WidowsPrint Fellowships in History & Cultural Studies – Göttingen

About Position/Job

The University of Göttingen invites applications for three Doctoral or Postdoctoral Research Fellowships under the ERC-funded project “WidowsPrint – Widows in the Growing Print Industry, c. 1550–1700” (ERC 101116563). Starting in March 2026, this exciting project explores the impact of early modern printing on women’s economic agency, particularly focusing on widows in the book trade. Led by Dr Saskia Limbach, the interdisciplinary research combines history, cultural studies, law, and digital humanities to uncover how widows shaped the growing print industry in early modern Germany. Fellows will work within an international team using archival and digital research methods, contributing to pioneering studies on gender, law, and media history.

Position/Job Details

Position: Doctoral/Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Institution: University of Göttingen
Department: ERC StG Group WidowsPrint
Research Field: History, Cultural Studies, European Law
Location: Göttingen, Germany
Number of Posts: 3
Job Type: Full-time/Part-time (Negotiable, Temporary)
Start Date (Anticipated): March 2026
Working Hours: 39.8 hours/week (Postdoc), 25.87 hours/week (Doctoral)
Salary Range: Based on TV-L 13
Required Degree/Diploma: MA/PhD

Research Area

Early Modern History
European Cultural Studies
Legal History of Printing
Gender Studies
Digital Humanities

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

MA (for Doctoral) or PhD (for Postdoctoral) in History, Book Studies, German Studies, Theology, or Digital Humanities
Focus on the early modern period
Proficiency in English (spoken and written) and good knowledge of German
Experience with research on early modern printing or book trade

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with palaeography and archival sources
Prior experience in academic publishing
Strong organisational and communication skills

Key Responsibilities

Conduct independent and collaborative research within the WidowsPrint project
Collect and analyse archival data on early modern German printing
Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to project volumes
Assist in organising international conferences and workshops
Contribute to the creation of a digital dataset of early modern print runs

Application Process

How to Apply:

Submit applications in a single PDF document (labelled “Application + [surname]”) via email to widowsprint.kontakt@theologie.uni-goettingen.de.

Required Documents: