New postdoctoral fellowship promotes networked research in Halle, Gotha and Wolfenbüttel

For the first time, the Francke Foundations in Halle, the Gotha Research Center of the University of Erfurt, and the Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel are awarding a three-month fellowship for the year 2024 to a researcher with an excellent doctorate from the East-Central European region to study their holdings. »The stronger connection of East-Central European researchers should sharpen the view on Central European interconnections in pre-modern times,« says Martin Mulsow, director of the Gotha Research Center.

The Gotha location of the University of Erfurt with the universally oriented collections of the former ducal house of Saxony-Gotha-Altenburg, especially in the Gotha Research Library, the Francke Foundations in Halle with the Historical Library and the famous Cabinet of Artefacts and Natural Curiosities of 1736/41, as well as the Herzog August Library Wolfenbüttel as the most important early modern library in Germany are among the outstanding collection and research institutions for the cultural history of European pre-modernity with a temporal focus before 1800. »The new joint fellowship program opens up the possibility of even better networking the research potential of the three participating institutions with their high-caliber early modern source holdings,« emphasizes Thomas Müller-Bahlke, director of the Francke Foundations in Halle.

Peter Burschel, Director of the Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel, emphasizes the special profile of the fellowship: »With this program, we are specifically addressing ›early career researchers‹: In addition to optimal framework conditions at three important German research institutions, we offer family benefits with the program that are specifically tailored to the needs of this group.« For example, the fellowship is supplemented by a family allowance, and the host institutions assist in arranging childcare.

Residency at at least one of the three locations is mandatory for the entire period, with stays of at least two weeks at each of the participating institutions. A travel allowance is provided.

The program is funded by the Dorothee Wilms-Stiftung im Stifterverband; a continuation is planned.

Information

A detailed announcement with information on the documents to be submitted can be found on the website of the Research Center Gotha.

Funding period: 3 months between January 1 and August 31, 2024

Application deadline: October 31, 2023

Contact:

Forschungszentrum Gotha der Universität Erfurt
Kristina Petri (Wiss. Koordinatorin)
Schloßberg 2, 99687 Gotha
forschungszentrum.gotha(at)uni-erfurt.de