PhD Researcher in Images of Migration and Human Rights
Join an interdisciplinary research group investigating the role of human rights discourses in migration societies through visual and social media analysis.
Best for:Early-career researchers in American Studies, English, or Comparative Literature with a strong interest in visual culture, migration, and digital media.
Overview
The Center for Diversity, Media and Law (DiML) at Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen is seeking two PhD researchers for the DFG-funded project 'Images of Migration as Sites of Contested Humanrightization in Germany, Italy, and the United States'. This interdisciplinary initiative, part of the MeDiMi research group, explores how human rights discourses influence contemporary migration societies. Successful candidates will conduct independent research, contribute to a collective monograph, and participate in academic conferences. The positions offer a structured environment for doctoral qualification within a collaborative network spanning Gießen, Marburg, and Amsterdam.
What you'll do
- Conduct independent doctoral research focusing on visual representations or social media depictions of migration.
- Author a scientific monograph based on project-related research.
- Participate in the annual meetings of the MeDiMi research group and relevant academic conferences.
- Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration across the project's partner universities.
- Contribute to the empirical analysis of migration discourses in Germany, Italy, or the United States.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree or equivalent in American Studies, English Studies, or Comparative Literature.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English and German (Position 1) or English and Italian (Position 2) at C2 level.
Instruction: English, German, Italian
- Excellent proficiency in English and either German (for position 1) or Italian (for position 2) at C2 level.
- Strong ability to work independently and grasp complex topics quickly.
- Familiarity with migration discourses in the relevant target countries.
- Basic knowledge of social media platforms and VPN usage.
- Must meet the requirements for doctoral qualification under the WissZeitVG and HessHG regulations.
- Open to all qualified applicants regardless of nationality or background.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-15 (UTC)
Applications must be submitted via the university's online portal. Ensure all required documents are prepared in accordance with the job description.
- CV
- Academic transcripts
- Cover letter
Contact
Maureen Schwarz / Felix van Groningen· Project Contact
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