Doctoral Researcher Positions

• Wann 15.09.2025 to 17.10.2025 (Europe/Berlin / UTC
  200)

Research Training Group 3064 “Technologies of Witnessing:
Media and Cultural Practices” at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

The Research Training Group (RTG) examines technologies of witnessing in contemporary media cultures and explores how practices of witnessing change culturally and historically. Phenomena such as online witness videos, postcolonial image archives, and testimonials in art and theater indicate that technical and media prerequisites, aesthetic arrangements, cultural contexts, and epistemic and ethical issues have changed significantly and require new research perspectives.

In contrast to narrow anthropocentric and Eurocentric frameworks, the focus is now on technologies of witnessing from praxeological and regionally decentered perspectives. The RTG understands witnessing relationally:
It considers personal acts, but also testimonies of non-human entities as constitutively connected with technical apparatuses, arrangements, infrastructures, environments, and cultural and historical contexts. In doing so, the project follows a broad understanding of technology that includes cultural and embodied aspects as well as machines and dispositifs.

The RTG explores technologies of witnessing in three working areas dedicated to
1) the formations and constellations of knowledge,
2) processes and arrangements, and
3) human-machine relations.

The RTG involves the disciplines of art history, cultural studies/European ethnology, film studies, media culture studies, social and cultural anthropology, and theater studies.

The structured research and qualification program provides doctoral researchers with both guidance and individual freedoms to pursue their own project. They benefit from interdisciplinary and collaborative study and research opportunities, alongside dedicated mentoring and career development support. Regular exchange with international visiting scholars (Mercator Fellows), opportunities for research trips, and the chance to build and deepen international networks foster global academic engagement.

Additionally, the position offers opportunities for independent teaching and active participation in the RTG board.

• Independent research with the aim of obtaining a doctorate in (at least) one of the participating disciplines within the four-year funding period (mandatory first supervision by a member of the RTG)
• Continuous, active participation in the RTG qualification program
• Participation in relevant disciplinary and interdisciplinary events

Your profile:

In addition to the general requirements according to public services law, applicants must meet the recruitment requirements stipulated in § 57 of the Hochschulgesetz of Rhineland-Palatinate.

• A successfully completed university degree (M.A. or equivalent) in one of the participating disciplines (see above)
• Interdisciplinary interest, intercultural competences, and theoretical abstraction skills
• Very good knowledge of English (fluent)
• Knowledge of German and other languagesif required for the doctoral project

The position is paid according to EG 13 TV-L and to be filled by April 1, 2026. The position is temporary for a fixed term until March 31, 2030.

The position serves the purpose of academic qualification (doctorate).

JGU is diverse and welcomes qualified applications from people with varied backgrounds.

We aim to increase the number of women in the field of research and teaching and therefore encourage female researchers to apply.

People with severe disabilities and people with disabilities who are treated equally in accordance with Section 2 (3) SGB IX will be given preferential consideration if they are suitable.

Are you ready for a new challenge and interested in this varied and responsible position? Then submit your complete applicationby October 17, 2025, via the "Apply now " button:

• Cover letter/letter of motivation
• Copies of degree certificates (university entrance qualification, MA, Staatsexamen or equivalent international degrees with German recognition, if applicable, until the start of the project on 01/04/26)
• Project outline (independent, innovative and feasible project…