KWI International Fellowships

4 fellowships for the duration of 6 months from 1st of October 2020 until 31st of March 2021

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 and closely linked to the three universities of the University Alliance Ruhr (Duisburg-Essen, Bochum, Dortmund), the KWI offers a space for independent and innovative research in the humanities and various opportunities to engage and include the public. Currently, research at the KWI focusses on the following areas: literary and cultural sociology, cultural science studies, science communication and public humanities, and a teaching laboratory. Further projects are concerned with cultures of communication and political participation. It is one of the main goals of the KWI to find new ways of linking research questions, concepts, methods and theories of philology, cultural studies and the social sciences. We are dedicated to pursuing our interdisciplinary agenda through international collaboration. An important contribution to our scholarly and political work comes from the Academy in Exile, offering research space to colleagues whose academic freedom is threatened.

Fellowship:
The KWI fellowship program addresses excellent researchers from the humanities, cultural studies, and the social sciences. The institute provides fellows with modern infrastructure, office space, technical support and offers a library service, event and research management as well as support in all administrative and communicative regards.
We are inviting research fellows with a completed PhD plus one to six years of post-doctoral experience. Fellows will receive a fellowship contract (not a full-employment contract) and a monthly allowance of 4.000 € (pre-tax) meant to cover rent, insurances and living expenses.

Expectations:
- The fellowship should be devoted to research linked to the programmatic agenda of the KWI. Various project formats are possible: You might devote your time in Essen to finishing a book or a special issue, to finalizing a research proposal or setting up a research group. We also welcome plans to establish or substantiate collaborations with the universities of the Ruhr Alliance.
- We expect fellows to be present at least 4 days a week.
- Fellows are requested to actively take part in lectures, conferences, reading groups and other academic events at the KWI.
- Fellows are not expected to teach, but always welcome to inspire our teaching laboratory with new ideas or participate in lecture series and seminars at surrounding universities.
- Publications deriving from the time of residence should mention the KWI.
- German is not required.

Academic landscape:
Located at the KWI, fellows will have the opportunity to liaise with researchers in a rich and diversified academic landscape: The University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), the umbrella structure of the KWI, strategically links the universities of Duisburg-Essen, Bochum, and Dortmund. Nearby, the universities of Duesseldorf, Cologne, Muenster and Bielefeld as well as the renowned Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen offer further possibilities for collaboration and exchange. The close proximity of Belgium and the Netherlands to North Rhine-Westphalia has engendered cross-border programmes and initiatives from which fellows might profit. For details on 14 collaborative research centres and 13 graduate training groups within the UA Ruhr see here: http://www.uaruhr.de .

The Ruhr Area:
The cities of Duisburg and Essen are situated right in the middle of the Ruhr Area. With more than five million inhabitants and an area of about 4,435 square kilometres, the Ruhr Area is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Germany and the fifth largest in Europe. The region's cultural appeal and diverse urban landscape were recognised by the European Union in 2010 when Ruhr Metropolitan Area, spearheaded by Essen, was granted the honour of being the “European Capital of Culture”. After the transformation of traditional industries, it was an important concern to make the Ruhr Area greener again. By now, this characteristic region in the West of Germany has developed into a cultural hub with manifold outdoor possibilities. The cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf can be easily reached, and the Netherlands and Belgium offer day-trip destinations.

Application:
- We kindly ask you to send a CV, a list of publications and a proposal sketching your KWI project (up to 5.000 characters).
- The application deadline is March 1st, 2020.
- The fellows will be selected by a committee assembling members of the KWI governing board and the institute’s director.
- For all further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Sabine Voßkamp at sabine.vosskamp@kwi-nrw.de. Please submit your application to this address, too.

Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut / Institute for Advanced Studies
Universitätsallianz Ruhr (UAR)
Director: Prof. Dr. Julika Griem
Web (German version): https://kulturwissenschaften.de
Web (English version): https://kulturwissenschaften.de/en/