Doctoral Researcher (m/fd) in Modern History

Doctoral Researcher (m/fd) in Modern History

NEW Part-time Research and Instruction

• Application deadline: 1. June 2026


• Publication date: 20. April 2026


• Start-date: 1. September 2026


• Scope of work: Part-time position (65 %)


• Id no.:

Description

The Horizon Europe project BLOCKADE and the Department of History at Albert‑Ludwigs‑Universität Freiburg are looking for a Doctoral Researcher in Modern History.

The 4‑year (65 %) doctoral position will be located at the Juniorprofessur for Transatlantic and North American History (Jun.–Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Piller) and will be part of the European Research Council project “The Hidden Weapon. Blockade in the Era of the Two World Wars (BLOCKADE)”. The position is scheduled to start on or around 1 September 2026.

The project

BLOCKADE (ERC Synergy Grant # ) explores the two blockades of the First and Second World Wars, and their aftermaths. In these total wars, the Allies imposed a global blockade on their enemies, and the Central and Axis powers responded with blockades of their own. Over a period of six years, the BLOCKADE team, based in Trondheim, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Freiburg, will analyse the impact of blockades on households, states, corporations and the international order; on the development of political and military strategy; on how the wars were prepared, experienced and remembered; and on how peace was made. BLOCKADE sets out to prove that these blockades are crucial to understanding not only the way the world wars were fought but also their globality and totality, their immediate effects and their long‑term global repercussions. More information can be found on the project website

The position

The doctoral researcher will focus on the work package “Heroes and Villains of Blockade”. The work package will investigate the immense public fascination with blockade‑runners (submarine crews, smugglers) and their successors: airlifters. The PhD candidate will examine the media coverage, popular fiction and public celebrations devoted to blockade‑runners in blockaded societies (e.g. also including neutral countries like Sweden) during and after the world wars, including, possibly, also the Berlin airlift. The work package will analyse the major public fascination with these ‘heroes’ and determine under what circumstances and to what extent the heroisation of blockade runners (and the vilification of blockaders) helped forge social consensus and could offset the disintegrative societal impact of blockade across and within beleaguered societies. The personal papers of blockade‑runners/airlifters, a wide array of printed material and material objects (awards, devotional material) would form the source basis for this work package.

The work package is one of five positions across the four BLOCKADE locations that should speak to the theme of integration and disintegration, exploring the short‑ and long‑term integrative and disintegrative effects of blockades with regard to markets, wartime societies and the international order. The doctoral researcher will be supervised by and work closely with the PI of the Freiburg team, Elisabeth Piller.

Your Tasks

• Contribute to the project by carrying out research of high ambition and excellent quality.


• Research, write and submit a PhD thesis within the period of appointment.


• Present intermediate research results at workshops and conferences.


• Contribute to scientific and financial reporting to the funding body.


• Actively participate in the project’s workshops, seminars and conferences as well as in organizing and hosting Freiburg‑based events.


• Contribute to data collection (qualitative and quantitative primary sources) for the central database located at the University of Amsterdam.

Your Profile

• You must have completed a Master’s degree in history (or a closely related discipline) or be able to show that the degree will be conferred shortly.


• Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English (equivalent to at least level B2).


• Excellent reading skills in the languages of the countries to be examined in the doctoral project (equivalent to level B2).


• Experience in dealing with archival sources.


• Enthusiasm about the project and about working in a team.


• Prior knowledge of the historiography and primary sources related to the period of the World Wars is desirable.

We offer

• Experience in an exciting, multi‑location international research project.


• Generous travel and conference funds and opportunity to invite guest scholars.


• Opportunity for intellectual growth and career advancement, including a wide variety of training, mentoring and professional development offerings available at the university.


• Open, inclusive and supportive work environment with committed colleagues.


• Working in an attractive German university town, and in close proximity to the culinary and cultural delights of Switzerland, France and the Black Forest.


• Salary according to the levels set by the public sector agreements TV‑L E13.


• There is no teaching obligation associated with the position.

Please Submit (in English)

• A letter of motivation detailing your prior experience and your fit for the project (1‑2 pages).


• A research plan (2‑4 pages; Calibri, 11 font size, 1.5 line space), including a provisional four‑year work plan.


• A CV.


• Grade transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.


• A writing sample (such as a term paper or Master’s thesis).


• Name and contact information of two referees to be contacted for references (upon or after reaching the interview stage).

Please send your complete application documents – in one PDF file – to by 1 June 2026. Interviews with selected applicants will take place in the second half of June.

The position is limited to 31 August 2030. The salary will be determined in accordance with TV‑L E13.

Application

Please send your application in English including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number , by 1 June 2026 at the latest. Please send your application to the following address in written or electronic form:

Historisches Seminar
Rempartstr 157
9098 Freiburg

For further information, please contact Dr. Elisabeth Marie Piller on the phone number +49 761 203 3440 or E‑Mail