Memberships “Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research” (YAC)
The Freiburg Postdoctoral Academy (FPA) invites early career researchers from various disciplines to apply for 10 memberships in the newly launched Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research (YAC). The programme, running from October 2025 to 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 10 Memberships “Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research” (YAC)
Topic: The Good Life – What Makes a Good Society
Duration: October 2025 – September 2028
Application Deadline: 15 April 2025, 12:00
The University of Freiburg (UFR) is one of Germany’s oldest universities and one of its leading research and teaching institutions (with approx. 25,000 students from more than 100 nations). It offers a broad spectrum of disciplines, structured in three key research areas: Cultures and Societies in Space and Time, Pathways to Sustainability, and Signals of Life. The Freiburg Postdoctoral Academy (FPA) is a newly established structure at the University of Freiburg. Located at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Research (FRIAS), 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), entered its second phase in 2024. It is funded by the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation and was established in 2021. The second pillar is now being launched at FRIAS, the Young Academy for Cultures and Societies Research (YAC), which represents the key research area Cultures and Societies in Space and Time. The YAC is directed at distinguished postdoctoral researchers (5 international researchers and 5 researchers from Freiburg) 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. The call is subject to budget approval.
Research Fields
The call is open to applications by early career researchers from various disciplines (especially cultural studies, humanities, law, theologies, and social sciences) and cultural backgrounds interested in the topic:
- 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
- 2 to 6 years of post-doctoral experience
- Interest in and commitment to interdisciplinary research
- Outstanding academic track record
Benefits
- Peer-mentoring and network-building with other like-minded researchers
- Participating 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.)
- Travel and accommodation costs for quarterly meetings in Freiburg
- Opportunity to become a guest researcher at FRIAS for up to 2 months (incl. travel and accommodation costs)
Application
The application deadline is 15 April 2025, 12:00.
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 able to participate in this interdisciplinary research community
(b) how your research relates to the topic The Good Life – What Makes a Good Society?
(c) how your research will benefit from the membership
(d) your personal research orientation in the near future
(e) possible thematic links with researchers from the UFR’s key research area: “Cultures and Societies in Space and Time”
- 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 biases. We are committed to creating family-friendly working conditions.
Timeline
Suitable applicants will be invited to online interviews that will take placeon 26 June 2025.
Decisions will be communicated in early July 2025.
The first YAC meeting is scheduled in Freiburg for 8-10 October 2025.
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.
If you decide to send us an application, we will process your application data in order to contact you or to be able to assess whether you have the suitability, aptitude, and professional capability for the advertised membership for which you are applying.
The provision of personal data is necessary for the lawfulness of the application and selection process. We can only assess your suitability for membership if we receive your information and personal data on your qualifications. The absence of relevant personal data in the application documents may result in the application not being considered for the award of a membership.
Contact
For further details please contact
