Call for Applications: Thyssen@KWI Fellowship

The Thyssen@KWI Fellowship is most generously funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. International researchers are invited to apply as well as scholars of German nationality if they provide excellent international contacts and work experience.

The KWI (Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut) in Essen provides fellows with modern infrastructure, office space, technical support, and offers a library service, event and research management as well as any administrative and communicative support.

The KWI

• The Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI) in Essen is an interdisciplinary research institute for the humanities and social sciences in the tradition of institutes for advanced study. Located in the Ruhr Area, KWI offers a space for independent and innovative research in the humanities and various opportunities to engage and include the public. Currently, research at KWI focusses on the following areas: literary and cultural sociology, cultural science studies, science communication and public humanities. Further projects are concerned with cultures of communication, among others. It is one of KWI’s main goals to find new ways of linking research questions, concepts, methods and theories of philology, cultural studies and the social sciences. They are dedicated to pursuing the interdisciplinary agenda through international collaboration. An important contribution to the scholarly and political work comes from the Academy in Exile, offering research space to colleagues whose academic freedom is threatened.

Funding Information

• The Thyssen@Fellow will receive a fellowship contract (not a full-employment contract) and a monthly allowance of 4.000 € (pre-tax). This allowance is intended to cover rent, insurances and living expenses. Partial reimbursement of travel expenses for arrival at and departure from KWI is also possible. Fellows are responsible for covering any additional travel expenses, such as those related to conferences, using their allowance.

Duration

• Fellowship for the duration of 6 months from 1 March 2024 until 30 September 2024.

Expectations

• Candidates will have a completed PhD plus several years of postdoctoral experience. They expect applicants to work on a project that differs from their PhD research.
• International researchers are invited to apply as well as scholars of German nationality if they provide excellent international contacts and work experience.
• Candidates will have a strong scientific track record (including publications in respected international journals or other comparable publications; participation in and organization of international conferences). They welcome applications from candidates with a proven record of third-party funding and/or with experience in science communication and/or public humanities.
• The fellowship should be dedicated to research linked to one or more of KWI’s focus areas and consistent with its interdisciplinary agenda. Various project formats are possible: You might devote your time in Essen to finishing a book or a special issue, finalizing a research proposal or setting up a research group. They also welcome plans to establish or substantiate collaborations with the universities of the Ruhr Alliance.
• They expect the Thyssen@KWI Fellow to be present at the institute at least 3 days a week. The fellow will be expected to participate in entry and exit interviews.
• The Thyssen@KWI Fellow is requested to actively take part in the Colloquium, lectures, conferences, reading groups and other academic events at KWI. Moreover, they expect the fellow to contribute to the KWI Blog. They also encourage fellows to organize a workshop during their fellowship.
• The Thyssen@KWI Fellow is invited to actively take part in academic events at KWI and will have the opportunity to design outstanding discussion formats with prominent researchers.
• The Thyssen@KWI Fellow is not expected to teach, but always welcome to inspire the teaching laboratory with new ideas or participate in lecture series and seminars at surrounding universities.
• Publications deriving from the time of residence should mention KWI and the Fritz Thyssen Foundation.
• Knowledge of German is not required since the Fellowship Programme relies on a strong command of English.
• They expect successful applicants to begin their fellowship on the announced starting date (April 1). Due to the semester schedule and the design of the fellowship programme, the start and end of the fellowship are not negotiable.

Eligibility Criteria

• International researchers are invited to apply as well as scholars of German nationality if they provide excellent international contacts and work experience.
• They invite applications from research fellows who have completed their PhD and have already gained several years of postdoctoral research expertise. Project proposals should address KWI’s research agenda.

For more information, visit KWI.