Postdoc Positions in Human Rights Law and Transforming Human Rights Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany

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 [email protected]. The Cluster also encourages applicants from underrepresented and structurally marginalized backgrounds to apply.