The Faculty of Sociology has the following job opening: 
Employment is conducive to scientific qualification.
Research Position in the working group “International Relations and Political Economy”
ID: Wiss25434
- starting: 01.02.2026
- Vollzeit
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet (mit Verlängerungsoption)
We are looking for an engaged and socially aware social scientist with a PhD or very close to completion who wants to build their place in the German academic environment. At our new Working Group for International Relations and Political Economy we will address the multiple crises of climate change, war and genocide, growing inequality and racism. We will also focus on geopolitics and geoeconomics, money and finance, conflicts over raw material supplies, the rise of the Global South, and the attempts of the so-called West to maintain its increasingly precarious global dominance. In the coming years, we will focus in particular on the way in which we in Germany and the EU are restructuring our societies and shaping our relations with the world.
Your Tasks
- scientific research tasks: Independent research in the fields of geopolitics and geoeconomics, climate crisis, socio-ecological transformation, intersectional analysis of power relations, North-South relations, post- and decolonial theory, theories of dependency and imperialism, participation in and conception of own third-party funding applications, and assistance in organising workshops and conferences (approx. 65 %)
- teaching duties to the extent of 4 teaching hours (LVS): Courses in the fields of International Relations and political economy (e. g. on topics such as geopolitics and geoeconomics, the climate crisis, socio-ecological transformation, intersectional analysis of power relations, North-South relations, post- and decolonial theory, dependency and imperialism theory), including advising students and conducting examinations (approx. 25 %)
- organisational and administrative tasks, committee work, participation in academic governance (approx. 10 %)
Employment is conducive to scientific qualification.
We offer
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet (mit Verlängerungsoption) (3 years) (§ 2 (1) of the WissZeitVG ; in accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases)
- Vollzeit
- internal and external training opportunities
- variety of health, consulting and prevention services
- reconcilability of family and work
- flexible working hours
- 30 days holiday
- good transport connection
- supplementary company pension
- collegial working environment
- open and pleasant working atmosphere
- exciting, varied tasks
- modern work environment with digital processes
- various offers (canteen, cafeteria, restaurants, Uni-Shop, ATM, etc.)
Your Profile
We expect
- completed relevant scientific academic degree (e. g. diploma or master's) in political science, sociology, social sciences or a related subject·
- completed or nearly completed doctorate in political science, sociology, plural economics or a related subject·
- teaching experience in the field of international relations and/or political economy·
- ability to design and carry out your own research projects and prepare third-party funding applications
- experience with qualitative social research and working with macroeconomic data and databases·
- independent, responsible and committed approach to work
- ability to work in a team and strong organisational and coordination skills, e. g. in organising academic events such as lecture series or workshops.
- ability to write, present and publish academic papers in English
Preferred experience and skills
- knowledge of critical political economy, heterodox economics, or global social theory
- openness to intersectional thinking
- skills in qualitative empirical research and/or experience with data work
- research and/or language expertise related to one of the three continents: Latin America, Africa, or Asia
- interest in communicating research findings to a broader public audience
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to receiving your application. To apply, please preferably use our online form via the application button below.
application deadline: 04.12.2025
Contact
Prof. Dr. Kai Koddenbrock
+49 521 106-67048
kai.koddenbrock@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Fakultät für Soziologie
Prof. Dr. Kai Koddenbrock
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Prof. Dr. Kai Koddenbrock
+49 521 106-67048
kai.koddenbrock@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Fakultät für Soziologie
Prof. Dr. Kai Koddenbrock
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements as an equal-opportunity employer and has been
recognized as a family-friendly university. The university welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard
both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in information technology as well as the skilled crafts and trades.
Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state statutes on equal opportunity. Applications from suitably qualified
handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.
At Bielefeld University on request positions can be carried out with reduced working hours as long as this does not conflict with official needs.
