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Faculty of East Asian Studies :
Department of Korean Languages and Culture
In order to fill a fixed-term position in full-time (39.83 hours/week = 100%) by October 1, 2026, we are looking for a
Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/x) (TV-L E13, 100%) in the CRC project C03 „Speaking of Life to/about the Dead: Character and Subject Constitution in Korean Mourning Ritual Texts of the 16th-18th Centuries“
The Collaborative Research Centre “Historical and Transcultural Narratology” (TRR 427), funded by the German Research Foundation, examines pre-modern (ancient, medieval, early modern) narratives from different cultural contexts with the aim of systematically and comparatively investigating the dynamics and functions of narratives in past contexts. The project, consisting of 19 PIs from 16 different disciplines, is based at the universities of Bochum, Bonn, and Freiburg. Subject to project approval.
Subproject C03 »Speaking of Life to/about the Dead« (PI: Prof. Dr. Marion Eggert) engages with narrativity as an essential but often overlooked part of premodern Korean funerary orations (chemun), i.e. texts addressing the dead and read out during mourning rituals. Analysis centers around two interrelated sets of questions: one concerning configuration of character and subject constitution; the other concerning the narrative procedures employed, such as fragmentation, lyricisation, and dialogue. The results will be tested against other contemporaneous biographical genres, aiming at a preliminary model of premodern Korean techniques of narrating lives. The subproject is methodologically based on historical philology and text hermeneutics, but will strive to include DH tools including AI. The successful candidate (m/f/x) will cooperate with the PI and with other members of the CRC to accomplish the subproject’s research objectives and produce the expected publication output.
Scope: full-time
Duration: fixed-term, June 30, 2030
Start: by October 1, 2026
Apply by: 2026-07-13
Your tasks:
- Writing a monograph or a series of prominently published articles in German or (preferably) English on narrative techniques in pre-modern Korean genres of life narration
- Exploring the potentials of DH/AI tools for facilitating the subproject’s research
- Contributing entries to the Digital Handbook of Transcultural Narratology
- Co-authoring at least one scholarly article in English together with one or more other members of the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio (CRC/TRR)
- Participating in working groups, workshops, and symposia conducted within the framework of the CRC/TRR
Your profile:
- Completed doctoral degree in Korean Studies or an adjacent field
- Proficiency in the Korean language
- Very good reading abilities in pre-modern Korean languages, particularly hanmun
- Sound knowledge of the history and literature of Chosŏn era Korea
- Proficiency in written and spoken English; command of German will be of advantage
- Familiarity with the methods of philological research and text interpretation; willingness to engage with and acquire expertise in digital methods of analysis
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team; flexibility, reliability, and a high level of commitment
- Since the position is funded exclusively by external third-party funding sources (DFG), there are no teaching obligations associated with the position
We offer:
- Integration into an innovative and internationally oriented Collaborative Research Center with targeted funding opportunities
- A collaborative, team-oriented working environment within an academically outstanding, dedicated, international, and supportive research team
- A wide range of support services as well as opportunities for individual initiative and professional development across the three participating universities
- Support in balancing family responsibilities and professional commitments
- Flexible working hours
Further information:
The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E13 TV-L.
Further information can be found at (in German).
The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum.
If the position is funded by third-party funds the employee has no teaching obligation.
Application materials: • Cover letter • CV • Academic transcripts and degree certificates • A writing sample (e.g. dissertation chapter, published or submitted article, etc.)
RUB sees itself as a university with an international presence. The campus languages are German and English. Competence in at least one of the two languages and the willingness to learn the other are a prerequisite. RUB provides corresponding free courses for employees.
German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZFA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF). https://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sbgk/index.html.en
The Staff Council has the right to participate in all selection interviews. At the request of a candidate (m/f/x), it will ensure its participation in the entire procedure. Please contact wpr@rub.de.
The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of Germany’s leading research universities, addressing the whole range of academic disciplines. A highly dynamic setting enables researchers and students to work across the traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. To create knowledge networks within and beyond the university is Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s declared aim.
The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.
Contact persons for further information:
Christian Hebenbrock , Tel.: +49 234 32 21399
Scarlett Leonow , Tel.: +49 234 32 26189
Travel costs, accommodation costs and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews can unfortunately not be reimbursed.
We look forward to receiving your application via our online application portal by 2026-07-13. Please make sure to mention the reference number ANR 5810.
RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
44801 Bochum
Universitätsstraße 150
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