Fellowships in Cultural Practices of Reparation (KHK CURE) at Saarland University Saarland University in Germany

The Käte Hamburger Centre for Cultural Practices of Reparation (KHK CURE) at Saarland University invites applications for up to twelve fellowships for the 2027/2028 academic year. The fellowship period runs from October 2027 to September 2028, with durations of six to twelve months starting on 1 October 2027.

The centre’s research programme focuses on cultural practices of reparation and irreparability, asking how societies respond to harms that cannot be fully undone. The 2027/2028 annual theme is Things, with particular attention to objects, artefacts, material environments, repair, mending, reuse, and the cultural and political significance of material practices. The call is especially relevant to scholars working in cultural studies, the humanities, and social sciences, as well as artists with a doctorate and academic collaboration experience.

Applicants must have completed a PhD (submitted and defended) by the deadline and must be professionally active in academia or engaged in scholarly activity. Independent scholars, freelancer researchers, artist researchers, and other non-employed scholars are eligible if they meet the doctorate requirement. Retired individuals, scholars and artists without a doctorate, and members of Saarland University are not eligible. Projects must be independent, align with at least one of the centre’s thematic fields — history, experience, or nature — and connect to the annual theme “Things.”

The fellowship offers two funding options. Fellows on unpaid leave or independent scholars/artists receive a stipend of at least 6,100 to 7,200 euros per month before taxes, depending on qualifications. Alternatively, fellows may keep their salary and benefits while the centre reimburses their home institution for a teaching replacement. Travel costs to and from Saarbrücken are reimbursed once, a fully equipped workspace is provided, and optional apartment accommodation is available for about 1,250 euros per month. Insurance and other living costs are not covered.

Applications must be submitted by 30 November 2026 through the online form. Required materials include the online application form with abstract, a PDF containing a motivation letter, CV, and publication list, and a second PDF with the project description and bibliography. Applications may be submitted in German, English, or French. The centre asks applicants not to include photographs and notes that AI-generated text is discouraged.

A separate UniGR fellowship is available for one scholar employed at a UniGR partner university (University of Trier, University of Liège, University of Luxembourg, University of Lorraine, or RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau), with proof of employment required.