Job advertisement: Research associate (all genders) in the project “Resources of the Future: Energy Sources and Science Elites in Late and Post-Soviet Science Fiction and Popular Science Journalism”
The Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL) is a humanities institute for literary studies in interdisciplinary contexts that draws from a cultural studies framework. It is part of the Humanities Centers Berlin e.V. (GWZ).
The ZfL is filling a research associate (all genders) position in the project “Resources of the Future: Energy Sources and Science Elites in Late and Post-Soviet Science Fiction and Popular Science Journalism” (project lead: Dr. Matthias Schwartz). The working week is 25.35 hours (65%). The position is compensated in accordance with the TVöD (E13). The position starts on 1 October 2026, and has a fixed term ending on 30 September 2030.
The project is part of the newly established research group “Energy Entanglements. Actors, Spaces and Narratives in Eastern Europe,” funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The subproject “Resources of the Future” explores how late and post-Soviet science fiction texts and popular science journalism depict the future development of existing, but also presently unknown energy resources as a solution to sociopolitical, ecological, and social issues. For a brief description of the project, see here.
Tasks
- Collaboration in the newly established, interdisciplinary DFG research group “Entangled Energies,” consisting of PhD candidates, postdocs, and professors at Freie Universität Berlin, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Centre Marc Bloch as well as the project lead at the ZfL
- Development of a PhD thesis as part of the subproject at the ZfL
- Participation in other activities of the ZfL
Requirements
- Master’s degree in literary or cultural studies, or a related field
- Knowledge of at least one language from the territory of the former Soviet Union, at least at level B2 or above, preferably a language other than Russian
- Knowledge of English at level C1 or above
- Willingness to learn German
We offer
- An interdisciplinary and international research environment
- Integration into the research activities of the ZfL
- Regular counseling sessions and opportunities to present your project
- Space for individual input and ideas
- Family-friendly working conditions
- Established cooperations with Berlin’s universities for the supervision and completion of the PhD project
- Teaching opportunities at universities
- Further training opportunities
Your application should include
- A cover letter outlining your personal interests in the project and planned focus areas for your work within the subproject
- CV
- Certificates of academic degrees and other relevant qualifications
- List of publication (if applicable)
- Writing sample of 10 to 15 pages (i.e., a scholarly article or a chapter from your master’s thesis)
- Names and contact information of two references
- A brief outline of a potential PhD project (1 to 3 pages)
For questions concerning the project, please reach out to the subproject lead (Dr. Matthias Schwartz).
Please submit your application by 15 June 2026 exclusively in electronic form and as a single PDF document to Dr. Matthias Schwartz (bewerbungen@zfl-berlin.org), identifier: WiMi Energie 2026. Interviews are expected to take place in Berlin or via video call at the end of June/beginning of July. Interviews can be conducted in either German or English.
The ZfL promotes equal opportunities and gender equality. It also promotes the compatibility of family life and career. The ZfL aims to achieve gender balance among its employees and actively encourages qualified women to apply. People with severe disabilities will be given preference if they have the same qualifications and skills.
With your application, you consent to the collection, storage and processing of personal data for the specific purpose of the applicant selection process (Art. 13 GDPR).