Postdoctoral researcher in the ERC project “Racial Socialism" (m/w/d)

Postdoctoral researcher in the ERC project “Racial Socialism” (m/w/d)

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) offers a postdoctoral position within the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant (ID: ) led by Čarna Brković. The role focuses on conducting a case study on the Red Cross Society in the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, contributing to the project “Racial Socialism: Racialization and Value in Socialist Red Cross Societies”.

Key Objectives

• undertake original empirical research on whether different groups were racialized in socialist Red Cross societies and, if so, how;
• in the selected socialist countries, identify different registers and struggles over value, including political, economic, social, and cultural value, and their modes of hierarchical integration;
• theorize racialization in socialism, which has typically been understood as part of capitalist social formations.

Responsibilities

• participation in the scientific research project “Racial Socialism”
• development of a postdoctoral research project under the theoretical framework of “Racial Socialism”
• conducting independent empirical research on the Red Cross of Bulgaria ), including archival research, oral histories, coding
• participation in team activities and group analysis
• publishing research results in project publications as well as independently
• participation in project‑related conference activities
• other project‑related tasks set by the project leader

Your profile

Required:

• A successfully completed university degree (MA) in ethnology, anthropology, folklore or a related discipline
• A doctorate in Ethnology, Anthropology, Folklore, or a related discipline
• Knowledge of Bulgarian (at least B2)
• Knowledge of English (at least B2)
• Knowledge of German
• Familiarity with the anthropology of value, and/or historical anthropology of socialism
• Experience with archival and/or field research in Bulgaria
• Academic publications in high‑profile peer‑reviewed international journals

In addition to the general requirements according to public services law, applicants must meet the recruitment requirements stipulated in § 57 of Hochschulgesetz of Rhineland‑Pfalz.

The position is paid according to EG 13 TV‑L and must be filled by 11/01/2026. The position is limited to a period of three years, with the possibility of extension.

The position serves the purpose of academic qualification (habilitation).

Diversity and Equality

JGU is diverse and welcomes qualified applications from people with varied backgrounds. We aim to increase the number of women in the field of research and teaching and therefore encourage female researchers to apply.

People with severe disabilities and people with disabilities who are treated equally in accordance with Section 2 (3) SGB IX will be given preferential consideration if they are suitable.

Additional Requirements

You may only be employed in the civil service of the state of Rhineland‑Pfalz if you can guarantee that you will uphold the free democratic basic order as defined in the Basic Law and the Constitution of Rhineland‑Pfalz at all times.

• Partizipative und offene Betriebskultur