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)

Cultural History, Cultural Theory, and Media Studies

Organisation/Company Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Department Cultural History, Cultural Theory, and Media Studies Research Field Cultural studies - Other Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 23 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) Country Germany Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2028 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number PR/004/26 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

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.

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 ZfL is a non-university research institute under the organizational umbrella of the Geisteswissenschaftliche Zentren Berlin e.V. (GWZ) and belongs to the Leibniz Association. It currently employs approximately 35 people in research and academic services.

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 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 theFaculty 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`.

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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Where to apply

E-mail

Requirements

Research Field Cultural studies - Other Education Level PhD or equivalent

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute The Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) Country Germany City Berlin Postal Code 10117 Street Georgenstr. 47 Geofield