Please find our current vacancies below:

• Researcher for the “CBW Network (CBWNet)” (m/f/d) (65%)
• Full Professor (W3) of Peace and Conflict Studies: Transnational Actors
• Researcher for the Research Group on Chemical and Biological Weapons Control (m/f/d)

The Research Department I “International Security” is seeking to employ at the earliest possible date

One researcher (m/f/d)
in part-time (65%), salary scale E 13 TV-H
on a temporary basis until March 31, 2026
(under the terms of the WissZVG).

The position is part of the joint research project “The CBW network for a comprehensive reinforcement of norms against chemical and biological weapons (CBWNet)”. This project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education and is carried out jointly by PRIF with the Berlin Office of the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH), the Chair for Public Law and International Law at the University of Gießen, and the Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker-Centre for Science and Peace Research (ZNF) at the University of Hamburg. The joint project aims to analyse, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the norms and norm contestations in the prohibition regimes for biological and chemical weapons, and to investigate options to strengthen these regimes. The sub-project led by PRIF is also integrated into the PRIF Research Group Chemical and Biological Weapons Control.

Your responsibilities include:

• Research on the prohibition of biological and/or chemical weapons in the framework of the joint research project CBWNet, with a particular focus on compliance with and enforcement of the related norms;
• Publications for the joint research project and the Research Department;
• Cooperation with project partners and contributions to other sub-projects in the framework of CBWNet;

In addition, we expect a willingness to communicate research results to the political and general public. We also expect participation in the committees and overall work contexts of PRIF as well as physical presence at PRIF.

As applicant, you should fulfill the following requirements:

• A very good master’s degree (or equivalent) in political science or another discipline relevant to the research field;
• Research interests in arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament (knowledge of biological and/or chemical weapons control is an advantage);
• Research interests in international relations;
• Willingness to work and cooperate in project teams and in an interdisciplinary setting.

Very good command of English, spoken and written, as well as competent handling of standard office software are prerequisites. We do not expect knowledge of the German language.

You can expect:

• Family-friendly working hours and the possibility to partially work remotely;
• An interesting and varied workplace;
• A motivated and committed team;
• An interdisciplinary and international project setting;
• Internal and external training opportunities;
• The possibility to pursue a PhD project;
• Occupational pension scheme („VBL”).

PRIF is a winner of the Total E-Quality award and seeks to promote work/life balance.

In the case of equal qualification, applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference.

Please send your application documents, including a cover letter, a complete CV (without photo), certificates, references, and a concise outline of your research ideas, in pdf format via e-mail to application(at)prif.org. Please include the position code “CBWNet”. The deadline for applications is October 31, 2023. Unfortunately, application expenses cannot be reimbursed.

In cooperation with the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), the Technical University of Darmstadt is recruiting a

Full Professor (W3) of Peace and Conflict Studies: Transnational Actors

The appointment follows the Jülich Model and combines a professorship at Technical University Darmstadt with a simultaneous grant of leave to carry out research tasks at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (Jülich Model).

The Technical University of Darmstadt is an autonomous university with excellence in research and an interdisciplinary profile. Together with PRIF and Goethe University Frankfurt it offers an MA program in “International Studies / Peace and Conflict Research”. The two institutions also cooperate in the regional research cluster on “Transformations of Political Violence” (TraCe).

With more than 80 employees, PRIF is one of the leading peace research institutes in Europe and a member of Germany’s Wilhelm Gottfried Leibniz Association. It combines inter-disciplinary basic research with knowledge transfer into policy-making, media and society. PRIF is funded by the federal government and the state of Hesse.

The joint professorial position comes with responsibility for PRIF’s Research Department III that studies how transnational phenomena impact peace and security.

We are looking for an internationally renowned person with demonstrable leadership experience and expertise in the field of peace and conflict studies. The successful candidate will cultivate and further develop the agenda of PRIF’s research department on transnational actors, in close collaboration with German and international universities and research institutions.

The successful candidate’s research should be focussed on the analysis of transnational actors in a comparative perspective that analyses the practices, possibly also the radicalization, of political, religious or environmentalist groups in different countries. We expect candidates to contribute to overarching research projects at PRIF and to the main research areas of TU Darmstadt and its Department of History and Social Sciences. Moreover, we expect openness to interdisciplinary cooperation and experience in the acquisition of third-party funding.

