Goethe University seeks applicants for a full-time postdoctoral position that will be affiliated with the university's new research programme “Africa´s Asian Options: Frankfurt Inter-Centre Programme on New African-Asian Interactions” (AFRASO) that is jointly organised by the Centre for Interdisciplinary African Studies (ZIAF) and the Interdisciplinary Centre of East Asian Studies (IZO) of Goethe University. Pending final approval, the AFRASO research programme will be funded by a special grant from the Federal Ministry of Higher Education and Research of Germany. The postdoctoral position will be part of an interdisciplinary research focus on “Indian Ocean Imaginaries”. Half of the position is dedicated to research in a project on the literary imagination of the Indian Ocean in East Africa (led by Frank Schulze-Engler); the other half to research in a project on the Indian Ocean as a realm of memory in South Africa and South Asian media cultures (led by Astrid Erll).

The responsibilities and activities of the postdoc include involvement in interdisciplinary work in the research centre; field work in East Africa, South Africa, and India; the contribution to scholarly publications and presentations as a lead or co-author; ideally a monograph in the horizon of the research projects.

Qualifications and preferred experience: Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in the humanities or social sciences. They should have experience in research on and in Africa; expertise in literary, cultural, media and/or memory studies; experience with interdisciplinary research. The appointment will be for 2 + 2 years, starting 01 February 2013, pending final approval of the AFRASO programme by the Ministry. The designated salary for the position is based on E 13. Goethe University is an equal opportunity employer, which implies that applications from women are specifically encouraged.

Application procedure:
Please submit via email a cover letter stating your research interests and career objectives and how this post-doctoral position will advance them, along with a curriculum vitae and a list of publications to Prof. Dr. Frank Schulze-Engler (schulze engler@nelk.uni-frankfurt.de) and to Prof. Dr. Astrid Erll (erll@em.uni-frankfurt.de).