Leibniz Association 
Berlin, Germany Offer Summary
The Leibniz Association and Humboldt‑University of Berlin jointly invite applications for a W3‑S‑Professor in Literary and Cultural Research who will also serve as Director of the Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL). The role combines a reduced teaching load (2 LVS) with leadership of the ZfL, including strategic planning, research networking, and human‑resource management. Candidates should be international scholars with a strong theoretical and methodological profile in literary and cultural studies, experience in managing research institutions, and a vision for expanding the ZfL’s research agenda. The appointment is open to all qualified applicants, with a preference for women, researchers with immigration experience, and those with disabilities.
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Project Description
The Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL) is a humanities institute dedicated to the study of literature in interdisciplinary contexts and from a cultural studies perspective. It is part of the Humanities Centers Berlin e.V. (GWZ).
The Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU), seek to appoint a W3-S-Professor for “Literary and Cultural Research” combined with the position of Director (m/f/d) of the Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL) by 01 April, 2028.
Requirements and Responsibilities
The S-Professorship will be located at one of the institutes of the Faculty of Language, Literature and Humanities or at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences –Department of Cultural History, Cultural Theory, and Media Studies. The appointment will be made in a joint procedure by the Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin with a reduced teaching load (equivalent to 2 LVS) at HU.
The position is to be filled by a person who will become the head of the ZfL as academic director (m/f/d), is familiar with the German and international academic system, and represents the center’s research both within and outside the institution, particularly at the interface between academia, the public, and politics.
The profile of the professorship covers the broad spectrum of literary research from a comparative and cultural research perspective (). The personality being sought is an international leader in theoretical and methodological reflection within literary and/or cultural research and has exceptional innovative potential in developing and establishing new fields of research. At HU, they represent literary and cultural studies in research and teaching and cooperate with the colleagues of both faculties. Moreover, active participation in existing and future research networks in the Berlin/Brandenburg scientific community is expected.
Clear ideas are also expected regarding the programmatic and structural development of the ZfL’s research profile against the backdrop of the existing connection between basic research and socially relevant transfer formats.
Leadership skills and experience in managing research institutions or research networks and in human resources management are required, as is experience in strategic planning, acquisition, and implementation of national and international research projects.
The academic director, together with the other members of the executive board of Geisteswissenschaftliche Zentren Berlin e.V. (GWZ), is responsible for its overall management. The scope of duties is set out in the GWZ statutes in their currently valid version ().
The S-Professorship comes with the obligation to teach courses equivalent to 2 LVS at one of the institutes of the Faculty of Language, Literature and Humanities or at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Cultural History, Cultural Theory, and Media Studies; further involvement at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is desirable.
The applicants must meet the legal requirements for professorial appointments in accordance with § 100 of the Berliner Hochschulgesetz.
The application should include the following documents
- a cover letter
- a CV
- a teaching concept including a summary of teaching experience (max. 3 pages)
- a research concept describing the candidate’s current research program and proposed research in Literary and Cultural Research (max. 3 pages) as well as an outline of future research and development prospects for the ZfL for the next 5 to 10 years (approx. 5 pages)
- a complete list of publications
- a statement (max. 1 page) identifying previous and future contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion, and the candidates ability to work in culturally diverse groups
- copies of certificates and diplomas
- contact details of up to three references
- a description of the external funding secured
Please send your application, referencing the job ID PR/004/26 to: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Becker, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin or preferably in electronic form as one single PDF file to: berufungen.ksbf@hu-berlin.de. Since we will not return your documents, please submit copies in the application only.
For questions regarding this position please contact berufungen.ksbf@hu-berlin.de.
HU is seeking to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching, and specifically encourages qualified female scholars to apply. Researchers from abroad are welcome to apply. Severely disabled applicants with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential consideration. People with an immigration history are specifically encouraged to apply.
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