MPIWG short-term fellowships

The Department “Knowledge Systems and Collective Life,” led by Prof. Dr. Etienne Benson at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG), is offering

short-term fellowships and research stays

for scholars working on the politics and practices of data

starting February 1, 2027, or later.

The MPIWG is a research institute of the Max Planck Society located in Berlin. The Department “Knowledge Systems and Collective Life” is one of its current two departments. Researchers in Dept. KSCL use historical and ethnographic methods to study the relationship between knowledge systems and forms of collective life in the past and present. We seek to foreground neglected histories, trace cross-cultural connections, engage with diverse publics, expand the boundaries of the political, challenge conventional definitions of science and technology, critically reflect on our own political and ethical commitments, and experiment with new methods and media.

We are particularly interested in hosting fellows who work on the history of quantification, statistics, and data from the early modern period to the present in connection with the departmental research theme “Politics and Practices of Data.” Relevant topics include but are not limited to: historical or ethnographic analysis of the relation between state and/or popular politics and data; the role of quantification in the production of scientific knowledge and scientific communities; and the material foundations and politics around data practices (labor, resources etc.).

Fellowships include a stipend as part of the Institute’s Fellowship Program (https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/news-events/career/fellowship-program). Research stays are self-funded (https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/news-events/career/research-stays). Your stay must fall within the windows of either February 2027 to June 2027 or September 2027 to January 2028.

Please visit the program website to find out more about the types of fellowships (Predoctoral, Postdoctoral, Research, and Senior Research fellowships) and research stays, the conditions, and the application procedure. Please note that scholars whose main place of residence is Germany are not eligible for a stipend but can still apply for a research stay.

Your application:

Please submit your application with complete documents (as stated on the program’s website), through the specific application portal for this call:

https://recruitment.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/position/35815425

Applications must be received by September 15, 2026 (23:59 CEST). Please note that we can only accept electronic applications submitted through the portal.

Inquiries

For any questions about the fellowship or the application process, please contact the department’s research coordinator Dr. Kerstin Hinrichsen (khinrichsen@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de).

Address

Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany