Commencing on 1 April 2026 at the Chair of American Studies. We are offering a fixed-term, parttime (75%) position for three years. Full-time employees are required to teach four hours per week during the semester.
To add to its existing interest in literary criticism and critical reading publics, the Chair of American Studies is seeking to hire a doctoral research associate who specializes in themes in American literature situated at the intersection of feminism, queer theory, and critical race theory. Our research interest in affect theory, literary form, and cultural materialism has strongly informed ongoing research projects. Literature’s contributions to and in cultural debates beginning with the long 19th century to current topics in contemporary American literature hold particular importance at the Chair. This new position will contribute to our efforts to explore these interrelationships further.
Your tasks:
* teach courses in American studies at an undergraduate level;
* collaborate in research projects at the Chair of American Studies;
* demonstrate commitment to the discipline, institution, and community, both within American Studies in Germany and internationally;
* mentor students in your respective areas of expertise, especially with respect to thesis supervision at the bachelor’s level;
* This position is tied to working towards a doctorate.
Our expectations:
* MA in English with a specialization in at least two of the following themes in American studies: multi-ethnic American literatures, oceanic studies, American fiction or life writing, critical kinship studies, literary criticism;
* experience working in research teams, preferably in third-party funded research contexts;
* project description and timeline for the completion of a dissertation project on contemporary American literature and literary criticism;
* near-native command of written and spoken English;
* working knowledge of German or the willingness to learn German;
* good communication and organisational skills, a passion for teaching and the ability to work well both independently and in team constellations
Additional desirable qualifications include:
* teaching experience in literary studies;
* experience in working in diverse classrooms.
Advantages for you:
* Appreciation, commitment, openness and respect – values which are important to us.
* Our broad range of diverse work-time models offers great flexibility – also when working from home.
* If you have family members or young children in your care, our Family Service Office offers concrete support to help you balance your private and professional responsibilities.
* As an educational institution, we are deeply committed to offering occupational training and continuing education opportunities tailored to your individual needs.
* From A – Z, Aikido to Zumba, our sport and health programmes ensure a healthy work-life balance.
* As a university employee, you are entitled to numerous benefits afforded to public servants, e.g. an attractive company pension scheme ( VBL ), an annual end-of-year bonus and a position that is shielded from economic fluctuations.
The University of Münster strongly supports equal opportunity and diversity. We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to creating family-friendly working conditions. Part-time options are generally available.
We actively encourage applications by women. Women with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered unless these are outweighed by reasons which necessitate the selection of another candidate.
If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Silvia Schultermandl at silvia.schultermandl@uni-muenster.de. Are you interested? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 2026-01-04 addressed to: Prof Dr Silvia Schultermandl
Chair of American Studies
English Department
University of Münster
Kennziffer: 2025_12_06
Johannisstrasse 12-20
48143 Münster Please submit your application materials (letter of interest, CV, copies of degree certificates, a 30- page writing sample from your MA thesis, and an 8-page project description of your dissertationproject including a timeline for its completion and a working bibliography) electronically in a single PDF file to americanstudies@uni-muenster.de. Reference number: 2025_12_06