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The Faculty of Language, Literature, Culture invites applications for a

W3 Professorship in American Literature, Culture and Media

as of October 1st, 2025. Reference is made to § 67 Para. 5 and 6 Hessian Higher Education Act (HessHG) and to the conditions of employment based on § 68 HessHG. Proficient knowledge of German is expected.

The professorship is established as part of the Heisenberg program of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – DFG). A prerequisite for the establishment of the professorship and for the call is that a funding application submitted by the future position holder (m/f/d) to the DFG is accepted for inclusion in the Heisenberg program. After a positive funding decision, the appointment is initially made on a temporary basis for a period of three years, provided that the requirements under civil law are met. After a positive evaluation, the professorship will subsequently be transformed into a permanent W2 professorship with the same functional description.

Duties:
You will represent the entire spectrum of the field of American literary, culture and media studies in research and teaching.

The research is expected to clearly focus on literature and cultural studies, a diachronic perspective or historical range in American Studies, as well as excellent research expertise in the areas of "Cultural Studies and Media," "Law and Literature," "Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity Studies" and popular literatures. You are expected to initiate new research networks and to participate in the structural development of the Faculty of Language, Literature, Culture and of the Department of English.

The responsibilities of the professorship include teaching courses amounting to 8 semester hours per week (SWS) in all teacher training programs and in the bachelor's and master's degree programs of the Department of English. In this context, the concept of "visual literacy" and the critical reading of images, photos, and video clips should play a central role as an important complement to classical literary studies (with a focus on prose, drama, and poetry).

You will also contribute to the further development of interdisciplinary and international degree programs, such as the bachelor-s program "Comparative Studies – Comparative Literature and Culture", the bachelor-s/master-s program "Intercultural Communication and Business," and the establishment of the master's program "Political Narratives."

Another task of the professorship is the transfer and communication of scientific and practice-relevant research results to the general public. During the period of the Heisenberg funding, a 50% reduction of the teaching responsibilities is possible.

A further expectation is the willingness to actively participate in the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC), the International PhD Programme Literary and Cultural Studies (IPP), the PhDnet, the Center for Diversity, Media, and Law (DiML), as well as to strengthen the certificate program for Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity.

You should actively engage in existing international collaborations and further the international profile of Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) and the faculty by contributing with your own international connections. Your involvement in the faculty-s accent areas as well as your willingness to further academic networking within the JLU is also expected.

Requirements:
A completed university degree, an outstanding and relevant doctorate, as well as relevant additional academic achievements (demonstrated by a habilitation or through relevant peer-reviewed publications in the research fields outlined above) are required. You also need to possess a special pedagogical aptitude to represent the field in its full scope, as well as international visibility in your research area. Successes in independently acquiring (and leading) externally funded projects (preferably from DFG, BMBF) are also required.

In case the candidate exceeds the basic age limit of 50 years, a civil servant appointment under § 66 Para. 3 sentences 2 and 3 Hessian Higher Education Act (HessHG) in conjunction with § 11 Hessian Career Regulation (HLVO) requires a specific functional interest.

The JLU aims to employ more women in academic research. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply. JLU also pursues the goal at faculty leadership level of increased competence in dealing with gender and family-related issues. JLU is regarded as a family-friendly university. Applicants with children are very welcome. Applications from disabled people of equal aptitude will be given preference.

We strongly recommend candidates to refer to our on application procedures.
Please send your application with the required documents via to the President of Justus Liebig University Giessen by May 15^th, 2025, quoting the reference number 5-08/25.