The Institute of Material Culture at School III - School of Linguistics and Cultural Studies seeks applications for a

Professorship in Material Culture Studies
salary scale W2 (m/f/x)

commencing as soon as possible.

Research at the Institute for Material Culture was originally focused strongly on textiles science and textiles education, but the profile of the institute today is oriented decisively towards cultural studies and especially material culture studies. The institute is characterised by close links between teaching and current research as they relate to the analysis of material culture and by the diverse range of courses it offers. By paying attention to everyday objects – with strong emphasis on textiles, clothing and fashion, their uses, and their representations in various media – it traces meanings that are reflected in, for instance, social relationships, mentalities, and power relations.

The tasks of the professorship include teaching courses on the theory and history of material culture in all degree programmes in which the Institute of Material Culture is involved, coordinating teaching at the Institute, and further developing the degree programmes that are offered. The appointed professor will be expected to conduct research in the denominated field and to contribute to the research focus areas of the school and the university. It is anticipated that the professorship will develop a profile for the institute in the crossover area between materiality, mediality, and digitality, for instance in connection with the question of how the digital transformation is changing quotidian material culture. It follows from this that the research interests of the appointee should be sited in the crossover area between materiality, mediality and digitality and be compatible with the existing research focus area of “textiles" or suitable for advancing its further development.

Finally, the responsibilities associated with the position also include active participation in academic self-government.

The position requires:

• an above-average doctorate in empirical cultural studies or a related discipline
• a habilitation degree or an equivalent qualification in empirical cultural studies or a related discipline
• a research profile supported by relevant, theoretically sound publications that can serve as the foundation for a research focus in the area of the digital transformation and digitality with reference to the research focus on textiles – to be demonstrated by a research concept of no more than four pages
• Experience (underscored by publications) with empirical methods used in cultural studies
• The capacity to represent the subject “Material Culture: Textiles” in teaching in its full breadth, to be demonstrated by relevant university courses and a teaching concept of no more than two pages
• Experience acquiring third-party funding

The following are desired:

• A field of activity connected to sustainability
• Experience with historical perspectivation in research and teaching
• Experience in the area of interdisciplinary and international cooperation
• University teaching experience in the area of teacher education
• German language skills close to the level of a speaker of German as a first language (at least C1)

It is envisaged that the professorship will participate in existing regional, national and international research and practice-orientated cooperation frameworks and advance these further for the benefit of research and teaching. As the University of Oldenburg and the University of Bremen are bound by a cooperation agreement, active participation in the cooperation is expected.

Prerequisites for employment are specified in Section 25 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG).

The University aims to increase its proportion of women in science. Equally qualified women will be considered preferentially. In case of equal aptitude, applicants with disabilities will be given priority in hiring decisions. The position is suitable for part-time employment.

Applications including a full curriculum vitae, certificates, a list of publications, an account of present and previous research activities with third-party funding focussing on the last five years, and a list of courses taught and formal presentations given must be submitted by September 15^th 2024, preferably as a consolidated PDF file, to the University of Oldenburg, School III, attn: Prof. Dr. Ruigendijk, Dean of School III, . The required research plan (4 pages) and teaching plan (2 pages) must be submitted with the application documents. Applications must also include an “application form” (https://uol.de/fk3/profil-und-struktur/unterlagen-zum-herunterladen).