The International Research Center for "Work and Human Life Cycle in Global History" at the Humboldt-University Berlin invites scholars to apply for 10 International Research Fellowships (5 stipends for senior scholars and 5 stipends for postdoctoral candidates) for the 2009–2010 academic year as well as for future academic years. Applications are due in Berlin on March 31, 2009. The International Research Center will start its work on October 1, 2009.

The International Research Center "Work and Human Life Cycle in Global History" will pursue fundamental research on the subject of work, focusing on the connections between work and life cycle. From a comparative perspective, we will be looking at how, especially since the late 18th century, the relationship between work and life cycle has been linked in various historical constellations, and we will also be investigating the forms that the relationship of work and social justice between the generations has taken. The comprehensive goal of the International Research Center's research and discussions will be to investigate, comparatively and historically, the interchange between work and career, between work and career images, and between work and career structures so as to emerge with a typology and to determine the main trends that historically encircle the present situation. We thereby open up a “scope of possibilities” to provide solutions for a central problem of the present time. We will pose the question whether specific forms of work - that is, specific links between work, non-work and other life-expressions - are typical of people across the age spectrum, or can at least be regarded as such, and why and with what consequences. We will also investigate whether the customary organization of one's career in various societies can be normatively and practically defined through participation in various forms of work. And to what degree is the distribution of life opportunities determined by work? By applying a global and historical perspective and systematically employing the methodologies of area studies, the International Research Center will attempt to show how varied industrial and non-industrial, capitalist and non-capitalist realities were and are.

The International Research Center "Work and Human Life Cycle in Global History" is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the direction of Professor Andreas Eckert and senior advisor Professor Jürgen Kocka in collaboration with the Humboldt University and the research unit “Circulation of Knowledge. Transregional Studies” at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. The working languages of the International Research Center are English and German.

Candidates
We welcome candidates from the disciplines of history, anthropology, law, sociology, political science, and area studies. Applicants should be at the postdoctoral level or senior scholars. Postdoctoral candidates should have received their doctorate within the last five years. Proposed projects should employ a historical and transregional perspective.
We particularly welcome proposals with an emphasis placed on Europe, Africa, und Asia and especially those that focus on the entanglements between these regions.
The fellowships begin on October 1, 2009 and end on July 31, 2010. Shorter fellowship terms will be possible.
Fellows will receive a monthly stipend, which can be individually negotiated. They are obliged to work at the International Research Center in Berlin. A fully equipped office will be provided as well as organizational help for visa, housing, etc. We encourage fellows to introduce their work to wider audiences in the scientific community in Berlin. Berlin offers an ideal environment for researchers.

Application procedure:
To apply, please send the following documents exclusively by e-mail as an MS-Word document or PDF File in English:
1. A curriculum vitae
2. A project description no longer than 5 pages
3. A brief statement of up to 1,000 words about current research relevant to the program’s theme
3. The names and addresses (incl. e-mail) of two referees
Application deadline: March 31, 2009
Candidates will be informed in mid-May whether they have been accepted.

Please send your application to:
Professor Dr. Andreas Eckert
Institut für Asien- und Afrikawissenschaften
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
phone: +49 30 / 2093-6670; fax: +49 30 / 2093-6607
andreas.eckert@asa.hu-berlin.de

For further information, please contact: andreas.eckert@asa.hu-berlin.de or consult the program’s website for more information. Visit the website at http://www2.hu-berlin.de/asaf/Afrika/Forschung/Projekte.html