Research Fellow (Doctoral Researcher) in Global (Dis)Ordering

This doctoral position at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg offers the opportunity to conduct original research within the newly established Max Planck Research Group ‘Constellations of Global (Dis)Ordering’ (DISORDER). Led by Dr. Gordon Friedrichs, the group investigates how states—particularly great and middle powers—pursue competing visions of global order through international institutions, reshaping security, economic, and technological landscapes. Candidates will develop independent PhD projects aligned with the group’s agenda, focusing on empirical case studies or comparative analyses of state-driven institutional dynamics. The role involves qualitative research, collaboration with international scholars, and active participation in academic events, including conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. Ideal for scholars with a strong background in Political Science, International Relations, or related fields, this position emphasizes interdisciplinary inquiry into contemporary geopolitical challenges.

• Develop and conduct an original PhD project contributing to the conceptual and empirical agenda of the DISORDER research group.
• Conduct empirical research using qualitative methods such as process tracing, qualitative content and discourse analysis, and semi-structured interviews.
• Collaborate actively with the research group on comparative and interdisciplinary projects.
• Present research findings at international conferences and publish in peer-reviewed academic journals.
• Organize and participate in workshops, conferences, and other academic activities within the MPIL and DISORDER group.