Memberships “Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research” (YAC)
he Freiburg Postdoctoral Academy (FPA) invites early career researchers from various disciplines to apply for 1 membership in the Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research (YAC). The programme, running until September 2028, focuses on the topic “The Good Life – What Makes a Good Society” and offers individual and group research budgets, networking opportunities, and project support. Eligible applicants should have 2 to 6 years of post-doctoral experience, a strong interest in and commitment to interdisciplinary research, and an outstanding academic track record.
FRIAS is funding:
1 Membership “Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research” (YAC)
Topic: The Good Life – What Makes a Good Society
Duration: October 2026 – September 2028
Application Deadline: 19 July 2026
The Freiburg Postdoctoral Academy (FPA) is a newly established structure at the University of Freiburg. Located at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Research (FRIAS) and related to the University’s Key Research Areas, the FPA aims to bring exceptional young scientists from Freiburg and the world together in order to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue, research cooperation, and to promote career opportunities.
The FPA’s first pillar, the Young Academy for Sustainability Research (YAS) was established in 2021. The second pillar, the Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research (YAC), which represents the key research area Languages of Knowledge started in October 2025 with 4 members from Freiburg and 6 external members. The YAC is directed at distinguished postdoctoral researchers and offers individual and group budgets, peer mentoring, and project support. It aims to provide an institutional structure to foster interdisciplinary cooperation, creative freedom, and international networks.
Research Fields
The call is open to applications by early career researchers working at the University of Freiburg, from various disciplines (especially cultural studies, humanities, law, theologies, and social sciences) and cultural backgrounds interested in the topic:
The Good Life – What Makes a Good Society
focusing, for example, on the following themes:
- Narratives shaping the past, present, or future
- Ethics, morals, and norms
- Individual aspirations and collective expectations
- Different concepts of society: utopias and dystopias
- Political and legal structures under pressure: resilience and regression of democracies
- Institutions, networks, and communities: social practices and dynamics
- Transformations of infrastructure and public security
- Uncertainty in times of peace and war
- Privileges and prosperity: intergenerational justice
- Whose lives? Human and non-human beings
Eligibility Criteria
- Postdoctoral Researcher with a permanent or non-permanent position at the University of Freiburg
- 2 to 6 years of postdoctoral experience
- Interest in and commitment to interdisciplinary research
- Outstanding academic track record
Benefits
- Peer-mentoring and network-building with other like-minded researchers
- Participation in a vibrant international and interdisciplinary research community
- €3,000 individual research budget
- €100,000 group budget for joint projects with other YAC members (workshops, publications, field trips, outreach activities, etc.)
Application
The application deadline is July 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
Applicants are requested to submit their application in English in one single PDF file. It should include the following:
- Motivation letter (max. 3 pages) outlining:
- your expectations should you become a YAC Member
- how your research relates to the topic The Good Life – What Makes a Good
Society? - how your research will benefit from the membership
- CV (max. 3 pages)
- List of publications (max. 10)
The number of pages and publications mentioned above should not be exceeded.
Please email your application to Dr. Karolin Viseneber (karolin.viseneber@frias.uni-freiburg.de) with the reference “YAC Membership”.
We are very keen to build a diverse and interdisciplinary team. We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion or worldview, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, academic home background, or any other bias. We arecommitted to creating family-friendly working conditions.
Timeline
Suitable applicants will be invited to online interviews that will take place on July 29, 2026.
Decisions will be communicated in early August 2026.
The next YAC meeting is scheduled in Freiburg for October 7-9, 2026.
Further information
More information on FRIAS is available via: https://uni-freiburg.de/frias/about-frias/.
Further information on the FPA is available at: https://uni-freiburg.de/frias/research/freiburg-postdoctoral-academy/.
For further details about the YAC, please get in touch with the coordinator of the YAC, Dr. Karolin Viseneber: karolin.viseneber@frias.uni-freiburg.de
Data protection
The University of Freiburg takes the protection of your personal data very seriously. We process your data in line with statutory provisions. Please take note of the data protection information in accordance with Art. 13 EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU-GDPR) as part of the application at the University of Freiburg:
Contact
For further details please contact
karolin.viseneber@frias.uni-freiburg.de
