Program Overview

Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Research Network (IPN)

The Walter Benjamin Kolleg (WBKolleg) at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Bern, includes an Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Research Network (IPN), which is home to the Graduate School of the Arts and Humanities (GSAH) as well as Junior Fellows.

Junior Fellowship Program

The IPN is offering start-up fellowships (6 months, 55%) for promising postdoctoral researchers from the humanities, cultural and social sciences. The call is aimed in particular at those who are seeking a longer-term connection to the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Bern via corresponding funding schemes.

Tasks

• Prepare a competitive application for a grant or a project that will be based at the University of Bern.
• Contribute actively to the academic activities at the WBKolleg (presenting your project, involvement in an event, invitation of a guest researcher, or similar activities).

Requirements

• Excellent doctorate in any discipline in the humanities, cultural and social sciences.
• Working on an interdisciplinary postdoc project.
• Knowledge of German (at least passive) and English (active and passive).

We Offer

• Salary according to cantonal guidelines (Bern)
• Mentoring by faculty members
• Professional grant application coaching
• An interdisciplinary intellectual environment
• Support in networking with members of the faculty
• Professional workplaces
• Use of infrastructure

Workload and Start of Employment

• Workload: 55% (6 months)
• Start of employment: 1 August 2025 or 31 January 2026

Application Documents

• Motivation letter (including desired networking opportunities in Bern and the name of the institution to which an application is to be submitted)
• Schedule for the duration of the six months fellowship in Bern
• Project description (including abstract, keywords, and research project details)
• Letter of recommendation
• Curriculum vitae (including list of publications)

Application Deadline and Interviews

• Application deadline: 02 March 2025
• Interviews: April 2025 (by invitation)