Postdoctoral Researcher in Ethnographic Science and Technology Studies (wissenschaftliche:r Mitarbeiter:in) at TU Munich’s STS Department
We are looking to hire a postdoctoral researcher experienced in ethnographic science and technology studies to join us in our research group at TU Munich’s STS Department. This post is financed from core budget so you will have the opportunity to develop your own research focus within our group rather than joining an externally funded project.
TU Munich, STS Department Postdoctoral Researcher in Ethnographic Science and Technology Studies (TV-L E13, 6-year contract (2+4)) limited to two years with the possibility to extend to six
Start date: negotiable / as soon as possible
Application Deadline: 25th of February 2024
Who are we? Our group – www.knowledgeafterprogress.org – pursues three routes of inquiry: first and foremost, we are working on an empirically grounded understanding of ‘green chemistry’ in Germany and beyond as an emerging field of science, industry, and regulation; second, we use ‘green chemistry’ as an example for inquiring into the ways late industrial societies inhabit bodies and environments at the level of molecular structure; third, we reflect more broadly whether ‘the Anthropocene’ requires scientific practices and knowledges beyond the Western modern notion of ‘progress’, and what this might mean for molecular, legal, and economic design. We value working together as a team and reflecting on our research fields in the context of broader debates in STS, anthropology, and the social sciences.
Who are you? Our group is only just setting out on this new course. We are looking to recruit someone with a longer-term perspective who adds to the diversity of our group and has an interest in jointly shaping our profile in Munich and internationally. We are thus very open regarding the profile of a successful applicant and are not looking to fill a clearly defined gap. An excellent PhD and experience in empirical research are vital. Experience in relevant research fields of chemistry, the life sciences, law and regulation, industry and markets, or broader questions of political economy are desirable. We also, however, value applications by scholars who can relate to these fields without actually having worked in them. We welcome a broad spectrum of epistemologies and methods. TUM is a highly international university with all teaching and university-wide activities conducted in English. Proficiency in the German language is not necessary at the point of application. Yet learning German upon arrival is important to us as our group pursues a public science approach that always also engages local contexts. The position comes with five semester hours of teaching (5 SWS) in the STS department’s own programmes as well as in the wider TUM landscape, for example, in chemistry degree programmes. Much of this is in development and we are looking for a scholar with a creative mind for innovative forms of interdisciplinary teaching. What we offer We offer a careful, collective, and cooperative research environment. This means that you will have the time and resources to build an internationally competitive career in research and teaching – should this be your path. We offer a six-year perspective through a 2+4 contract without a formal mid-term evaluation. We also work within a broad national and international network offering support and opportunities for exchange. The STS Department, TUM, and the Munich academic landscape as a whole form an extensive, highly diverse and very well-funded research and teaching environment.
If you have any further questions regarding the position, our group, or anything else, please contact: joerg.niewoehner@tum.de
Please send your application including:
• a short cover letter, including a brief reflection on how three of your key publications might relate to the research field, i.e. why does joining us make sense to you • three key publications (chapters/papers) • a one-page sketch of a possible research project • and your CV (in table rather than narrative form).
Please send these documents as a single pdf to our team assistant Victoria Tommasini: victoria.tommasini@tum.de by the 25th of February 2024. The position is suitable for disabled persons. Disabled applicants will be given preference in case of generally equivalent suitability, aptitude and professional performance.
Data Protection Information: When you apply for a position with the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you are submitting personal information. With regard to personal information, please take note of the Datenschutzhinweise gemäß Art. 13 Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO) zur Erhebung und Verarbeitung von personenbezogenen Daten im Rahmen Ihrer Bewerbung. (data protection information on collecting and processing personal data contained in your application in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)). By submitting your application, you confirm that you have acknowledged the above data protection information of TUM.
Contact: Further questions about the position: joerg.niewoehner@tum.de / Application: victoria.tommasini@tum.de
You can find the full offer from the TU Munich here.