Postdoctoral Research Fellow (M/F/D) at GIGA German Institute for Global and Area Studies

The German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)/Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien is an independent Social Science research institute based in Hamburg. It analyses political, social, and economic developments in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East to address questions of local and global significance. It combines region-specific analysis with innovative comparative research on accountability and participation, globalisation and development, peace and security, and global order and foreign policies. The GIGA seeks to appoint a

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (M/F/D)

Applications are invited for a full-time position, with a contract until June 2026, starting as soon as possible. The position is designed for further professional qualification as defined in § 2 WissZeitVG (Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act). The salary is commensurate with EG 13 TV-AVH/TVöD. 

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain teaching experience and work in the project Transfer for Transformation (T4T) under the lead of Prof. Amrita Narlikar. T4T is funded via a grant won in a competition of the Leibniz Association and is a generator of transfer innovation. Knowledge exchange is a priority at the GIGA. We continuously engage with key national and international target audiences – including the Federal Foreign Office – and have developed a range of outreach formats. We work with a focus on the Global South and seek to bring perspectives from the regions to the forefront in academic and public debate. 

T4T is conceived of as an application lab. It will develop new transfer concepts and put them into practice. T4T will also advance scholarship on the subject by analysing under what conditions some forms of transfer are more impactful than others, and why, and accordingly develop best practices in research-based policy advice to facilitate this. The T4T Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to intellectual debates on exchange between academia and policy, with an eye to bridging the gap between research in political science and economics on the one hand and policymaking on the other. The Fellow will have established expertise in the science–policy interface and a clear commitment to developing this further. An interest in the relationship between digitalisation and impact would be welcome. 

The Research Fellow will be expected to work closely with the T4T team across a range of project-related activities. 

Tasks will include:

• Teaching different courses (up to 4 hours per semester week) in International Relations,
• Collaborating with the T4T PI and team to produce research articles and policy briefs,
• Participating in exchange with the FFO,
• Contributing to the further development of project-related transfer activities, including the development and implementation of new formats, and
• Carrying out administrative activities (15%), including, for instance, the documentation of transfer activities of the T4T project.

Mandatory qualifications:

• Outstanding doctorate in Political Science/International Relations
• Excellent academic record on related research topics
• Proven writing skills with range of target audiences
• Proven methodological proficiency (survey methods skills will be an advantage)
• English-language proficiency
• Strong administrative skills 

Desired qualifications:

• Teaching experience
• Experience in knowledge transfer activities, including social media & blogs
• Policy orientation
• German-language proficiency and other research-relevant languages 

Part-time options will be considered, if so desired by the successful candidate. Diversity and the reconciliation of work and family life are of great importance to the institute. The GIGA promotes the equality of all genders. Additionally, we actively encourage applications from persons with disabilities. 

Please fill out the GIGA application form (found at www.giga-hamburg.de/en/vacancies) and send it with your full application (Ref.-No. GIGA-23-07.) including relevant supporting documentation (motivation letter, CV, credentials/diplomas/certificates, list of publications, two work samples) as one document (except for the completed GIGA application form) to: 

German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA),

Neuer Jungfernstieg 21, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

Email: giga-calls@giga-hamburg.de (email applications are particularly welcome).  

Screening of applications will begin on 19 January 2024. Short-listed candidates will be asked to provide two letters of recommendation. 

For further information, please visit the GIGA (www.giga-hamburg.de) or contact Julia Kramer (email: julia.kramer@giga-hamburg.de).