Assistant Professorship "International Politics" (W1)

At the Department of Cultural and Social Sciences, in the Institute of Social Sciences at Osnabrück University, the following professorship (m/f/d) is to be filled at the earliest possible date within a joint appointment procedure with the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) according to the Berlin Model:

Assistant Professorship in “International Politics" (Pay grade W1)

Employment shall be in a temporary civil-service position for an initial period of three years, provided the general legal requirements for such appointments are met. Following a positive evaluation, the appointment may be extended for up to an additional three years. Under the joint appointment arrangement, 50 percent of the working time will be carried out at Osnabrück University and 50 percent at GIGA.

Areas of Responsibility:

The professorship contributes to quantitative research in International Relations and/or Comparative Politics at Osnabrück University and GIGA.

At Osnabrück University, the professorship shall also support English-language teaching in the Master’s programs of the Institute of Social Sciences with a teaching load of 3 semester hours per week—particularly in the Master’s program Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding (CSP). Participation in university committees is also expected.

At GIGA, the position holder will contribute as a Research Fellow to research activities in at least one Regional Institute and one Research Programme (Accountability and Participation, Peace and Security, Globalisation and Development, Global Orders and Foreign Policies). Furthermore, active engagement in GIGA’s knowledge-transfer activities constitutes an essential component of the role.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in GIGA’s research networks and to engage in existing interdisciplinary research activities at Osnabrück University.

Professional Requirements:

Thematically, the candidate’s research is expected to focus on central topics in International Relations and/or Comparative Politics and must be substantively compatible with at least one of the four GIGA Research Programmes as well as with the fields of Comparative Politics and/or International Relations at Osnabrück University.

Regionally, the candidate’s research is expected to concentrate on at least one region of the Global South—with particular focus on Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and/or Sub-Saharan Africa. This regional focus represents an essential qualification for the position.

Methodologically, the candidate is required to demonstrate expertise in advanced quantitative methods, for example in conducting field and survey experiments, employing natural experiments, or utilizing other approaches to causal inference.

These thematic and methodological qualifications must be documented through peer-reviewed publications or other research outputs.

Very good proficiency in English constitutes a required qualification.

A research orientation toward political attitudes, political institutions, or the transnational dynamics of conflict, cooperation, and governance would be desirable.

Experience in obtaining and conducting externally funded research projects, as well as experience in mixed-methods or interdisciplinary research collaborations, would likewise be advantageous.

In addition, teaching experience in Comparative Politics and/or International Relations (including Peace and Conflict Studies) is desirable, as are basic German language skills at the A2 CEFR level or a willingness to acquire them within a reasonable timeframe.

Legal Conditions of Employment:

Candidates need to hold a first degree in Political Science or a related discipline, have a strong commitment to teaching, and have demonstrated their ability to engage independently in advanced academic research, as a rule by obtaining an outstanding PhD (in accordance with Section 30 subsection 2 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act [NHG]) in a relevant subject.

The time between the applicant’s final PhD examination or the completion of other equivalent qualifications which qualify the applicant for the position in accordance with Section 30 para. 2 sentence 1 No. 3 Lower Saxony Higher Education Act and the applicant’s application for the assistant professorship should be no longer than four years. This period of time does not include periods caring for a child or several children under 18 years of age or periods caring for a dependent relative and increases by up to two years per child or period of care to a maximum four years in multiple cases of care (Section 30 para. 5 Lower Saxony Higher Education Act).

Osnabrück University is a family-friendly university and is committed to helping working/studying parents balance their family and working lives. Osnabrück University is actively seeking to increase the number of female Professors in its employ. Applications from women are therefore particularly welcome.

If two candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to the candidate with disability status.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Alexander De Juan, Tel. 0541-969-4366, E-Mail: [email protected].

Please submit your application in electronic form (as one pdf file) including

• Cover letter

• Academic CV (including list of publications and teaching experience)

• Research statement (current and planned projects, explicitly indicating methodological approaches)

• Teaching philosophy and experience statement

• Copies of relevant diplomas and certificates

• Contact details for two academic references

• “Bewerbungsprofil” [“Applicant Profile”] (DOCX, 16.84 kB)

Applications should be submitted to the Dean of the School of Cultural Studies and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Daniel Mertens, by May 3, 2026 to the following address: [email protected].

We look forward to receiving your application.