Job advertisement

Vacancy ID: 084/2026
Closing date: 2026-04-20

The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.

The Faculty of Law seeks to fill the position of a

PhD Candidate within the MSCA - Doctoral Network TESTAMENT (Testamentary practices in the periphery of the ius commune tradition: freedom and oppression (c. 1420-1620))

commencing on September 1, 2026.

We offer a full-time position (40 hours per week) for 3 years until August 31, 2029.

Research Focus:
Investigate the role of jurists and interest groups in shaping manorial regulations in Saxony during the 16th and 17th centuries, especially concerning testamentary law. The project involves archival research, studying legislative processes, and analyzing how actors influenced legal practices and testamentary freedom within late medieval and early modern law. You will conduct research in archives in Saxony and Thuringia, stay at partner universities such as KU Leuven, and engage with an international research network.

Your responsibilities:

• Conduct research on the influence of jurists and interest groups in the creation of manorial testamentary regulations (16th–17th centuries)
• Prepare and work towards a doctoral thesis on this topic
• Participate actively in the MSCA training programs, including summer/winter schools, conferences, and seminars
• Present research at at least one international conference
• Publish at least one peer-reviewed scientific article
• Collaborate with the research community at the University of Jena and other project partners
• Undertake a six-month research stay at KU Leuven
• Complete two separate two-month internships at the Thuringian State Archive in Weimar and the Saxon State Archive in Leipzig, involving documentation registration and archival research

Your profile:

• Master’s degree in Law
• Creative, ambitious, persistent, and team-oriented
• Excellent English language skills; passive German skills; Latin proficiency is an advantage
• Willing to participate in international research stays, including work in archives
• The mobility rule applies: you have not resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date - unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention

We offer:

• Full-time employment for three years
• MSCA funding includes living, mobility and, if applicable, family allowance – granting you a gross salary of €3,920 or €4,460 (including family allowance)
• Opportunities for international research stays, secondments, and participation in training events
• Engagement in digital and interdisciplinary research activities, including dissemination strategies for a broad audience.
• A Graduate Academy for doctoral candidates and postdocs.
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: University Family Office ‘JUniFamilie’ and flexible childcare (‘JUniKinder).
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities.
• 30 days of vacation per calendar year plus two days off on December 24 and 31

Additional Information:
This position is part of an interdisciplinary European research network focused on social and legal history, with research and training opportunities across multiple countries. It offers a unique chance to develop expertise in legal history, archival research, digital methods, and academic dissemination.
There are vacancies for PhD candidates at other faculties and institutions within the TESTAMENT consortium, too. Further information can be found on the TESTAMENT website: .

Application Process:
To promote gender equality in science, applications by women are especially invited. Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.
Are you eager to work with us? Then apply by April 20, 2026 using our online form. The application should include a motivation letter (detailing your master thesis topic), CV, academic transcripts, and contact details of at least two references.

For further questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Adrian Schmidt-Recla ().

For further information for applicants and the information on the collection of personal data, please refer to