Başak Çalı

The Cluster of Excellence Transforming Human Rights at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is advertising up to five full-time postdoc positions starting on 1 January 2027 or later . The cluster studies how human rights norms, institutions, and practices are changing in the context of five major global megatrends: autocratization , planetary environmental crises , migration , fragmented economic globalization , and digitalization . The call is open to excellent early-career researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The post specifically welcomes applicants with expertise in geography and related fields such as political geography , legal geography , digital geography , migration studies , environmental geography , urban and economic geography , and critical GIS/RS . More broadly, the cluster also seeks researchers working on human rights from law, political science, philosophy, anthropology, history, management studies, or computer science. Successful candidates will conduct independent and collaborative research on the transformation of human rights, preferably linked to at least one of the megatrends, and projects that bridge two megatrends are especially welcome. The positions include an individual research budget , support from a Postdoc Advisory Committee , and opportunities for extended research stays with international partner institutions or human rights organizations. Eligibility highlights: applicants must have a completed PhD/doctorate by the starting date, and the PhD should have been awarded no more than three years before the contract start. Applicants should have an excellent academic record, initial publication experience, and fluency in English; additional languages are an asset. Application deadline: 25 August 2026. Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of certificates, and a five-page project proposal via the online application portal. Applications should not be sent by post or email. Contact: Dr. Maria Jose Luque (maria.jose.luque@fau.de). The cluster also notes its commitment to equity, diversity, and support for applicants from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Up to five postdoc positions are available in the Cluster of Excellence “Transforming Human Rights” , based at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) . The opportunity is aimed at early career scholars with a completed PhD/doctorate and a strong background in human rights law or closely related fields. Successful candidates will conduct independent and collaborative research on the transformation of human rights, norms, institutions, and/or practices. The research agenda is organized around five major megatrends: autocratization , planetary environmental crises , migration , fragmented economic globalization , and digitalization . Projects that bridge two of these megatrends are especially welcome. The postdoc program offers a strong academic environment, individual mentoring through a Postdoc Advisory Committee, a tailored skills-development structure, a dedicated research budget, and opportunities for extended research stays at international partner institutions or human rights organizations. The position is full-time and paid at TV-L E 13 , with temporary employment until 31.12.2029 . Eligibility highlights: PhD must be completed or submitted by the start date; the doctorate should have been obtained no more than 3 years before the contract start; applicants should have excellent results in a relevant discipline such as law, political science, philosophy, anthropology, human geography, management studies, history, or computer sciences; initial publication experience and English fluency are required, while additional languages are an asset. Application deadline: 25 August 2026. Interviews are planned for early October 2026. Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of certificates, and a five-page project proposal via the online application platform. Applications by post or email are not accepted. For questions, contact Dr. Maria Jose Luque at maria.jose.luque@fau.de . The Cluster also encourages applicants from underrepresented and structurally marginalized backgrounds to apply.