At TU Darmstadt, the successful candidate will be expected to teach one course per term (two hours per week) in the field of peace and conflict studies, thus contributing to the BA and MA programs of the institute, to teaching training and in particular to the MA program in “International Studies / Peace and Conflict Research” that is offered together with PRIF and Goethe University Frankfurt. Therefore, we expect not only excellent research skills but also the proven ability to teach at university level.

The position is tenured with a remuneration package commensurate with experienceand qualifications, following the German "W-Besoldung" and subject to negotiations between the applicant and the university directorate. The regulations for employment are specified under §§ 67 and 68 HessHG (Hessisches Hochschulgesetz).

PRIF and Technical University Darmstadt intend to increase the number of female faculty members and encourage female candidates to apply. In case of equal qualifications applicants with a degree of disability of at least 50 or equal will be given preference. Technical University of Darmstadt is certified as a family-friendly university and offers a dual career program.

If you have any questions in advance, please contact Prof. Dr. Jens Steffek (steffek@pg.tu-darmstadt.de).

Applications should be sent in German or English with the usual documents (curriculum vitae, list of publications and courses taught, list of third-party funds acquired) quoting the code number 440, by email to the Dean of the Department of History and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Jens Ivo Engels, dekan@gugw.tu-darmstadt.de. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2023.

By submitting your application, you agree that your data may be stored and processed for the purpose of filling the vacancy. You can find the privacy policy of the TU Darmstadt on the TU Darmstadt webpage.

The Research Department I “International Security” is seeking to employ at the earliest possible date

One researcher (m/f/d)
in full time (100%), salary scale E 13 TV-H.

The position is offered on a fixed-term basis until March 31, 2026 (under the terms of the WissZVG), with a possible extension until 31 December, 2026. The position is part of the Research Group on Chemical and Biological Weapons Control that was recently established within the new Cluster for Natural and Technical Science Arms Control Research (CNTR) set up by PRIF in cooperation with the Technical University Darmstadt and Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU). The Cluster is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. The CNTR Research Group on CBW control is led by Prof. Dr. P. R. Schreiner (JLU, Institute of Organic Chemistry) and Dr. U. Jakob (PRIF). It aims to scrutinize current issues in biological and chemical weapons control in an interdisciplinary way from the perspectives of natural, technical and political sciences and to develop technologically-informed policy options for practitioners.

Your responsibilities include:

• Research at the intersection of the natural science and peace and conflict studies;
• Scientifically-based research on the disarmament and non-proliferation of chemical weapons and chemical security;
• Monitoring, tracking and assessing relevant scientific and technological developments in chemistry and/or other relevant scientific disciplines, including through a Technology Monitor;
• Contributing to the planning and arranging of relevant workshops and conferences;
• Publication of research results for various audiences;
• Participation in research on cross-cutting issues within the Cluster;
• Collaboration with colleagues at the Cluster, at PRIF and at JLU;
• Support for the local, national, and international networking activities of the Research Group, the Cluster and all partners.

In addition, we expect a willingness to collaborate in an interdisciplinary context and to communicate research results to the political and general public. We also expect participation in the committees and overall work contexts of PRIF and JLU as well as your presence at the workplaces in Frankfurt and Gießen.

As applicant, you should fulfill the following requirements:

• Above-average degree in pertinent sub-disciplines of the natural sciences, in particular in chemistry;
• Doctorate in chemistry;
• Research interests in the area of chemical weapons control and disarmament, or chemical security, protection and defense;
• Relevant experience in the synthesis and characterization of substances, investigation of their properties, spectroscopic evidence; ability to handle small sample quantities
• Willingness to work and cooperate in interdisciplinary project teams and to engage with political research questions;
• Very good spoken and written command of English.

You can expect:

• Family-friendly and flexible working hours;
• An interesting and varied workplace with affiliations at PRIF and the Faculty of Biology and Chemistry at JLU;
• A motivated and committed team;
• An interdisciplinary and international project setting;
• Internal and external training opportunities;
• The opportunity for scientific research and further academic qualification;
• Teaching opportunities;
• Occupational pension scheme (“VBL”);

PRIF is a recipient of the Total E-Quality award and seeks to promote equal representation in the work force at all levels and work/life balance. JLU aims to employ more women in academic research. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply. In the case of equal qualification, applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference.

Please send your application documents, including a cover letter, complete CV (without photo), certificates, references, and an outline of your preliminary research ideas, in one single pdf file via e-mail to application(at)prif.org. Please include the position code “CNTR CBW”. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2023. Unfortunately, application expenses cannot be reimbursed.

Current vacancies with essential German language skills.