Postdoc Position (m/f/d) for Cluster of Excellence "Transforming Human Rights"
Your workplace
“Protecting Migrant Rights and Democratic Rights through Law: Friends, Foes or Strangers?“, a new research project based in the Transforming Human Rights Cluster of Excellence at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), aims to examine the entanglements and disentanglements between the legal practices to protect migrant rights and democratic rights across Europe. Focussing on legal practices in Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Turkey and the UK domestically and supranationally, the project will ask whether and how real-world experiences to protect migrant rights and democratic rights though law are entangled or disentangled, for what reasons and with what consequences.

For more information about “Transforming Human Rights” see:

https://www.humanrights.fau.eu/research-chren/exc-transforming-hr/

Our benefits

• Regular promotion to the next level and increase in salary pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement for the public service of the German Länder (TV-L) or remuneration pursuant to the Bavarian Public Servants Remuneration Act (BayBesG) plus an additional annual bonus
• 30 days annual leave at five working days per week with additional free days on December 24 and 31
• Occupational pension scheme and asset accumulation savings scheme
• Excellent support during the academic qualification phase
• Family-friendly environment with childcare options, also during school holidays
• Flexible working hours
• A wide range of training courses and opportunities for professional development

Your Tasks
The postdoctoral researcher will work in close collaboration with the co-PIs of the project, Professor Dr Grażyna Baranowska (FAU) and Professor Dr Başak Çalı (University of Oxford), and will be based at the FAU.

The successful candidate will be expected to conduct independent and collaborative research at the intersection of migrant rights and democratic rights. They will:

1. contribute to the mapping legal practice communities working on migrant rights and democratic rights in the six jurisdictions
2. develop a preliminary research matrix examining how the relationship between migrant rights and democratic rights manifests across different country contexts
3. co-organize three practitioner workshops.

The role will also involve conducting expert research interviews for the project.

Your Profile
Necessary Qualifications:

• Completed PhD/doctorate (thesis must be submitted by the starting date of the contract), with a strong focus on migration and/or democracy in human rights studies
• Experience in legal practice or in working with practitioners
• Experience of publishing academic work
• The ability to work to a high academic level and publish research in English

Additional Qualifications:

• Knowledge of migrant rights/democratic rights in at least one of the country case studies (Denm ark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Turkey, UK)
• Strong knowledge of European and international standards at the intersection of migration and democracy.
• Training in or previous experience with socio-legal research methods

Supplementary description
We seek to realize equal opportunities, and encourage applications from interested individuals regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, religion, or belief. The Cluster has appointed an Equity and Diversity Steward and an Equity and Diversity Coordinator who will participate in the selection process.

Please upload your application by 18 June 2026 (cover letter, CV, list of publications, copies of certificates) to the FAU online platform and refrain from sending applications by post or email. Interviews with selected candidates will take place on 6 July 2026.

Interested applicants may contact Professor Baranowska () with questions about the role.

Application deadline

2026-06-18

Title

Postdoc Position (m/f/d) for Cluster of Excellence "Transforming Human Rights"

Job start date

2026-09-01

Payment

E13

Working time

full time

Weekly working hours

40

### Temporary Contract yes

Further general conditions

Work location

Andreij-Sacharow-Platz 1
90403 Nürnberg

Contact

Prof. Dr. Grazyna Baranowska
Tel.: +49 9131 8526840
Mobil:
grazyna.baranowska@fau.de

Please apply via our online platform instead of sending applications by post or e-mail. Applications sent to us by post will not be returned.

With regard to the personal data collected during the application process, please refer to our information pursuant to Art. 13 and 14 of the General Data Protection Regulations at .

FAU is a modern, cosmopolitan and family-friendly employer. We welcome your application irrespective of your age, gender, cultural and social background, religion, ideological beliefs, disability or sexual identity. Applicants with a disability or who are considered to be equivalent to people with a disability will be given preference provided their aptitude, performance and capability are essentially the same. We are happy to offer part-time positions, provided a job-sharing arrangement means that the tasks in the area are fully covered.

If you wish, you may invite a person responsible for ensuring equal rights to accompany you to the job interview without incurring any disadvantages.