Postdoctoral researcher in the ERC project 'Racial Socialism'

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) is one of the largest universities in Germany. Thanks to its location in the Rhine-Main science region, the university can unfold to its full potential and showcase its innovative power and dynamism. Its status as a comprehensive university allows for multidisciplinary learning and teaching and has great potential for internationally renowned, interdisciplinary research. Almost all of its institutes are located on a single campus close to the Mainz city center – creating a lively academic culture for researchers, teaching staff, and students from every continent.

The position is offered within the framework of the research project “Racial Socialism: Racialization and Value in Socialist Red Cross Societies”, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), as a part of the Consolidator Grant (ID: 101231162) led by Čarna Brković. “Racial Socialism” examines humanitarian work in socialist countries to generate new perspectives on racialization. Racialization is the process of constructing certain groups as fundamentally distinct from one another based on allegedly essential biological differences. The role that racialization has played in the historical emergence of capitalism is well understood, as the extraction of socio-economic value has often been justified by the framing of populations as ontologically different along racialized lines. Yet, historical sources also show that people in socialist societies were racialized, too, but little theoretical work has been done to clarify this apparent contradiction.

The project studies national Red Cross societies in three socialist countries – the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, the German Democratic Republic, and the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. By combining detailed historical research on socialist humanitarian organizations with anthropological theories of value and racialization, the project will develop new theoretical framework to understand the ways that racialization was deployed in socialist societies.

The key objectives of Racial Socialism are to:

1. undertake original empirical research on whether different groups were racialized in socialist Red Cross societies and, if so, how;
2. in the selected socialist countries, identify different registers and struggles over value, including political, economic, social, and cultural value, and their modes of hierarchical integration;
3. theorize racialization in socialism, which has typically been understood as part of capitalist social formations.

We are seeking a motivated researcher to conduct a case study on the Red Cross Society in the People’s Republic of Bulgaria.

Your tasks:

• participation in the scientific research project “Racial Socialism”
• development of a postdoctoral research project under the theoretical framework of “Racial Socialism”
• conducting independent empirical research on the Red Cross of Bulgaria (1945-1990), including archival research, oral histories, coding
• participation in team activities and group analysis
• publishing research results in project publications as well as independently
• participation in project-related conference activities
• other project-related tasks set by the project leader

Your profile:

Required:

• A successfully completed university degree (MA) in ethnology, anthropology, folklore or a related discipline
• A doctorate in Ethnology, Anthropology, Folklore, or a related discipline
• Knowledge of Bulgarian (at least B2)
• Knowledge of English (at least B2)

Desired:

• Knowledge of German
• Familiarity with the anthropology of value, and/or historical anthropology of socialism
• Experience with archival and/or field research in Bulgaria
• Academic publications in high-profile peer-reviewed international journals

Our benefits:

• A wide range of offers for the development of your talents and perspectives
• Secure and transparent remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement of the federal states as well as additional benefits such as an annual special payment and company pension scheme
• Flexible working hours, 30 days' vacation and fair rules for balancing work and family life
• Homeoffice - proportionate opportunity for mobile working
• Together, we are advancing science and society on this lively and dynamic campus
• We believe in success through a motivating and appreciative culture, equal opportunities and diversity. That is why we promote open exchange, respectful interaction and competent leadership.
• Collaboration in a dynamic international team with diverse, varied and responsible tasks
• Strong support for your own academic career
• Participative and open working culture
• Close to Mainz Central Station and therefore easily accessible
• Modern work laptop – for flexible and efficient working
• extensive creative opportunities in a dynamic and team-oriented work environment

In addition to the general requirements according to public services law, applicants must meet the recruitment requirements stipulated in § 57 of the Hochschulgesetz of Rhineland-Palatinate.

The position is paid according to EG 13 TV-L and to be filled by 11/1/2026. The position is limited to a period of three years, with the possibility of extension. 

The position serves the purpose of academic qualification (habilitation).

JGU is diverse and welcomes qualified applications from people with varied backgrounds.

We aim to increase the number of women in the field of research and teaching and therefore encourage female researchers to apply.

People with severe disabilities and people with disabilities who are treated equally in accordance with Section 2 (3) SGB IX will be given preferential consideration if they are suitable.

Are you ready for a new challenge and interested in this varied and responsible position? Then submit your complete application by 6/11/2026, via the „Apply now“ button. 

The application must include:

• CV, including contact details of three referees
• Cover letter (2 pages)
• Research statement outlining interest in and familiarity with the theme (3 pages).

You may only be employed in the civil service of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate if you can guarantee that you will uphold the free democratic basic order as defined in the Basic Law and the Constitution of Rhineland-Palatinate at all times.