Two Postdoctoral Positions (m/f/d)

As part of the “Postcolonial Hierarchies in Peace and Conflict: New Forms of Security Governance and Peacebuilding” project, we offer

at the University of Bayreuth:   

Postdoc 1: „South-South security arrangements and practices“
(100%, E 13, TV-L, 2 years)

 Posdoc 2: „Transnational Professionals in/from the Global South“
(75 %, E 13, TV-L, 1 year, potentially extendable)

 Postdoc 1: While Western security interventions and models have been met with increasing dissatisfaction and rejection in various African contexts, intra-African military cooperation, and engagement with security partners from the Global South and East have increased (e.g. from Colombia, China, Turkey, the Gulf states, or Russia). The postdoc position conducts research on these dynamics to contribute to academic debates to better understand such growing arrangements and practices in Africa. The position is open to pursuing innovative research on any of the above subjects with focus on, for example, military arrangements, exchange of expertise and training, security force assistance (broadly defined), conflict mediation, or the provision of lethal equipment. Different regional emphases within Africa are welcome.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conducting a research project within the outlined thematic scope in conversation with the project team.
• Contributing to and leading on publications of research results in leading academic outlets, individual and co-authored.
• Contributing to outreach activities (curating a Bayreuth Peace Talk, co-organizing a Hierarchies project ThinkLab in 2027)
• Contributing to Annual reporting

Funding for project-related research expenses is available to some extent. Start date is as soon as possible (ideally May 2026), latest in July 2026.  

Postdoc 2: In a dramatically changing world order, transnational security and aid professionals seek to uphold established practices in their respective fields but must also adapt to new circumstances. Others challenge and transform established know-how and professional practices in and across diverse and increasingly fragmented practitioner communities and professional fields. The postdoc will contribute with a research agenda on such changes and how Global South-based practitioners engage with and shape practices in transnational professional contexts. This includes analysing processes of reproduction and contestation, disruption and fragmentation, and the dissembling and emerging of new professional practices. Applicants should have done prior research on transnational security and/or aid professionals that they can build on and develop further to contribute to the project. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Co-organize an international authors’ workshop to co-edit a special issue or edited volume with a reputable academic press on the topic.
• Contribute from own existing research that fits the above and develop it further.
• Contribute to the consortium’s outreach activities.

Funding for project-related travel is available to some extent. Start date for this position is between June – October 2026.

General Requirements:

• Strong research profile related to one of the outlined thematic foci
• Participation in group events of the Postcolonial Hierarchies consortium.
• Engage in interdisciplinary cooperation within the field of peace and conflict studies under the overarching theme of Postcolonial Hierarchies.
• Have an excellent command of English (written and spoken). Proficiency in German can be helpful to navigate administrative issues but is not required.
• Proven, strong writing skills; desired for Position 2 would be any prior experience with editorial work.

We offer:    

• An international, interdisciplinary and multilingual work environment with English as working language.
• Participation in the Postcolonial Hierarchies research network with partners at University of Marburg, Arnold-Bergsträsser-Institute Freiburg, and University of Erfurt
• Excellent and engaging work environment at the University of Bayreuth as part of the Global Political Sociology research group, the newly founded Conflict, Crisis and Change Research Centre, and the largest hub of African Studies in Europe with the Institute of African Studies, the Cluster of Excellence Africa Multiple, and the new Research Hub on Society, Technology and Ecology in Africa. 

The University of Bayreuth values the diversity of its employees as an enrichment and is explicitly committed to the goal of gender equality. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with children are very welcome. The University of Bayreuth is a member of the Best Practice Club “Familie in der Hochschule e.V.” (Family at the University) and has successfully participated in the HRK Audit “Internationalization of Higher Education.” Persons with disabilities will be given preferential consideration if equally qualified.

Application Documents:

• Proof of a completed PhD in International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Conflict Studies or related fields. The doctoral degree must be conferred by the start of employment.
• a brief research outline for what you would contribute to the respective theme of the position (1–2 pages).
• Writing sample (e.g., article, book chapter, PhD thesis)
• Curriculum vitae with contact details for two references (at least one academic referee; no reference letters required).

Application Deadline: 17.4.2026. Please apply online via the University of Bayreuth’s application portal, quoting the reference code “Hierarchies”. Application documents will be deleted after the position has been filled, in accordance with data protection regulations.

For further inquiries, please contact Jana Hönke (jana.hoenke@uni-bayreuth.de).