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Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics

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Postdoctoral Position in Computational Humanities for Macroevolution of European Literature Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Full funding available

Deadline

Aug 15, 2026

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Country

Germany

University

Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics

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Keywords

Computer Science
Sociology
Network Analysis
Media Studies
Literature
Data Visualization
Cultural Evolution
Computational Social Science
Statistics
Literaturwissenschaft

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About this position

Postdoctoral Position in Computational Humanities for the Macroevolution of European Literature at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The Research Group Cultural Evolution of the Arts, led by Dr. Oleg Sobchuk, invites applications for a 24-month postdoctoral position (with possible extension) focused on the macroevolution of European literature between 1800 and 2000 across major European languages. The project is part of a broader effort to understand the long-term dynamics of literature, film, and other arts using large cultural datasets, computational methods, and theoretical models of cultural evolution.

The successful candidate will develop computational methods for analyzing and visualizing literary data, including methods for inferring influence between authors and works, building dynamic networks and directed graphs, and creating visualizations of large-scale literary networks. The research asks big-picture questions about genre emergence and disappearance, fame and canon formation, and the transmission of styles and topics across time and space.

Requirements include a doctoral degree in computational humanities, computational social science, or a related field; fluency in written and spoken English; strong teamwork skills; ability to independently design and conduct computational studies; and interest in developing new computational methods. Preferred qualifications include experience with large datasets, strong computational analysis skills, proficiency in R or Python, solid statistics knowledge, and web development experience for interactive data visualization.

Funding and terms: fixed-term employment for two years, salary according to TVöD Bund E13, with an annual bonus and a 39-hour work week. The institute describes a highly interdisciplinary and international environment and notes collaboration with Goethe University Frankfurt and other regional research institutions.

Application deadline: August 15, 2026. Applicants should submit a CV with publications and two referees, a statement of interest, one best publication with a short explanation of its significance and the applicant’s role, and copies of relevant degrees/certificates including the doctoral certificate.

How to apply: submit materials through the applicant management system. For project questions, contact Dr. Sobchuk at [email protected].

Funding details

Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.

How to apply

Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.

More information can be found here

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