Postdoc Position (m/f/d) for Cluster of Excellence "Transforming Human Rights"

Postdoc Position (m/f/d) for Cluster of Excellence "Transforming Human Rights"

Your Workplace

“Protecting Migrant Rights and Democratic Rights through Law: Friends, Foes or Strangers?“, a new research project based in the Transforming Human Rights Cluster of Excellence at Friedrich‑Alexander‑Universität Erlangen‑Nürnberg (FAU), aims to examine the entanglements and disentanglements between the legal practices to protect migrant rights and democratic rights across Europe. Focussing on legal practices in Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Turkey and the UK domestically and supranationally, the project will ask whether and how real‑world experiences to protect migrant rights and democratic rights through law are entangled or disentangled, for what reasons and with what consequences.

For more information about “Transforming Human Rights” see:

• Regular promotion to the next level and increase in salary pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement for the public service of the German Länder (TV-L) or remuneration pursuant to the Bavarian Public Servants Remuneration Act (BayBesG) plus an additional annual bonus
• 30 days annual leave at five working days per week with additional free days on December 24 and 31
• Occupational pension scheme and asset accumulation savings scheme
• Excellent support during the academic qualification phase
• Family‑friendly environment with childcare options, also during school holidays
• A wide range of training courses and opportunities for professional development

Your Tasks

The postdoctoral researcher will work in close collaboration with the co‑PIs of the project, Professor Dr Grażyna Baranowska (FAU) and Professor Dr Başak Çalı (University of Oxford), and will be based at the FAU. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct independent and collaborative research at the intersection of migrant rights and democratic rights. They will:

• Contribute to the mapping of legal practice communities working on migrant rights and democratic rights in the six jurisdictions.
• Develop a preliminary research matrix examining how the relationship between migrant rights and democratic rights manifests across different country contexts.
• Co‑organise three practitioner workshops.
• Conduct expert research interviews for the project.

Your Profile

Necessary Qualifications:

• Completed PhD/doctorate (thesis must be submitted by the starting date of the contract), with a strong focus on migration and/or democracy in human rights studies.
• Experience in legal practice or in working with practitioners.
• Experience of publishing academic work.
• The ability to work to a high academic level and publish research in English.

Additional Qualifications:

• Knowledge of migrant rights/democratic rights in at least one of the country case studies (Denm ark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Turkey, UK).
• Strong knowledge of European and international standards at the intersection of migration and democracy.
• Training in or previous experience with socio‑legal research methods.

Additional Information

We seek to realise equal opportunities, and encourage applications from interested individuals regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, religion, or belief. The Cluster has appointed an Equity and Diversity Steward and an Equity and Diversity Coordinator who will participate in the selection process.

Please upload your application by 18 June 2026 (cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of certificates) to the FAU online platform and refrain from sending applications by post or e‑mail. Interviews with selected candidates will take place on 6 July 2026.

Interested applicants may contact Professor Baranowska ( ) with questions about the role.

Notice

For all job postings, the following applies: Friedrich‑Alexander‑Universität promotes equal professional opportunities for women. Women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply.

Severely disabled persons as defined by the German Severely Disabled Persons Act will be given preferential consideration if they have the same professional qualifications and personal aptitude and if the advertised position is suitable for severely disabled persons. Details can be found in the respective job posting under “Remarks.”

At the applicant’s request, the Equal Opportunities Officer may be included in the job interview without any disadvantage to the applicant.

All advertised positions are generally suitable for part‑time work unless stated otherwise in the job posting.