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The Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig, Germany, in its department Regional Geographies of Europe currently looks for

a post-doctoral researcher (75 % [equiv. of 30 h week pay grade 13 TV-L]) (m/f/d)

to collaborate on the elaboration of new research directions, including a proposal for comparative research framed as 'Beyond Geopolitics: Multi-Scalar Contestations of Infrastructure-Led Development in Global East'. The project intends to develop a geographical political economy approach to infrastructure-led development in peripheral regions and states in the Global East. Against the backdrop of intensifying global geopolitical rivalry in technologies, access to resources, or financial infrastructures and military conflicts, peripheral areas in the Global East are once again being viewed primarily through a geopolitical lens without grasping local political and economic dynamics within these countries. Our proposed research directions are based on two assumptions: First, geopolitically motivated portrayals of the region do not align with, or sometimes contradict, political and economic realities. Therefore, political economic analysis of local politics in the periphery offers valuable insights.  Second, starting from large-scale transnational infrastructures that connect peripheries to various centres reveals the complexity of political-economic integration and dependencies better than geopolitical discourse does. The offered position involves elaborating further on the project, its conceptual and geographical scope, the composition of the collaborative consortium and collaboratively writing a research proposal.

The IfL conducts basic geographical research in order to highlight social and spatial change processes and provide knowledge for sustainable and regionally balanced development. As a member of the Leibniz Association and the only non-university research institute for geography in Germany, the institute combines research and knowledge transfer. The IfL is divided into five departments: Theory, Methodology, and History of Geography; Regional Geography of Europe; Cartography and Visual Communication; Central Library of Geography and Archive for Geography; and Administration.

Job description

• research in the department ‘Regional Geography of Europe’ (RGE)
• develop the ‘Beyond Geopolitics’ research project, its theoretical, methodological and geographical scope together with the RGE department members for a funding application
• collaborate with academic and (possibly) non-academic partners from Germany and Eastern Europe
• consortium liaison (communication with [potential] project partners, networking, organizational and dissemination support)
• write an article based on the proposal-related research, present the draft at IfL colloquium

We offer

• a temporary position from the earliest possible start August 2026 until February 2028
• an interesting, varied range of tasks with creative freedom and the opportunity to implement your own research ideas
• a collegial, international research environment
• remuneration in accordance with TV-L provisions based on personal qualifications, with an annual bonus, capital-forming benefits, and a company pension plan (VBL)
• a contribution toward a job ticket
• a family-friendly working environment with flexible working hours and the option of mobile working within the framework of a company agreement on work-life balance

Our expectations

• a completed university degree (PhD) in human geography, political-economy or similar discipline
• competences in political-economy of post-socialist transformation in Global East
• expertise in multi-scalar understanding of peripheral development in times of geopolitical rivalry
• expertise in financial infrastructures, infrastructure finance in peripheralized countries/regions is highly desirable
• experience of publishing in geography and/or political economy journals
• experience of grant writing and academic project management
• English will be used throughout the project; excellent communication skills and very good written and spoken English are also required
• knowledge of German and knowledge of one East European language is desirable