12.06.2024

Call for Applications: 3-Month Fellowship in the project “Adjustment and Radicalisation. Dynamics in Popular Culture(s) in Pre-War Eastern Europe”

The Leibniz-Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL, Berlin, Germany) calls for applications for a 3-month fellowship. This fellowship primarily encourages early and mid-career researchers from Eastern Europe to apply and work in the project “Adjustment and Radicalisation. Dynamics in Popular Culture(s) in Pre-War Eastern Europe”. The fellowship is expected to run for three consecutive months between October 2024 and December 2025. The fellowship is funded with 2,000 euros per month.

Popular culture in Eastern and East-Central Europe has fulfilled various functions since the 1980s. It has brought forth models of nation, society, family, home, and other collective belongings. At the same time, it fulfilled a double role: it contributed to dissident and subcultural movements while also contributing to the normalization of conservative and nationalistic discourses. The joint project “Adjustment and Radicalisation. Dynamics in Popular Culture(s) in Pre-War Eastern Europe” traces the contradictory dynamics of popular culture in the region from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective. For further information about the project, please visit: https://www.zfl-berlin.org/project/adjustment-and-radicalisation.html

The fellowship promotes ongoing projects in the research field of popular culture. Fellows can discuss these in a vibrant research environment with the opportunity to network nationally and internationally. Fellows are provided a workplace and access to the ZfL’s research library for the duration of their stay.

Requirements and tasks

  • Completed university degree in the field of literature, cultural studies, history, or a related discipline
  • A research project in the field of popular culture studies with a clear thematic connection to the project
  • Willingness to participate in the activities of the project group

The fellowship at the ZfL offers

  • Space and time to work on your research project
  • A workplace, access to the research library
  • An interdisciplinary and international research environment
  • Involvement in the research activities of the project group and the ZfL
  • Regular feedback and counselling as well as the opportunity to present your project
  • Family-friendly working conditions

The application should include the following documents

  • Cover letter with letter of motivation explaining your own interest in the project, the planned research focus during the fellowship, and the desired period of stay at the ZfL
  • Curriculum vitae, list of publications (if available)
  • Project outline (3 to 5 pages incl. short bibliography)

If you have any questions regarding the fellowship, please do not hesitate to contact us. Applications are only accepted in electronic form. Please send your application in a single PDF document to Dr. Matthias Schwartz (dynamics@zfl-berlin.org).

The application deadline is August 31, 2024.