PhD researcher (all genders welcome)

An der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Stiftung Öffentlichen Rechts – RTG 3209 China-GRASP: China´s Geoeconomic Rise and the Accumulation of Structural Power - Goettingen - Kiel sind ab dem 01.10.2026 11 Stellen alsPhD researcher (all genders welcome)- Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L - in Teilzeit mit 75% der regelmäßigen wöchentlichen Arbeitszeit zu besetzen. Die Stellen sind befristet bis 30.09.2029.

Are you fascinated by how China is reshaping the global order — and want to research it systematically? Our Research Training Group (RTG) brings together scholars from Economics, Political Science, and Area Studies at the University of Göttingen and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy to examine China’s geoeconomic rise in international politics. We study how China accumulates and exercises structural power across four interconnected domains: security, production of goods and services, finance and credit, and knowledge and information — and how states, firms, and societies respond. The framework of structural power, rooted in international political economy, gives your research a theoretically rigorous and policy-relevant foundation. Whether your background is in quantitative methods, qualitative research, or both, you will find a home here. A particular strength of our group is working with innovative data sources, including Chinese-language materials — giving you the opportunity to contribute original empirical findings where systematic data is still scarce.

Your research will be situated within one of our 15 Focus Areas, grouped into five Research Clusters — giving your PhD project a clear thematic home while connecting it to a broader intellectual agenda — spanning China’s role in regions along the Belt and Road, in Africa, Eurasia, and Europe. While each Research Cluster has its own thematic focus, they are designed to speak to each other, and many projects productively bridge two or more clusters.

As a PhD researcher, you will design and carry out your own original PhD project within this broader framework. You will engage with cutting-edge debates, develop advanced methodological skills, and join a cohort of researchers working on one of the most consequential topics in contemporary international relations. Our goal is to gain a systematic understanding of China’s geoeconomic rise by using an innovative international political economy approach which explores how China’s structural power accumulates.

What we offer

Joining our RTG means becoming part of a dynamic, internationally connected research community at one of Europe’s largest centers for social science research on Asia. Here is what you can expect:

Your own PhD project — supervised personally and tailored to your disciplinary background and research goals
A stimulating intellectual environment — regular exchange with leading scholars and practitioners in international political economy, China studies, and related fields
Interdisciplinary training — through collaborative coursework bridging Economics, Political Science, and Area Studies
An international network — with opportunities for research stays abroad through the University of Göttingen’s and the Kiel Institute’s global partnerships
Dedicated career development and mentorship — to prepare you for academic and non-academic careers
A welcoming, diverse community committed to equal opportunities — we actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups

The RTG is hosted at the University of Göttingen and its Centre for Modern East Asian Studies, which together form a hub for social science research on Asia in Europe.

Who we are looking for

We welcome applications from curious, ambitious researchers who want to make an original contribution to understanding China’s role in the world. You should bring:

A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent, graded good or very good) in a relevant discipline — including Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Asian or China Studies, Development Studies, Global Governance, International Security, Agricultural Studies, or related fields
Strong methodological skills, quantitative or qualitative, suited to your chosen Focus Area
Fulfillment of the requirements to the Doctoral Program for your discipline at the University of Göttingen: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/54551.html
Fluency in written and spoken English (the RTG’s working language); advanced knowledge of the Chinese language will be an asset (and will be required for some positions)
A self-designed, innovative, and feasible research proposal that makes a clear contribution to one or more of our Research Clusters (see below)

Please submit the following in English (required for CV, motivation letter and research proposal) or German as PDFs:

CV
Motivation letter (max. 1 page) explaining why you want to pursue your PhD within this RTG
Research proposal outline (max. 2 pages) addressing a specific Focus Area — you may submit up to two proposals and indicate an interest in altogether three Focus Areas
Writing sample (approx. 10 pages, e.g. a chapter from your Master’s thesis, seminar thesis, or an academic publication)
List of publications (if applicable)
Language certificates
Certificate of the academic university degree(s) and transcripts of record
Names and contact details of two academic referees
Responses to the questions in the application portal (all questions need to be responded to)

Further information

If you have any questions regarding the advertised positions or RCs, please contact the main supervisor(s) involved (see the RC descriptions online: https://uni-goettingen.de/de/research+clusters/708380.html )

If you have any general questions regarding the application process, please send an e-mail to: rtg3209@uni-goettingen.de

More information on the RTG 3209 and its RCs can also be found online at: https://uni-goettingen.de/de/about+/708378.html

Application deadline and procedures:

Please upload your application as one consolidated PDF file by July 24, 2026 via the University of Göttingen’s application portal. This can be accessed via the following link: : http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/76523

The first round of interviews is scheduled to take place online from August 10 to 14, 2026, and the second round from August 18 to 20, 2026. Depending on geographical distance and practical feasibility, applicants will be invited to in-person interviews. Travel expenses may be reimbursed up to a maximum of 300 euros.

The RTG 3209 is strongly committed to promoting equal opportunities and diversity. We consider a diversity of perspectives as particularly enriching of our work, especially from among those underrepresented in academia (or some of the disciplines involved in the RTG’s work). We therefore welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of gender, social status, religion, ethnic origin, nationality or migration background.Die Universität Göttingen strebt in den Bereichen, in denen Frauen unterrepräsentiert sind, eine Erhöhung des Frauenanteils an und fordert daher qualifizierte Frauen nachdrücklich zur Bewerbung auf. Sie versteht sich zudem als familienfreundliche Hochschule und fördert die Vereinbarkeit von Wissenschaft/Beruf und Familie. Der beruflichen Teilhabe von schwerbehinderten Beschäftigten sieht sich die Universität in besondere Weise verpflichtet und begrüßt deshalb Bewerbungen schwerbehinderter Menschen. Bei gleicher Qualifikation erhalten Bewerbungen von Menschen mit Schwerbehinderung den Vorzug. Eine Behinderung bzw. Gleichstellung ist zur Wahrung der Interessen bereits in die Bewerbung aufzunehmen.Bitte reichen Sie Ihre aussagekräftige Bewerbung mit allen wichtigen Unterlagen bis zum 24.07.2026 ausschließlich über das Bewerbungsportal http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/76523 ein. Auskunft erteilt Frau Laura Fuhrmann, E-Mail: laura.fuhrmann@uni-goettingen.de, Tel. 05513924140Hinweis: Wir weisen darauf hin, dass die Einreichung der Bewerbung eine datenschutzrechtliche Einwilligung in die Verarbeitung Ihrer Bewerbungsdaten durch uns darstellt. Näheres zur Rechtsgrundlage und Datenverwendung finden Sie im Hinweisblatt zur Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO)