The positions are initially limited to 18 months (until 30.09.2023). If the application to renew the Research Training Group is successful, we plan to extend the positions for another 18 months.

The Research Training Group

The Research Training Group “Aesthetic Practice” is a structured doctoral education program funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) with funds from the German federal and state governments. The Research Training Group combines the fields of philosophy, art studies, literary studies, theater studies, musicology, cultural studies, and sociology. The field of sociology is represented by Prof. Dr. Michael Corsten, the field of literature by JProf. Dr. Dagmara Kraus. The Research Training Group began its research work at the University of Hildesheim in April 2019; in April 2022 the second cohort of PhD students will take up the work.

The Research Training Group examines the experience and practice of being aesthetically active, expanding the scope of traditional aesthetics and art studies to include a practice theory component. Since the introduction of the concept of aesthetics in the 18th century, discourse on art has concentrated mainly on aesthetic experience, perception, and judgment. With our focus we propose a praxeological shift in the very questions of aesthetics toward forms of practice and performance that function as creative processes in their own right, since they enable and generate – though neither necessarily nor mechanically – the production and reception of works of art. The research work of the group is focused on three areas: 1) The development of aesthetic and philosophical analyses will theorize the various art forms as practices, including work on theatre, performance, fine art, literature, music, and forms of popular culture. 2) From a comparative point of view, the integration of non-European aesthetic practices and associated theoretical innovations opens up an intercultural perspective, which will serve as a corrective to the neglect of practice in the European tradition that privileges normative conceptions of art. 3) Based on current debates in praxeology and the “practice turn”, we aim to develop a comprehensive social and cultural theory of aesthetic practice from an interdisciplinary perspective, including the relation between artistic and non-artistic activity. For more information on the Research Training Group please visit:https://www.uni-hildesheim.de/grk-2477.

Within this framework, the Research Training Group offers the doctoral candidates a qualification and training program for subject-specific, interdisciplinary and transferable skills, which consists of obligatory as well as optional courses. Presence in Hildesheim is therefore required.

The thematic focus of dissertation topics could be: (1) Sociology: The topics should relate to the interconnections of aesthetic and social practices in the fields of culture, the arts, media (including digital media) as well as in everyday life or everyday routines. Also desirable is a decided engagement with sociological theories of practice and their significance for the study of aesthetic practice. (2) Literary Studies: Dissertation projects can engage with, for example, the theory, aesthetics, and practice of poetry of all genres and centuries, with literary translation, trans- and multilingualism, as well as artist-aesthetical or appropriative approaches to literature.

The Foundation University of Hildesheim has adopted a mission statement that places great importance on gender equality and diversity. The Foundation University of Hildesheim particularly wants to promote the professional equality of women and men. Therefore, it aims to increase the proportion of employees of the gender that is underrepresented in the respective area. In the case of equal qualification and suitability, applications from applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration. (Proof of disability must be enclosed.)

Application Requirements

The Research Training Group is designed for German and international graduate students who distinguish themselves in the selection process by their subject-specific academic profile and an outstanding concept for a research project which demonstrates interdisciplinary compatibility and which is feasible within the expected time frame of the funding (36 months).

The prerequisite for application is an excellent academic degree that entitles the applicant to pursue doctoral studies in the given field. During their studies, applicants must have acquired relevant specialist and methodological knowledge in the field, which enables them to develop and successfully complete their own research project. In addition to the academic qualifications, participation in the Research Training Group requires the ability to self-motivation and to work in a structured manner as well as openness to interdisciplinary cooperation, excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team. Active participation in the further development of the activities of the Research Training Group is expected. Relevant aesthetic-practical experience is also desirable.

Application Documents

- Proof of academic university degrees (certified translation, if applicable)
- Curriculum vitae with a detailed description of the applicant’s academic career
- Letter of motivation documenting personal suitability for the research and training program and outlining how the applicant intends to contribute to the interdisciplinary work of the group
- A letter of recommendation from a university professor providing information on the applicant’s professional and methodological expertise and academic potential (max. one page)
- Outline of the dissertation project (synopsis) of max. ten pages (in German or English), including timetable.
- For applicants from foreign universities, the equivalent of the respective German degree and proof of German language skills at DSH 1/TestDaF 3 level or equivalent are required.

As a family-friendly university, we offer a varied, interdisciplinary range of tasks, flexible working hours, regular further and advanced training and a special annual payment within the framework of TV-L. In joining the university, you will become part of a dynamic, committed and open-minded team.

Apply

Please send your application, including all the relevant documents, with the reference number 2022/44-45 in a PDF document (> 5 MB) by e-mail to GRK2477@uni-hildesheim.de by 11.02.2022.

For university degrees obtained abroad, a certificate evaluation by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is required as proof of equivalence prior to employment. If necessary, please apply for this in due time. For more information, please visit https://www.kmk.org/zeugnisbewertung.

Please understand that confirmations of receipt and interim messages cannot be sent. Personal data will be stored and processed for the purposes of the application process.