The Cluster of Excellence “Transforming Human Rights”, based at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), addresses fundamental questions about the potential and limits of human rights in the context of several major worldwide transformation processes. The Cluster’s Postdoc program is unique both in content and scope providing an exceptional environment to unite outstanding talents and to prepare them for human rights careers in academia and praxis. For more information, see: https://www.humanrights.fau.de/research/exc-transforming-hr/ .

Within an intellectually stimulating, highly collaborative and international team environment, the postdocs will conduct independent as well as collaborative, conceptually and empirically ambitious research on human rights that aligns with the Cluster’s overall research agenda. The Cluster examines the transformation of human rights norms, institutions, and practices in the context of five megatrends: autocratization, planetary environmental crises, migration, fragmented economic globalization, and digitalization.

• Regular promotion to the next level and increase in salary pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement for the public service of the German Länder (TV-L) or remuneration pursuant to the Bavarian Public Servants Remuneration Act (BayBesG) plus an additional annual bonus
• 30 days annual leave at five working days per week with additional free days on December 24 and 31
• Occupational pension scheme and asset accumulation savings scheme

Successful candidates are expected to conduct independent and collaborative research on the transformation of human rights, norms, institutions, and/or practices, preferably related to at least one of the five megatrends. Research that bridges two of these megatrends are particularly welcome. Each Postdoc project is going to be accompanied by an individual Postdoc Advisory Committee that offers both academic mentoring and an opt-in/opt-out structure for tailor-made skills development. The Postdocs will receive their own research budget and will have opportunities to visit the Cluster’s international partner institutions or human rights organizations for extended stays. The Cluster will actively support the Postdocs’ further academic development and career progression within its early career support schemes both within the Cluster and the broader environment at FAU.

- Completed PhD/doctorate (thesis must be submitted by the starting date of the contract), with a strong focus on human rights research (interdisciplinary research experience is an asset)

- University degree (or equivalent) with excellent results (in disciplines, e.g. law, political science, philosophy, anthropology, human geography, management studies, history or computer sciences)

- Initial experience in publishing academic work

- Fluency in English; additional languages are an asset

We seek to realize equal opportunities, and encourage applications from interested individuals regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, religion, or belief. The Cluster has appointed an Equity and Diversity Steward and an Equity and Diversity Coordinator who will participate in the selection process.

Please submit your application documents as a single PDF (cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of certificates) plus a project proposal (five pages) on the planned research project via the FAU online application platform (please refrain from sending applications by post or email). The application deadline is 05.01.2026 and interviews will take place in early February 2026.

For further questions about this position, you can contact the Cluster’s Executive Director Dr. Robert Fischer (robert.fischer@fau.de).