Fachbereich Politik- und Sozialwissenschaften - Otto-Suhr-Institut für Politikwissenschaft Exzellenzcluster "Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)"2 Positions Research Assistant (m/f/d) of BGTS with 65%part-time job limited to 3 years Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L FU reference code: SCRIPTS_BGTS_2024 Bewerbungsende: 31.01.2024

The Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)” is a research consortium that analyses the contemporary controversies about the model of liberal democracy and the market economy. The term “liberal script” relates to a set of ideas and institutional prescriptions about how society is organised based on the core principles of individual and collective self-determination. The main purpose of SCRIPTS is to describe and explain why the liberal script is being challenged and deeply contested despite its political, economic, and social achievements.
SCRIPTS has been operating since 2019 and is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) until the end of 2025 as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German Government and the Federal States. The Cluster is hosted by the Freie Universität Berlin and unites eight major Berlin-based research institutes. Cluster research teams are made up of doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and professors from social, political, and area studies. SCRIPTS is well connected with research institutes and knowledge exchange partners throughout the world, including political and cultural organisations, as well as civil society actors. In addition, SCRIPTS brings renowned visiting scholars from all over the world to Berlin.
The Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies (BGTS) is the full-time PhD programme of the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script” (SCRIPTS) The BGTS offers a rigorous and dynamic English-language PhD programme for exceptionally talented and motivated graduate students in the field of global and transregional studies, bringing together a broad spectrum of disciplines and methodological approaches.
The selection is done according to the SCRIPTS Diversity Rules & Guidelines: https://www.scripts-berlin.eu/about-us/Diversity/SCRIPTS_-Diversity_-Rules-_-Guidelines1/index.html

Job description:
The PhD students are expected to conduct independent research and to write a doctoral thesis. The successful candidates will be supervised by a senior scholar at the BGTS, depending on the research focus of their proposal. Applicants should also familiarise themselves with the research interests of BGTS faculty members and indicate one or several potential supervisors in their application.
The three-year English language doctoral programme at the BGTS provides state-of-the-art theory classes, solid training in research methods and research design, soft skills courses, and individual supervision. The programme focuses on contemporary contestations of the liberal script from historical, global, and comparative perspectives with a particular interest in global and transregional processes. Apart from social science and historical approaches, we explicitly encourage students of area studies, gender studies, philosophy, and education studies to submit their proposals. Research at the BGTS focuses on the structures, risks, and opportunities of cross-regional interaction at various levels and we particularly welcome critical perspectives. PhD researchers with excellent university degrees should be knowledgeable regarding the various theoretical and methodological approaches in the disciplines relevant to the cluster. They should be open to interdisciplinary collaboration. We also expect excellent command of English in writing and speaking.

Requirements:
• Master’s degree, qualifying for PhD studies in the social sciences, history, economics, law, or area studies;

• English skills at the C1 level (accepted proofs of language proficiency are listed on the BGTS website)
Desirable:
- Knowledge of the various theoretical and methodological concepts in the disciplines relevant to the cluster
- A research project related to the research focus of SCRIPTS, to be submitted as a proposal with the rest of the required documents
- Openness to interdisciplinary cooperation

For further information, please contact Dr. Matthias Hahn ([email protected] / 03083853735).

Required Documents:
• Proof of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, qualifying for PhD studies in the social sciences, history, economics, law, or area studies;
• Proof of C1-level English language skills or the equivalent (please see specifications for the accepted proof of language proficeincy on the BGTS website);
• Most recent CV;
• Letter of motivation (600 words maximum);
• Research proposal (5,000 words maximum) with a timeline for your project;
• Two academic letters of reference

Applications should be uploaded via the BGTS application portal at: https://www.scripts-berlin.eu/birt/bgts/bgts-application/index.html The exact application deadline is announced and updated on the BGTS website.
Please check https://www.scripts-berlin.eu/birt/bgts/bgts-application/index.html for the exact specifications on the required documents, current updates on the application process as well as the link to the official application platform for the 2024/2025 intake.

Applications should be sent to Prof. Dr. Thomas Risse: [email protected] or postal to

Freie Universität Berlin

Fachbereich Politik- und Sozialwissenschaften

Otto-Suhr-Institut für Politikwissenschaft

Exzellenzcluster "Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)"

Herrn Prof. Dr. Thomas Risse

Boltzmannstr. 20

14195 Berlin (Dahlem)

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