The Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS) in Erkner (near Berlin) and the Technical University of Berlin offer the positions of

1 post-doctoral researcher (100 %) and
2 doctoral researchers (65 %)

in the interdisciplinary Leibniz Research Group on

“Mediatisation processes in urban planning and changes in the public sphere.
Perspectives of social sciences, historical urban studies and planning sciences”,

subject to the final approval by the Leibniz Association.

The positions will be funded for 3 years (beginning at February 1st, 2017) in the framework of the funding line „promotion of young scientists“ of the Leibniz Association (the Senate Committee for Competition).

The project aims at investigating how the constantly developing ‘new’ media technologies (= mediatisation processes) – including the latest I&C technologies – are integrated in urban planning. It explores consequences of these mediatisations for the practices of planners themselves as well as for changes in the public sphere due to these planning practices. At the same time, a novel approach for the promotion of the young researchers will be persued. Measures shall be taken to prepare them for an excellent future work in interdisciplinary research projects, to ensure their international connectivity and to enable them in carrying on a successful academic career in a highly competitive field.

In order to meet the facets of the research topic the project is composed of the following three – interrelated – sub-projects, each representing different disciplines:

- Sub-project „Mediatisations in the 20th century’s urban planning: stages, driving forces, consequences“ (historical urban studies).
Aims: The project investigates paths and turning points in the mediatisation of urban planning in the 20th century. In particular, it focuses on visual practices in creating a draft plan and in communicating within the planning community. Special attention is given to the effects of new media on public debates and urban society. The project seeks to reconstruct the stages and societal driving forces of mediatisation processes and to analyse their consequences for spatial planning and for the urban society.
Prerequisites: Master’s degree, preferably in historical urban studies; experiences in qualitative research methods, in particular in critical historical hermeneutics; knowledge in the fields of planning history, history of the media and urban history.
Supervisor: PD Christoph Bernhardt, IRS.
For more information: http://www.irs-net.de/kontakt/mitarbeiter.php?id=4.
Institutional affiliation: The holder of the post in this sub-project shall be affiliated to the IRS.

- Sub-project „Monitoring and Imaging: forms of digital planning in the present and their consequences for inclusive and integrative urban design“(planning sciences, urban design).
Aims: This project explores two aspects of mediatisation in spatial planning and urban design: monitoring and imaging. At present, digital applications for the monitoring of urban processes (i.e. mapping of traffic flows, energy consumption, etc.) hold out the promise of an improvement in the efficiency of these processes. In parallel, applications for imaging (i.e., for visualising) urban development projects stand for ensuring a better involvement of stakeholders. As the first is rather applied within the planning community, the second is used in communication with public and non-professional audiences. In the research project it will be asked how planners deal both with the new digital technologies and the new expectations of the public and in how far practices of monitoring and of imaging are interrelated.
Prerequisites: Master’s degree, preferably in spatial planning, urban design; experiences in mapping and visualization, experiences in qualitative research methods, in particular in relation to ANT and/or grounded theory; knowledge in the fields of planning theory, cooperative planning methods, urban governance.
Supervisor: Prof. Jörg Stollmann, TU Berlin.
For more information: http://www.cud.tu-berlin.de/chair/.
Institutional affiliation: The holder of the post in this sub-project shall be affiliated to the TU Berlin and has additionally an office workstation at the IRS.

- Sub-project „E-participation and visualisations in urban planning. Consequences for collaborative planning practices and the public sphere” (sociology).
Aims: In this sub-project the focus will be on forms of digital visualisations in the context of e-participation. It shall be analysed, how spatial planners use different forms of visualisation in e-participation processes, how these digital tools have changed the practices of spatial planners (in communicative planning), how these tools are perceived and used by citizens and in how far changes in the public sphere can be observed due to digital communicative planning.
Prerequisites: PhD degree, preferably in sociology (the disputation act of the thesis should not date back more than one year at time of application); experiences in qualitative research methods, in particular in visual methods, methods of Internet research, (focused) ethnography; knowledge in the fields of citizen’s involvement, (e-) participation, urban studies, and/or sociology of planning. The post-doctoral researcher will be responsible for conceiving and advancing the visual methodology for the whole project team. In this respect he/she will have a lead function in the research project. He/she will demonstrate leadership skills and mentors the doctoral researchers in their methodological practice.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gabriela Christmann, IRS.
For more information: http://www.irs-net.de/kontakt/mitarbeiter.php?id=171.
Institutional affiliation: The holder of the post in this sub-project shall be affiliated to the IRS.

Fields of activity of all candidates:
- Excellent empirical research in the sub-projects.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration in the research team of the project.
- Cooperation with international research partners.
- (Joint) Publications in the field of expertise (together with partners).
- Presentations in the context of international conferences.
- Elaboration of new research projects in the field of expertise.
Prerequisites for all candidates:
- Strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Strong motivation to work in a cooperative and flexible team environment.
- Fluency in English (and German) language.
The positions offer:
- Excellent institutional environments, a stimulating high profile research group with international focus.
- Measures for career development (trainings, research stay abroad, hospitation in a planning institution).
- Salary corresponding to TVL 13.
Applicants from Germany and outside of Germany are requested to send their application in English with the reference number 3716a for the sub-project “Mediatisations in the 20th century’s urban planning”, reference 3716b for the sub-project “Monitoring and Imaging”, and reference 3716c for the sub-project “E-participation and visualisations in urban planning” and with the name of the sub-project they apply for until December 11, 2016 as a PDF file to bewerbungen@irs-net.de.
The IRS and the TU Berlin are explicitly committed to the principle of equal opportunities. Women are especially encouraged to apply. Handicapped people will be preferentially considered in case of equivalent qualifications. The IRS supports the compatibility of career and family and was certified as a family-oriented employer in 2015.

For further information on organisational matters please contact Prof. Dr. Gabriela Christmann (gabriela.christmann@leibniz-irs.de), for specific questions concerning the content of a sub-project please contact the head of the project in question.

Erkner / Berlin, 15 of November 2016