Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) - history of epidemics in Italy

The Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO) is one of the world’s leading research and educational institutions dedicated to the study of Eastern European history and culture. Its work is distinguished by a broad interdisciplinary approach and an exceptional chronological scope: from antiquity to contemporary history, and across the entire region from A to Z, the Institute examines the distinctive characteristics and historical transformations of Eastern Europe. The GWZO focuses on topics that address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including dynamics of globalization and migration, knowledge systems and competing interpretations of history, environmental issues, and violence. Headquartered in Leipzig since 2010 and with an additional office in central Prague since 2025, the GWZO employs approximately 90 staff members from Germany and abroad.

Starting in 2026, the GWZO will implement its part of the research project “A Novel Understanding of Pandemic Disease in Preindustrial Europe (1300–1800): Combining History, Machine Learning, and the Natural Sciences (EUROpest)”, funded by the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERC) as an ERC Synergy Grant.

For this research project, based in the GWZO’s “Humans and Environment” Department, we are seeking to appoint from 1 April 2026

in pay grade E 13 TV-L (65%), for a fixed term of four years in accordance with the German Act on Fixed-Term Academic Contracts, WissZeitVG.

Reference number: 26_02_A1

Your tasks:

• To conduct independent research on a broadly contextualized history of epidemics in Italy during the late Middle Ages and the early modern period, drawing on archival sources and engaging in interdisciplinary collaboration with natural scientists
• To prepare and complete a doctoral dissertation within the framework of the project
• To integrate your individual research project with ongoing research activities within the department and across the GWZO as a whole

Your profile:

• A very good university degree in history (with a focus on pre-modern history) or a closely related discipline
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Reading knowledge of Italian is highly desirable; a strong willingness to acquire this knowledge quickly is required
• Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary research environment within the
  EUROpest project and at the GWZO
• A strong interest in Eastern Europe and its transregional entanglements and in the research profile of the GWZO

We offer:

• An open, team-oriented working environment with flat hierarchies
• An interdisciplinary and international research environment
• Opportunities for individual academic development and further qualification
• Regular supervision meetings and opportunities to present and discuss research projects
• Scope for personal initiative and independent work
• The option of mobile working for up to 40% of weekly working hours
• The opportunity to purchase the Deutschlandticket as a job ticket with an employer subsidy
• A company pension scheme (VBL)
• A workplace located in the heart of the city

The GWZO actively supports doctoral candidates completing a dissertation by providing continuous supervision as well as training opportunities in research methods and academic publishing. Doctoral candidates at the GWZO participate in the program of the Integrated Research Training Group of the Graduate School Global and Area Studies (GSGAS) at Leipzig University and in the GWZO’s research colloquium.

Applications should be submitted with the usual documents (curriculum vitae, certificates, letter of motivation) and a three-page outline of the proposed doctoral thesis, quoting the reference number above, by 16 February 2026, to the Director of the GWZO, Prof. Dr. Maren Röger (Reichsstr. 4–6, 04109 Leipzig). Applications may be submitted via our career portal (https://gwzo.jobs.personio.de/ )  or by email (bewerbung(at)leibniz-gwzo.de ). Please note that submitting an application by email may have data protection implications. Applicants who choose this option do so at their own risk.

Since July 2021, the GWZO has held the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for its commitment to equal opportunities. The GWZO actively promotes professional equality between women and men and therefore strongly encourages women to apply. Applications from persons with severe disabilities are expressly welcome and will be given preferential consideration in cases of equal qualifications.

Further information about the GWZO is available on our website: www.leibniz-gwzo.de

Information on data protection

The personal data contained in your application documents or collected during the interview process will be processed exclusively for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure for the advertised position. The legal basis for this data processing is Section 11 (1) of the Sächsisches Datenschutzdurchführungsgesetz, in conjunction with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (DS-GVO). The controller responsible for the application process is the addressee specified in this advertisement. Within the institute, your personal data will be disclosed solely as part of the application process and only to the extent necessary to the following bodies and individuals, in accordance with their organizational or legal responsibilities:

• the members of the selection committee,
• the Human Resources Department,
• the Equal Opportunities Officers,
• the Inclusion Officer, and
• the Works Council.

Your personal data will be deleted no later than six months after completion of the selection process. Under the DS-GVO, you have the following rights vis-à-vis the addressee of the application if the relevant legal requirements are met: Right of access (Art. 15 DS-GVO), right to rectification of inaccurate personal data (Art. 16 DS-GVO); Right to erasure (Art. 17 DS-GVO), right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 DS-GVO) and right to object to processing (Art. 21 DS-GVO). If you have any questions, please contact the GWZO data protection officers. You also have the right to lodge a complaint. The supervisory authority responsible for the GWZO is the person appointed by the Saxon State Parliament for data protection.