Research Associate (Postdoc) with a Focus on Violence and Security in the Anthropocene § 28 Subsection 2 HmbHG

Institution: Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Earth System Sciences

Salary level: EGR. 13 TV-L

Start date: 01.01.2027, fixed for a period of three years (This is a fixed-term contract in accordance with Section 2 of the academic fixed-term labor contract act [Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG]).The contract provides for a maximum extension of up to three years depending on the associate’s achievements during the first stage. Providing that a position is available and that requirements have been fulfilled, the associate may apply for temporary civil servant status in accordance with Section 28 subsection 2 HmbHG.

Application deadline: 2026-11-16

Scope of work: full-time position suitable for part-time

Your responsibilities

Duties include teaching and research in the respective department or institute. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications as well as acquire teaching experience. These duties are intended to promote academic achievement. Therefore, at least one-third of set working hours will be made available for the associate’s own academic work.

The position is associated with and supervised under Prof. Dr. Eray Çaylı’s professorship in Human Geography with a Focus on Violence and Security in the Anthropocene. While both the professorship and this post are interdisciplinary, they both have a number of empirical and methodological foci that are prioritized and that include the following: Spatial politics; Qualitative methods; Racialized, classed and/or gendered underpinnings and consequences of climate change and environmental disasters with a view towards social justice; geographies afflicted by colonially grounded nation-state borders and policies such as Bengal, Armenia, Macedonia, Kurdistan, and their diasporas. The postdoc is expected to plan, develop and conduct research projects with these foci in mind, as well as disseminating findings from their recent and ongoing research projects (through publications and conference attendance). Application for funding to undertake independent projects, possibly in collaboration with other universities or partners, will be supported. Besides independent research, the position involves 4 LVS ("semester hours") of teaching per week in English and as part of the university’s Geography curriculum. The position benefits from relevant research clusters and initiatives at the university, with which Prof Çaylı is affiliated, including the Cluster of Excellence “Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS), the Research Unit “The Promise of Security in Catastrophic Times,” and the profile initiative “Violence and Security.” In addition to work undertaken in these institutional context, current research interests of the professorship include the politics of emergency in the context of climate change and the political geology of earthquakes as a question of systemic injustices and the struggles for justice they are met with. Where relevant, the postdoc will be expected to contribute to the organization of academic and/or public-facing events, such as lecture series, symposia, and conferences.

Your profile

A university degree in a relevant field, plus doctorate.

An excellent university degree and an excellent PhD in a relevant subject are required. Application materials also include a publication sample and cover letter including paragraphs outlining potential understanding of and contribution to the research foci of the working group as mentioned in this call. Three reference letters will be required upon being shortlisted for the interview. As the post is interdisciplinary, the range of relevant subjects is considerably wide (it includes but is not limited to geography, anthropology, sociology, urban studies, architecture, urban planning, cultural studies, political science, international relations, and history, for example). The essential requirement here, which runs across disciplinary boundaries, is a keen interest in and marked focus on spatial politics, qualitative methods, and socio-environmental justice. Further requirements are as follows:

• experience in university teaching (preferably at both Bachelor and Master level) and in organizing academic and/or public-facing events
• experience in disseminating research findings through both published work and conference attendance
• experience in fieldwork especially with grassroots organizations or with communities inhabiting contexts relevant to the abovementioned research foci (specifically, experience or a keen interest in community science/participatory science/civic science/citizen science in ways that bridge the natural sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences is a significant plus
• general IT skills and basic proficiency in popular software used for university education and for disseminating research (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, etc.)
• a strong commitment and willingness to work independently
• proficiency in English (both verbal and written)

In addition to the above, working knowledge of one or more of the following languages is highly desirable: Kurdish (especially Kurmanji), Armenian, Greek, Macedonian, Hindi, Arabic, and Northeastern Neo-Aramaic.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Eray Çaylı.

We offer

Reliable remuneration based on wage agreements

Continuing education opportunities

University pensions

Attractive location

Flexible working hours

Work-life balance opportunities

Health management, EGYM Wellpass

Educational leave

30 days of vacation per annum

Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence is one of the strongest research educational institutions in Germany. Our work in research, teaching, educational and knowledge exchange activities is fostering the next generation of responsible global citizens ready to tackle the global challenges facing us. Our guiding principle “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future in a digital age” drives collaboration with academic and nonacademic partner institutions in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and around the world. We would like to invite you to be part of our community to work with us in creating sustainable and digital change for a dynamic and pluralist society.

The University of Hamburg is committed to equity. Diversity enriches our university life, whether in our studies, research, teaching, education, or workplace. We therefore welcome all applications, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic or social background, age, religion or belief, disability, or chronic illness.

The University of Hamburg strives to increase the number of women in academia, and encourages qualified female academics to apply. Severely disabled and disabled applicants with the same status will receive preference over equally qualified non-disabled applicants.

Notice regarding the background check under Section 34a of the Hamburg security clearance act (Gesetz zur Regelung der Sicherheitsüberprüfungen, HmbSÜG): On behalf of the person chosen in the selection procedure, this office submits an inquiry to the state office for the protection of the constitution (Landesamt für Verfassungsschutz) regarding any available findings/information which meet the statutory requirements ( and ).

Instructions for applying

Contact

Prof. Dr. Eray Çaylı

Anna Wagner

Location

Bundesstraße 57
20146 Hamburg

Reference number

270

Application deadline

2026-11-16

Use only the online application form to submit your application until 16.11.2026, 11:59 PM CEST with the following documents:

• cover letter (two pages, a quarter of which should be dedicated to how the applicant understands and proposes to contribute to the research framework outlined above)
• CV (no more than five pages)
• copies of degree certificate(s)
• publication sample

If you experience technical problems, send an email to .

More information on in selection procedures.