Junior professorship „Cultural Theory“ (W1)

08.01.2026 THE SCHOOL OF CULTURE AND SOCIETY AT LEUPHANA UNIVERSITY OF LÜNEBURG INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING JUNIOR PROFESSORSHIP:

Cultural Theory (W1)

You are an early-career scholar dedicated to current developments in, and international perspectives on, cultural theory with regards to cultural economies and/or digital technologies. Your background is in one of the disciplines that intersect in the interdisciplinary field of cultural studies, or Kulturwissenschaften, and in one of the ‘studies’ that have come to shape cultural theory in the last decades (such as organization studies, science and technology studies, platform studies, software studies, or museum studies). You have a keen interest in researching, understanding and theorizing the contingent and contested, discursive as well as material and affective constitution of culture, its impact, its transformation, and its changeability.

Your research is already investigating practices, materialities and discourses at the heart of Lüneburg’s School of Culture and Society’s core research areas; or you are set to develop and realize research that contributes to these areas. You are therefore expected to expand and enrich existing perspectives on or related to

research on a cultural theory of the digital world, for example in relation to the school’s research focus on ‘climate futures in digital cultures’; and/or
research on cultural economies towards a cultural theory attuned to the cultural force of economic logics, in particular (but not exclusively) with a view to alternative social and artistic economies and/or the so-called creative industries and their forms of value creation and their technological, platform-based transformation.

For this position, we are seeking a committed early stage researcher who shows promise of excellence in teaching and research.

You can document original research contributions to the field of cultural theory (a relevant dissertation and additional publications of high quality). Ideally you can demonstrate initial experience in submitting research proposals (e.g. through independent acquisition of grants, collaboration on larger applications, experience with the handling of third-party funding projects).

Your teaching will contribute to the School’s English-language study programs (BA Organization, Society, and the Arts; MA Culture and Organization; BA Digital Media). You can document prior teaching experiences in the subject areas of this junior professorship. Ideally you have supervised theses on Bachelor and Master levels and you also have some experience in co-supervising or mentoring Ph.D. students. Based on your research focus and background, you will become a member of one of the school’s institutes according to your profile and preference, and you will be invited to join and contribute to its research centres (Centre for Digital Cultures; Centre for Critical Studies).

Your academic work gives evidence of innovative contributions to teaching and research, your talent for cooperating with partners inside and outside academia and your strong commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue.

According to § 30 NHG, formal requirements are a university degree and a doctoral degree in a discipline relevant to the open position, your aptitude for teaching, and your ability to engage in independent academic research as demonstrated by the outstanding quality of your dissertation.

The junior professorship will be filled in accordance with pay grade W1 and is initially limited to a period of three years. The position will be extended for an additional three years, subject to a positive academic evaluation (in accordance with the guidelines for the mid-term evaluation of junior professors of Leuphana University of Lüneburg). The standard teaching load is 4 teaching hours per week.

At Leuphana, you will find an academic community that is open to changes in perspective and cultivates the dialogue among the different disciplines as well as between research and practice. With spirit and initiative, we address the challenges of civil society in the 21st century. Pursuing our idea of liberal education, we enable our students to think, reflect and act upon it. Our professors foster the awareness of gender and diversity aspects in teaching and research.

Leuphana University is an equal opportunities employer. The university aims to increase its number of female professors. Qualified women are especially invited to apply. Severely disabled applicants and applicants with equivalent status will be considered preferentially in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.

For further information please contact the Dean of the School of Culture and Society Prof. Dr. Christina Wessely (christina.wessely@leuphana.de) or Prof. Dr. Timon Beyes (timon.beyes@leuphana.de) at the Institute of Sociology and Cultural Organization (ISCO).

Please submit your application (without submission of an application photo) consisting of the following materials in two separate PDF files: a) motivation letter, CV, research concept (max. 2 pages), copies of academic degrees and b) your dissertation as well as two other publications of your choice . Please enclose the completed application form (as Excel file) with your documents. Guidance on the required application materials can be found here.

Applications should be sent preferably via email using the keyword “Cultural Theory” (W1) beko@leuphana.de or to the President of Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Post Box 2440, Lüneburg D-21314 by February 22, 2026. Please be aware that we cannot return application documents sent physically.

By submitting your application, you consent to your data being stored and processed for the purpose of the recruitment process.

Please note our Data Protection Notice for Applicants (in English or in German).

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