Postdoc Position in Literary Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

Summary

Freie Universität Berlin is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant (f/m/d) for up to 6 years at the Department of English Philology, Chair of Global Literature and Its Media with a Focus on Gender Studies. The position is remunerated under salary grade TV-L FU E13. The successful candidate will independently develop and conduct a postdoctoral research project in Global Literatures, Postcolonial Studies, or World Literature with an intersectional orientation, while collaborating closely with the Collaborative Research Centre 'Intervening Arts'. Duties include teaching, conducting research, organizing academic events, supervising theses, and assisting with grant applications. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in literary studies or a related discipline and have strong English (C1) and German (B2) language skills. Applications must be submitted by email or post by November 23, 2026.

Key Facts

Employer	Freie Universität Berlin
Department	Institut für Englische Philologie, Fachbereich Philosophie und Geisteswissenschaften
Position Type	Postdoc
Discipline	Literary Studies
Research Area	Global Literature and Its Media with a Focus on Gender Studies
Degree Required	Doctoral degree in literary studies or a related discipline
Experience	Experience in academic organisation, coordination, interdisciplinary collaborative research, and organizing conferences/workshops desirable.
Salary	Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L FU
Funding	Salary grade (Entgeltgruppe) 13 TV-L FU
Contract Duration	Up to 6 years
Language	English (at least C1 CEFR) and German (at least B2 CEFR)
Deadline	2026-11-23
Required Documents	CV, Degree certificates, Publication list, Research proposal (max 5 pages)
Employer Address	Kaiserswerther Straße 16–18, 14195, Berlin
Employer Contact	[email protected]

About the Project

The postdoctoral researcher will independently develop and implement a research project aligned with Global Literatures, Postcolonial Studies, or World Literature from an intersectional perspective. The role involves close collaboration with the sub-project 'Intervention verkörpern: Literature, Citizenship, and the Market of Belonging' within the Collaborative Research Centre 'Intervening Arts'.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in research and teaching in Global Literature and Its Media and Gender Studies.
• Independently develop and implement an intersectional postdoctoral research project in Global Literatures, Postcolonial Studies, or World Literature.
• Collaborate closely with the sub-project 'Intervention verkörpern: Literature, Citizenship, and the Market of Belonging' within the Collaborative Research Centre 'Intervening Arts'.
• Organize and moderate workshops, international conferences, lecture series, and public events.
• Participate in academic publications and third-party funding proposals.
• Supervise theses and support early-career researchers.
• Assist in developing new teaching materials and courses in Global Literatures.

Required Skills

• Completed university studies and a doctoral degree in literary studies or a related discipline.
• At least C1 CEFR language skills in English and B2 CEFR in German.
• Substantial academic qualifications in literary studies.

Who Should Apply

Researchers holding a PhD in literary studies or a related field with strong qualifications in literary studies, research interest in global literatures, postcolonial studies, world literature, and gender studies, and language proficiency in English (at least C1) and German (at least B2).

Benefits

• Full-time employment for up to 6 years.

About the Employer

Freie Universität Berlin's Department of English Philology hosts the Chair of Global Literature and Its Media with a Focus on Gender Studies, exploring Anglophone literatures and media from transhistorical, intersectional, and global perspectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What language proficiency is required?

Applicants must possess English proficiency of at least C1 CEFR and German proficiency of at least B2 CEFR.

What documents are required to apply?

Applicants must submit a CV, degree certificates, a publication list, and a research proposal of no more than five pages.

How long is the contract duration?

The position is limited to up to 6 years.

How should applications be submitted?

Applications should be submitted as ONE single PDF document by email to [email protected] or by post to the specified address at Freie Universität Berlin.