Fachbereich Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften - Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut Global HistoryResearch Associate (postdoc) (m/f/d) full-time job limited to 4 years Salary terms of 13 TV-L FU in the German public sector Reference code: DEMFAM_2024_INDIA Bewerbungsende: 15.04.2024

The Friedrich Meinecke Institute of the Freie Universität Berlin, Research Area of Global History seeks to fill a post-doctoral position (full-time, fixed-term up to 4 years, salary group 13 TV-L) at the earliest possible date. The position is part of the research project ‘Democratization of the Family? Gender equality, parental rights, and child welfare after 1945’ (DEMFAM), which is funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant.
Through the lens of ‘shared and equal parenting’, DEMFAM studies the transformation of gender and the family in contemporary global history. It develops a social history of law reform on different political scales to understand global dynamics of divergence and convergence in the transformation of parental, gender, and care relations. It combines the comparative study of family change in Europe – the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany/German Democratic Republic, and Poland (or Hungary) – and South Asia (India) with the analysis of international institutions, and transnational knowledge circulation. Integrating research on different ‘worlds of welfare capitalism’, on post-colonial legal pluralism, and on (post-)socialist gender and family politics, DEMFAM opens new horizons for global gender history.

Job description:
The selected candidate will study family law reform processes in India since 1947. The focus is on changing child custody and guardianship regulations within different religious-based personal law systems. This includes the analysis of legal documents, court cases (legal precedent), and public contestations over changing parental rights. One aspect is the study of current debates on the introduction of ‘shared parenting’ (joint legal custody, joint physical custody) for divorced or separately living parents. Central points of reference for the analysis are gender politics, legal pluralism, religious, linguistic, and regional diversity, social inequality, and transregional knowledge circulation.
The main task of the selected candidate is her/his own research activity. In addition, he/she will contribute information for a joint project database and take part in event organization and public outreach activities.

Requirements:
- PhD in the modern Indian history or a closely related subject

Desirable:

- Fluency in English and very good knowledge of at least one modern South Asian language

- Excellent academic record and doctorate
- Proven research expertise in the legal, social, and/or gender history of modern India
- Experience in digital humanities, working with databases, and/or historical network analysis
- Ability to work in a team
- Good knowledge of the German language (B2 or equivalent) is an additional advantage

For further information, please contact Ms. Susanne Ebermann ([email protected] / +49 30 838 75034).

Applications should be sent by e-mail, together with significant documents (including a letter of motivation, CV, and two writing samples) in German or English indicating the reference code, in PDF format (preferably as one document) to Dr. Jana Tschurenev: [email protected] or postal to

Freie Universität Berlin

Fachbereich Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften

Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut

Global History

Ms. Dr. Jana Tschurenev

Koserstr. 20

14195 Berlin (Dahlem)

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