Postdoctoral Researcher in Early Modern History

40 Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies
Startdate: 01.01.2024 | Working hours: 40 | Collective bargaining agreement: §48 VwGr. B1 lit. b (postdoc)
Limited until: permanent
Reference no.: 812  

The University of Vienna is hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher (up to 4 years) to join the ERC Starting Grant Project “Sustained Concerns: Administration of Mineral Resources in Central Europe, 1550-1850" (SCARCE), working at the intersection of history of science and technology, social and economic history, and environmental history. SCARCE provides a critical history of today's stakeholder conflicts by showing how contradictory principles of resource management – economic development, sustainability, and technological innovation – were forged in proto-industrial settings. It explores alternative, historical ways of provisioning for communities, making them available for current debates on environmental degradation and climate emergency.

Your position:

This is an exciting opportunity for an early career researcher to be involved in an impactful international project. One of the largest research institutions in Europe, the University of Vienna offers an excellent infrastructure for humanities research as well as many opportunities for transdisciplinary collaboration. You will join the History Department and collaborate closely with colleagues in History of Science. The project’s scientific advisory board includes leading scholars from Columbia University, the University of Cambridge, the University of London, and the University of Antwerp.

Candidates should propose a research project, based on their own interests and expertise, in response to one (or a combination of) SCARCE’s four research themes (https://scarce.univie.ac.at). Their proposal should reflect the regional focus on Central/East Central Europe (within European and global entanglements), have a plausible connection to mineral resources, and include ideas for a monograph or articles. SCARCE is an opportunity to work collaboratively on diverse and understudied archival materials and contribute to big debates through microhistorical research.

Your tasks:

Your main task is to carry out cutting-edge research and publish the results. Additional duties are

• to assist in research-related aspects of project coordination (e.g. run a seminar series)
• to present own research, and represent SCARCE, at international conferences;
• to organize one conference related to own research;
• to participate in project meetings and events.

Teaching is not required by contract, but can be arranged. The position offers the opportunity to gain experience in mentoring PhD students, if desired. “Habilitation” can be arranged (https://satzung.univie.ac.at/en/more-parts-of-the-statutes/habilitation/).

Your profile:

• Candidates must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in history or a related field.
• They must have experience in archival research, preferably for the early modern period.
• They must have written and spoken proficiency in English (at least B2) as much of the project’s communication will likely be in English.
• They must have the ability to read research literature and period sources in German or another (East) Central European language.
• Experience in collaborative work (esp. with a coordinating role) is an advantage.

We will offer resources to improve language skills during employment.

Conditions:

• You will be employed for 40 hours/week.
• The contract will start on a mutually agreed date between 1 January and 31 October 2024.
• The contract is initially limited to 24 months but will be extended to 48 months given adequate performance.
• The annual salary before taxes is 60.926,60€, according to Collective Bargaining Agreement, Group B1 (b) (https://personalwesen.univie.ac.at/en/jobs-recruiting/salary-scheme/), which amounts to ca. 40.300€ after taxes (approximation, see https://bruttonetto.arbeiterkammer.at/); previous experience may result in a higher initial salary. Taxes include payments for health care, social insurance and pension.
• The primary work place is Vienna, when not travelling for research and conferences. Working partially from home can be discussed. We are committed to a high degree of flexibility with regard to applicants' caring responsibilities.

How to apply

Please submit your application in English or German through the University of Vienna’s recruiting portal, no later than 26 October 2023. Please include a

• cover letter
• CV (incl. list of publications)
• electronic copy of up to 2 publications or unpublished work representative of your interests and approach
• research proposal (max. 1500 words, excluding bibliography)
• electronic copy of PhD diploma or official letter with estimated award date

If you like to discuss your application, please contact the project’s PI:

Sebastian Felten
sebastian.felten@univie.ac.at

The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We lay special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions among the academic and general university staff and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

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​Application deadline: 10/26/2023