Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Modern History

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The Horizon Europe project BLOCKADE and the Department of History at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg are looking for Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Modern History

• Bewerbungsfrist: 1. Juni 2026
• Eintrittstermin: 1. September 2026
• Arbeitsumfang: Fulltime position
• Kennziffer: 00004946

Beschreibung

The 4-year full-time (100%) postdoctoral 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 #101166983) 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 www.blockades.eu

The position

The postdoctoral researcher will focus on the work package “Atlantic Blockade and Transatlantic Strains”. The blockade aimed not only to bar critical supplies from enemies but also to isolate them from the outside world. Based on newspapers, diplomatic correspondence, the records of diaspora organisations and parliamentary debates, the work package will determine blockades’ impact on personal communication (telegraphy, mail) and mobility (travel) across the Atlantic and the bitter debate about neutral rights and British power in both world wars. It will ideally focus on the United States and at least one South American country (such as Argentina, an important trade and immigrant nation) during, among others, periods of shared neutrality (1914-1917; 1939-1941). As previous research focused mainly on the British ‘blacklisting’ of companies, the work package will offer a different, ‘bottom up’ approach to identify blockade’s disintegrative effects and the strains it placed on transatlantic (and domestic) relations in the Americas. However, the postdoctoral fellow is encouraged to develop their own approach to these questions.

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 team members will work together across locations to build a rich source base for BLOCKADE.

In Freiburg, the postdoctoral researcher will 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 

·       Publish at least two articles relating to your work package in leading peer-reviewed journals

·       Publish at least one chapter in the project’s handbook on the history of blockades and help with the coordination and editing of that handbook

·       Actively participate in the research and outreach activities of BLOCKADE

·       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.

·       Help organize BLOCKADE’s (online) research and reading seminars

·       Contribute to data collection (qualitative and quantitative primary souces) for the central database located at the University of Amsterdam

Your Profile

·       You must have completed a doctoral degree in modern history 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 postdoctoral 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

·       Publication record in international journals 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 (https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tv-l/allg)

·       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

·   a research plan (2-4 pages; Calibri, 11 font size, 1.5 line space)

·   a full academic CV

·   Up to 3 academic works – published or unpublished – as writing samples

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

·   Grade transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s-, Master’s- and PhD degrees

Please send your complete application documents – in one PDF file – to Elisabeth.piller@geschichte.uni-freiburg.deby 1 June 2026. Interviews with selected applicants will take place in the second half of June.

If you have questions, please contact Jun.-Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Piller via the above email address.

The position is limited to 31. August 2030. The salary will be determined in accordance with EVL-E13.

Bewerbung

Please send your application in English including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number 00004946, by 1. Juni 2026 at the latest. Please send your application to the following address in written or electronic form:

Historisches Seminar
Rempartstr 15
79098 Freiburg

For further information, please contact Dr. Elisabeth Marie Piller on the phone number +49 761 +49 761 203 3440 or E-Mail elisabeth.piller@geschichte.uni-freiburg.de.

General and legal remarks

Full-time positions may generally be split up into two or more part-time positions, provided that there are no formal or legal barriers. Candidates are selected in accordance with the provisions of the AGG (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – German General Equal Treatment Act).
Applicants with disabilities (Schwerbehinderte Menschen) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal qualification.
The department offering the position is liable for the content of this job posting. Textual errors do not constitute a basis for any claims or rights. The relevant human resources department has sole responsibility for all legal transactions made within the context of the selection and hiring process.
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