The Cluster of Excellence ROOTS (Social, Environmental, and Cultural Connectivity in Past Societies) at Kiel University explores the deep history of tightly intertwined social and environmental processes, in order to explain their long-term developments and to understand how they resonate into the present. ROOTS combines expertise from a wide array of disciplines ranging from archaeology to other natural sciences, life sciences, and humanities, creating a unique bridge between different scientific cultures. The ROOTS experts are organized into six subclusters (Hazards, Dietary, Knowledge, Urban, Inequalities, Conflict), three supportive research platforms (Technical Platform, Data Management and Data Science Platform, Outreach and Dissemination Platform), as well as diverse central units (ROOTS Academy, Reflective Turn Forum, Methods Nucleus) to collectively pursue a research agenda targeting key parameters of socio-environmental connectivity related to (1) human subsistence and biodiversity; (2) inequality and conflict; (3) technology and environmental impact; (4) boundaries and well-being.

ROOTS will be housed in the ARCWorlds research building, which is currently being established at Kiel University, in a few years’ time. It will offer high-end infrastructure to realize innovative interdisciplinary research.

For its 2nd phase, ROOTS is offering several new career opportunities for early career researchers within the ROOTS Academy on both doctoral and postdoctoral levels. Therefore, we invite applications for the following research positions.

The following positions are to be filled at the 01st of July 2026:
a) 5 positions as postdoctoral Researchers,
b) 9 positions as doctoral Researchers (phd)

All application documents must be submitted in English (except for master’s theses, certificates must be in English or German at least). Please be sure to include the reference number of the position you are applying for at the beginning of your cover letter! Please send your application as a single PDF file to:

Search Committee
Speaker Prof. Dr. Martin Furholt,
Cluster of Excellence ROOTS, Kiel University,
Leibnizstraße 3 
24118 Kiel
Germany
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The application deadline for all positions is December 15, 2025.

We expressly do not require photographs/application photos and therefore ask that you refrain from submitting them. Please note that all documents will be destroyed after the recruitment process has been completed. Certificates of equivalence for foreign qualifications must be enclosed with the application. Interviews are expected to take place in Kiel at the end of February 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact the person listed in the individual job advertisements.

The complete job advertisement, including all details about the individual positions, can be found here as a PDF file.