The University of Potsdam was founded in 1991 and has firmly established itself within the scientific landscape and developed into an outstanding economic factor and growth engine for the region. The university excels in acquiring third-party funds, has received multiple teaching awards, has a very service-oriented administration, and has been honored several times for its family-friendly culture. About 20,000 students and 3,000 employees study and work at three campuses – Am Neuen Palais, Griebnitzsee and Golm – at one of Germany’s most scenic institutions of higher education.
The University of Potsdam, Faculty of Human Sciences/Department of Education and Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Chair of Social Science Research on Education and the Life Course, invites applications for the following position, limited to 3 years, renewable, to be filled as soon as possible (ideally by November 1, 2026) subject to funding approval: Academic Staff Member (f/m/d)
ID no. 337/2026
The successful candidate will work 40 hours per week (100 %). The position is classified within remuneration group 13 of the collective wage agreement among the German federal states (“Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder” – TV-L). The fixed term of employment is in accordance with Section 2 subsection 1 of the German Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Science and Academia (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz or WissZeitVG) and with Section § 14 Abs. 3 Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG). An extension of up to three years is possible if personal and legal requirements are met.
Your Field of Work
The Chair of Social Science Research on Education and the Life Course is affiliated with the Department of Education within the Faculty of Human Sciences as well as with the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Potsdam. Its research focuses, among other topics, on educational inequalities, education systems, the life course, and social change.
Teaching is primarily conducted in educational science and sociology.
The Scope of Your Responsibilities
Further academic qualification (post-doctoral thesis (Habilitation)) is possible. At least one-third of working hours is available for in-depth academic work.
The teaching load is based on the requirements of the Teaching Obligations Ordinance (LehrVV) of the State of Brandenburg, as amended, and the Regulation for Calculating Teaching Load that was passed by the Senate of the University of Potsdam. This position is assigned to the group of academic employees with the opportunity to gain further qualification.
Your Qualifications
We are ideally also looking for the following
What We Offer
As a university, we combine the strong potential for development of a teaching and research institution with the attractive working conditions of the public sector. The University of Potsdam is a reliable employer that supports its employees with a variety of offers and benefits:
You can find more information about working at the University of Potsdam at https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/arbeiten-an-der-up/employer-up/overview
For further information about this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Kaspar Burger by e-mail:
kaspar.burger@uni-potsdam.de
Your Application
Applications should include a motivation letter, a brief outline of how the applicant intends to contribute to the research areas of the professorship (1-2 pages), a curriculum vitae, copies of certificates and diplomas, a writing sample (e.g., scientific article), the names and contact details of two referees, and (ideally) a letter of recommendation. Please merge all documents into one PDF file and send us your application including the ID no. 337/2026 by August 15, 2026, by email to ina.tausche@uni-potsdam.de.
If you completed higher education qualifications outside the EU, please submit a German translation and the assessment of the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen – ZAB). Alternatively, please send us a PDF file from the database for the recognition and assessment of foreign higher education certificates (ANABIN).
The University of Potsdam values the diversity of its community and pursues the goals of equal opportunity regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation and identity. Applications from abroad and from persons with a migration background are expressly encouraged. The university strives for a balanced gender ratio in all employment groups; in areas where women are underrepresented, women are given preference in case of equal suitability (Section 7 paragraph 4 of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act). People with disabilities are given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. In aptitude tests and selection interviews, individual compensation measures for disadvantages are granted, taking the specific disability into consideration. If a person with a disability would like to make use of individual compensation measures, please state this in the application letter.
Potsdam, July 1, 2026
ID: 205470