Binational Visiting Tandem Program in the History of Migration at GHI's Pacific Office in Berkeley

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The German Historical Institute (GHI) and the Institute of European Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (IES) are seeking applications for a Binational Visiting Fellow Tandem for postdoctoral researchers. The 24 months fellowship program contributes to the research network “Knowledge in Transit - Migrants’ Knowledge in Comparative Perspective” at the GHI's Pacific Office in Berkeley.

The GHI’s fellowship program promotes cutting-edge research in history and related disciplines and international exchange of scholars. For this purpose, the GHI and IES invite two postdoctoral scholars, one from a German and one from a North American university, to collaborate as a binational research tandem during a 24-month fellowship. The GHI's Pacific Office research programs center on histories of knowledge and migration in a broadly comparative perspective, addressing the experiences of many different migrant groups, home and transit lands, and receiving societies. Moreover, they widen the geographical focus from European history to include Latin American and Pacific histories of migrant knowledge.

The visiting tandem program is designed for postdoctoral historians with a strong interest in the history of knowledge and migration and an outstanding academic record. For applicants based in Germany, a good working knowledge of English is essential. Applicants may apply individually and be matched by the GHI or apply together with their potential tandem partner. Preference will also be given to candidates doing original research for a new book project.

The visiting fellow tandem program at the GHI's Pacific Office presents an excellent opportunity for scholars to develop their expertise by collaborating closely, to work with additional resources and to make connections with others in their fields.  The successful applicants will be in residence at the GHI's Pacific Office for a 24-month fellowship, starting in September 2024. They will be expected to conduct their research and fully participate in the academic life at the GHI's Pacific Office. Further, in collaboration with the staff at the GHI's Pacific Office, they will organize a workshop at an institution of higher education at the North American West Coast of their choice in their field of expertise. Fellows will have access to the UC Berkeley academic and social facilities (library, databases, email address, office space at the IES, etc.) and are offered the opportunity to make use of further resources in the greater Bay Area–including the Magnes Collection, the Hoover Institution Library and Archives in Stanford or the National Archives/ Pacific Region in San Bruno–while pursuing their research agendas.

A member institution of the Max Weber Foundation, the German Historical Institute Washington is a distinguished independent research institute, conducting inter- and transdisciplinary research with a transatlantic focus. The GHI's Pacific Office is located at UC Berkeley’s Institute of European Studies. It organizes a series of programs and scholarly events aimed at facilitating cooperation and dialogue among researchers in the humanities and social sciences based in North America and Germany, in Latin America and the Pacific world.

Funding will be provided for a 24-month stay at the GHI's Pacific Office/ UC Berkeley. The monthly stipend will be $5562 per month. In addition, fellowship recipients will receive reimbursement for their round-trip economy airfare. The GHI regrets that it is unable to provide accommodation for its fellows.

If you have questions concerning the fellowship, please contact Isabel Richter (richter@ghi-dc.org).

Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must have completed a PhD before the start date of the fellowship
  • Prospective fellows should be currently or recently affiliated with a North American or European research institution or university at the time of their application 
  • Applicants should be able to take leave for the duration of the program to be in residence in Berkeley, CA for the fellowship

APPLY

Apply online

To apply please fill out the online application form by January 15, 2024. Please include the following materials in your application (uploaded to the online portals as one pdf):

  1. a cover letter
  2. a CV
  3. a copy of the certificate of your most recently achieved qualification or transcripts
  4. a research project proposal (2,000 words max)
  5. a workshop proposal which includes the intended workshop theme and scope as well as the intended host institution (1,000 words max)

Please send two letters of reference to fellowships@ghi-dc.org.

While applicants may write in either English or German, we recommend that they use the language in which they are most proficient. We can accept applications in electronic form only.

Institution
Application date
Duration
24 months
Discipline
Humanities : Anthropology & Ethnology, History
Social sciences : Geography, Gender studies, Identities, gender and sexuality, Political science, Sociology