Vacancies
Call for Applications
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Humanities and Social Sciences
The Crisis and Future of Democracy
In the research program Turning Points: Normative Orders in Transition? funded by the Commerzbank Foundation Fund at Normative Orders
Duration and Starting Date: 12 Months, starting on January 1, 2026.
The research program Turning Points: Normative Orders in Transition? at Normative Orders, funded by the Commerzbank Foundation Fund, directed by Prof. Dr. Rainer Forst and Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff, is seeking to appoint up to two post-doctoral fellows for 2026. The theme of this year is The Crisis and Future of Democracy, and we welcome applications from various disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. The Fellows will be part of the Frankfurt academic community, especially of the Normative Orders Research Network.
Candidates should have completed a doctorate in the humanities or the social sciences and should have proven potential to conduct and publish top research at an international level.
Conditions of Award
We offer a grant of 2,400€/month. The grant is tax-free in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 no. 44 EStG (German Income Tax Act).
Additional benefits include a return trip (to a max. of 800€) from the fellows’ home town to Frankfurt and a mission allowance of 1,500€/year. Health insurance and accommodation expenses are not included in the package, although assistance in purchasing a suitable German health insurance will be provided.
Fellows will be provided with office space at Normative Orders. They will be expected to take an active part in the Center’s activities and workshops, and to present their ongoing research to the members of the Center. Fellows are expected to reside in the Frankfurt area for the whole duration of their stay.
Please send your application in English IN ONE PDF DOCUMENT (a two-page research project, CV and two letters of reference (and no more than two)) to Prof. Dr. Rainer Forst. Please use this address: sekretariat.forst@soz.uni-frankfurt.de
The reference letters may also be sent directly from the referees.
Closing date is 31 October 2025.