mission to develop historically informed dependency studies and to expand English‑language master programmes in Dependency and Slavery Studies and Critical Museum and Global Heritage Studies.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate various facets of dependency structures and German colonialism
• Conduct interdisciplinary research in cultural heritage, memory, museum and material cultures
• Teach English‑language master courses in Dependency and Slavery Studies
• Develop the English‑language degree programme Critical Museum and Global Heritage Studies
• Achieve C1‑level German proficiency within five years
• Engage actively in BCDSS research initiatives
• Participate in academic self‑governing bodies

Required Skills

• Established researcher with PhD and habilitation or equivalent
• Successfully secured external research funding
• Practical experience in cultural heritage or museum work
• Interdisciplinary and international research and teaching experience
• Ability to teach in English at master level
• Willingness to attain C1 German proficiency

Who Should Apply

Established researchers who have completed a PhD and habilitation (or equivalent), have a proven record of securing external funding, and possess practical experience in cultural heritage or museum work. Applicants should demonstrate interdisciplinary and international research and teaching experience, be able to teach in English, and be willing to achieve C1‑level German within five years. Candidates from fields such as Cultural Heritage, Memory Studies, Museum Studies, Anthropology, History, Art History, and related disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

• Affiliation with a University of Excellence and a Cluster of Excellence (BCDSS)
• International research environment
• Commitment to diversity, equal opportunity and family‑friendliness
• Access to extensive university resources and staff

About the Employer

University of Bonn is an international research university with a 200‑year history, about 31,500 students and over 6,000 staff. The Faculty of Arts hosts the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS), a Cluster of Excellence that focuses on interdisciplinary research into dependency structures, slavery, and German colonialism. The university promotes an open, respectful, non‑discriminatory academic culture and emphasizes diversity, equal opportunity, and family‑friendly policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline?

31 October 2026.

What language proficiency is required?

Teaching in English is required; C1‑level German proficiency must be achieved within five years.

Are there any preferential considerations for applicants?

Women and applicants with a documented severe disability receive preferential consideration.