TUD Dresden University of Technology, as a University of Excellence, is one of the leading and most dynamic research institutions in the country. Founded in 1828, today it is a globally oriented, regionally anchored top university as it focuses on the grand challenges of the 21st century. It develops innovative solutions for the world's most pressing issues. In research and academic programs, the university unites the natural and engineering sciences with the humanities, social sciences and medicine. This wide range of disciplines is a special feature, facilitating interdisciplinarity and transfer of science to society. As a modern employer, it offers attractive working conditions to all employees in teaching, research, technology and administration. The goal is to promote and develop their individual abilities while empowering everyone to reach their full potential. TUD embodies a university culture that is characterized by cosmopolitanism, mutual appreciation, thriving innovation and active participation. For TUD diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and productivity to the success of the whole institution.
The Vice-Rectorate University Culture and the Institute of History at TUD within the framework of the research project “Technical College of Dresden under National Socialism. Transformations of Knowledge and Science in the 20th Century” invite applications for
one doctoral scholarship
starting at the next possible date and limited to three and a half years, with a possible extension of six months to revise the dissertation for publication.
TUD will investigate its history on the occasion of its 200th anniversary in May 2028. An interdisciplinary research project and a research training group (Graduiertenkolleg) will examine Technical College of Dresden’s history against the backdrop of political changes in the 20th century. The project focuses on knowledge practices and their interactions with practices and structures of power. In particular, it analyzes the application and politicization of knowledge and science with regard to the transformation of politics and society under National Socialism, including its preconditions beginning in the early 1920s and its repercussions after 1945. For further information, please refer to the project website at https://tud.link/2umt.
Together with our partners, we are establishing a web-based research database with information on scientists at TH Dresden and making it accessible to the public on TUD’s 200th anniversary in May 2028. Existing data and data generated through the project will be fed into this database. The aim is a historical network analysis that clusters the data by person, topic, subject, and location and tracks its use and citation. The dissertation project for the advertised scholarship is part of the preparation and implementation of this analysis and is intended as a basic project for the research training group.
Tasks:
- Together with our partners, you will develop and implement a work process for linking, processing, and archiving the research data of the research training group on the basis of an existing database structure and will be responsible for the further development of the data management concept;
- you will obtain further data through the (partially) automated analysis of larger text corpora (e.g., academic journals and press) and cluster these according to personal, thematic, subject, and geographical criteria to conduct a historical network analysis and explore the scientific potential of digital processes and methods, such as data mining and optical character recognition in the digital humanities, university history, and the history of science;
- supported by student and research assistants, you will participate in the coordination of data collection;
- you will pursue further academic qualifications with the aim of obtaining a PhD at TUD, prepare a PhD dissertation on a subject in the conceptual framework of the research project, and work toward its publication in the anniversary year of TUD in 2028. You will regularly participate in the qualification program and events of the research training group in Dresden.
Requirements: You have an excellent master’s degree, preferably in digital humanities, digital history, a subject in the humanities and social sciences, if you possess a demonstrable knowledge of digital humanities or computer science, a subject with a focus on library and information science or information management and technology. Regarding content and technical skills, you have the expertise to manage research data, various data formats, and data storage models. When dealing with sensitive research data, you show a high level of reliability and discretion. You are willing to experiment with different systems and enjoy developing unconventional solutions. You have a desire to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration at the interface between the humanities, social sciences, as well as computer science and the ability to reflect critically on this process. You are a strong team player and possess certified advanced English and German language skills.
TUD’s Offer: We offer the possibility of pursuing a PhD within the framework of a research training group with a structured qualification program and joining an interdisciplinary research project in collaboration with libraries, museums, and municipal partners. We accompany your project with engaging activities in the field of memory culture and a high-profile public presentation of the dissertation in the 2028 anniversary year. The PhD scholarship is 1,750.00 euros per month. We provide a fully equipped office space at TUD and access to an advanced research infrastructure. Subject to available funding, we will cover travel costs for archival research and conference participation. The scholarships are limited to three and a half years, with a possible extension of six months to revise the dissertation for publication.
A selection committee appointed by the “Technical College of Dresden under National Socialism” project's executive committee will review the applications in a competitive process and propose the selection and ranking of scholarship recipients (m/f/x). The executive committee’s decision will also include the recommendations of the TUD’s equal opportunities officer. For further questions, please contact the research project’s scientific coordinators, Dr. Christine Ludl and Dr. Hagen Schönrich, at geschichtederthdresden@tu-dresden.de. We look forward to receiving your application.
Equality and the inclusion of employees are important to us. We therefore welcome applications from people regardless of gender and gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, religious commitments, or (dis)ability status. TUD strives to employ more women in academia and research. We therefore expressly encourage women to apply. The University is a certified family-friendly university and offers a Dual Career Service. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If multiple candidates prove to be equally qualified, those with disabilities or with equivalent status pursuant to the German Social Code IX (SGB IX) will receive priority for employment.
Please submit your convincing application including a covering letter explaining your motivation, a curriculum vitae containing information on your academic career, a copy of your most recent university degree and a project outline including a work plan and a timeline of your project of not more than 20.000 characters by March 8, 2024 (stamped arrival date of the university central mail service or the time stamp on the email server of TUD applies), preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal https://securemail.tu-dresden.de as a single pdf file to geschichtederthdresden@tu-dresden.de or to: TU Dresden, Philosophische Fakultät, Institut für Geschichte, Geschäftsstelle des Forschungsprojekts „Die TH Dresden im Nationalsozialismus“, z. Hd. Frau Dr. Christine Ludl, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, Germany. Please submit copies only, as your application will not be returned to you. Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed.
Reference to data protection: Your data protection rights, the purpose for which your data will be processed, as well as further information about data protection is available to you on the website: https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis.