PhD Fellowship – History of Ideas & Digital Humanities (ERC Project Oecologie) Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in France

The Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris invites applications for a fully funded PhD fellowship in the History of Ideas and Digital Humanities, as part of the ERC-funded project “Oecologie. The German Sources of Ecology” (2025–2030). Led by Principal Investigator Stefanie Buchenau, this interdisciplinary project investigates the philosophical dimensions of ecology, tracing its origins in 19th-century German thought and its broader intellectual and scientific implications. The research integrates conceptual history, history of philosophy and science, aesthetics, and philology, focusing on the emergence and reception of ecological ideas in Europe.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic team at the Maison de la Recherche, Sorbonne Nouvelle, collaborating with senior ERC researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral researchers. The PhD project centers on the application of digital humanities methods to the history of ideas, working with a corpus of 19th-century German texts, journals, and correspondences. The candidate will combine historical and philological approaches with digital tools, including concept annotation, historical linguistics, and quantitative analysis, to trace the development and dissemination of scientific and philosophical concepts across diverse audiences and cultural contexts.

Key responsibilities include building and analyzing the project corpus, conducting original research, participating in seminars, workshops, and conferences, and completing a doctoral dissertation aligned with the digital corpus. The position offers opportunities for co-supervision with specialists in linguistics or digital humanities, ensuring interdisciplinary guidance and methodological support. Teaching duties are not mandatory, but may be available from the second year onward.

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in philosophy of science, history of philosophy, European studies, European literature, or linguistics. Language requirements include very good command of German (B2), and excellent command of French and English. Candidates should demonstrate interest in historical text analysis, digital tools, and the circulation of ideas across Europe, as well as the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Those currently enrolled in a Master’s programme must provide transcripts and a letter from their thesis supervisor confirming expected defense date before the PhD start.

The fellowship provides a stimulating research environment in central Paris, regular academic activities, and access to international collaborations with institutions such as the Ernst-Haeckel-Haus (Jena) and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The position is fully funded through the ERC Horizon Europe programme, covering stipend and research support.

To apply, submit all materials as a single PDF by email with the subject line 'Application_PhD_Oecologie-DH-[Your Name]'. Required documents include a cover letter, CV, research proposal, Master’s thesis, reference letter, and academic transcripts. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the team prior to submission to discuss their project outline and ensure complementarity with ongoing research. The application deadline is 10 June 2026, and the position starts on 1 September 2026.