The Research Cluster “ConTrust: Trust in Conflict – Political Life under Conditions of Uncertainty” based at Goethe University Frankfurt is offering 8 positions as

post-doctoral researcher (m/f/d)
(E 13 TV-G-U)

with a duration of three years starting as soon as possible. The salary grade is based on the job characteristics of the collective agreement applicable to Goethe University (TV-G-U).

ConTrust is dedicated to the study of the political and social dynamics of trust and conflict in times of uncertainty. It is an interdisciplinary research initiative, funded by the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts, connecting empirical and normative research. Our approach is based on the idea that trust is not opposed to conflict but rather is formed and sustained within and through conflict – under certain conditions to be researched.

The research initiative consists of five interdisciplinary working groups - 1. Democracy, 2. Coercion and Sanctions, 3. Markets, 4. Knowledge, 5. Media - each of which analyzes a politically and socially relevant context of trust and conflict in times of uncertainty and develops its own work program. The directors of the program, located at the Normative Orders Research Centre of Goethe University Frankfurt, are Prof. Nicole Deitelhoff and Prof. Rainer Forst. For more information about the initiative and the working groups as well as participating principal investigators, see: https://contrust.uni-frankfurt.de/

We are seeking outstanding and highly qualified international postdoctoral researchers to strengthen the interdisciplinary research initiative. Five positions are located within the research groups, three positions are intended to link and deepen the research context across the groups. All postdocs are expected to contribute to the success and organization of the overall programme. All applicants should have a strong interest in interdisciplinary work.

We offer positions with the following research and disciplinary focus:

1. Working Group 1: Dynamics of trust and mistrust in conflicts within democratic contexts, including institutional settings and social processes (focus on social sciences, law and humanities)
2. Working Group 2: Coercion and trust in the algorithmic surveillance society, with a possible emphasis on its global or transnational aspects (focus on social sciences, law and humanities)
3. Working Group 3: Relationship of conflict and trust in different areas related to the economy (focus on empirical social sciences / quantitative methods; experience with the analysis of large data sets required)
4. Working Group 4: Epistemic trust, trust and knowledge (focus on epistemology, sociology of knowledge, history of science esp.)
5. Working Group 5: Mediated Trust and Formats of Conflict (with a focus on media studies and cultural studies combined with legal perspectives).
   
   General positions:
   
6. political trust (focus on political theory with reference to empirical research)
7. trust in transnational conflicts (focus in peace and conflict studies with reference to social movements and protest)
8. trust and uncertainty (interdisciplinary focus)

Prerequisites for a successful application for one of the postdoc positions are an outstanding dissertation, proven potential to produce outstanding research and the outline of a relevant research project on the stated topic areas and issues. In your application, please indicate the position (number) to which your application relates. The following documents are required for an application (in one PDF document):

• Curriculum Vitae
• relevant certificates
• list of publications
• two letters of recommendation
• a three-page outline of the research project to be worked on with an indication how the agenda can be extended after the initial three years, ideally with funding through programs such as ERC or Emmy Noether grants

Goethe University supports equal rights for women and strongly encourages all female candidates to apply. Applications from severely disabled candidates given similar qualification will have priority. Goethe University is certified as “family-friendly university”. Employees will be supported in their efforts to combine their professional life with family duties, re-entry after parental leave will be facilitated.

Please send your application (in electronic form) to the office of the Research Centre Normative Orders, attn: Ms. Rebecca Schmidt, Max-Horkheimer-Strasse 2, 60629 Frankfurt am Main, office@normativeorders.net till 8th June 2021.