Research Fellowship Competition

The KIU Research Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies supports innovative and significant research on topics related to Ukraine. Researchers from various disciplines such as history, social sciences, science and technology studies, economics, media studies, legal studies, cultural studies, conflict studies and related fields are invited to intensively advance their research, broaden their networks and contribute to an emerging vibrant Ukraine-related research environment located at the European University Viadrina, in cooperation with its excellent partner institutions in Berlin. Fellows will enjoy intellectual exchange and international inspiration from the interwoven Polish-German Border region, plus access to the vast resources within the competence network, including the Centre for East European and International Studies Berlin (ZOiS), the Humboldt University Berlin, the Free University Berlin, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin.

For the winter term 2025 we are offering on-site fellowships for committed scientists from all the above-mentioned disciplines. Research topics should be related to our recent umbrella topic:

Infrastructural fragmentation, infrastructural resilience -
Interdisciplinary perspectives on techno-politics and crisis

Infrastructures are both physical and knowledge-based. Physical infrastructures—such as bridges, power plants, and cable networks—and knowledge infrastructures—including universities and civil society organizations—are increasingly being attacked and destroyed in Ukraine and its occupied territories by Russia's full-scale invasion. As geopolitical uncertainties rise, these attacks are also increasingly affecting other parts of Europe. What does infrastructural resilience mean today? How is it being tested by different forms of attack? How can resilience become preventive rather than merely reactive towards physical and informational attacks? And what role does critical engagement play in shaping infrastructural developments?

We invite scholars from the broad field of humanities, social sciences, media studies, science and technology studies, economic sciences, legal studies and related fields to join our research network and contribute to the debate.

The KIU Research Fellowships are intended to bring together scientists of all career stages from 2 years after completing their doctorate. Fellows are expected to focus on a project, contribute to regular academic of the KIU with at least one presentation of their own work, and to explore the potential of joint research work both with other fellows and with KIU members. Fellows will closely cooperate and enjoy intellectual exchange with their academic hosts from within the KIU.

The residential research fellowship at European University Viadrina provides a monthly stipend of 2000 € up to 2300 € (depending on the career level) for a period of 3 months plus a one-time travel allowance of up to 600 €. Fellows are offered a workplace in the co-working office of the KIU in Frankfurt (Oder). Fellows are expected to conduct their research on site at the KIU and thus in intensive exchange with other fellows and scholars at the KIU. In addition, fellows will attend the weekly research colloquium and the KIU lecture series, a weekly KIU lunch meeting and are invited to present their own work in the colloquium and at other events. The Viadrina provides support in the search for accommodation in Frankfurt (Oder). The fellowship will start in October 2025 and last until December 2025.

Expected outcomes of the fellowship – particular publications, project proposals, conference panels and the like – should be indicated in the application. We welcome all fellows to collaborate with other fellows and with their academic hosts and to develop project proposals or publication projects developed during their stay. Proposals and ideas outlining this continued cooperation will be positively considered in the application.

Applicants are invited to familiarise themselves with the research areas, projects and scientists at the KIU and to suggest their potential academic host. Please describe why you would like to work with this particular researcher and what the possible content of your collaboration would be.

Fellowship applicants should provide a recommendation from a renowned scientist in their field.

Interested candidates should apply online through the KIU application portal by 25 June 2025 via our application portal. Applicants first need to register on the portal. The application portal is now open: KIU Application Portal.

You can download the full Call for Applications as a PDF here.

• Personal (CV) data, including copies of your ID document (jpg), your photo (jpg), degree certificates (jpg or pdf) and (if applicable and relevant) language certificates (jpg or pdf)

• A short summary of your project (max. 300 words)

• A project proposal of max. 1,500 words, describing your research project including research question and design, work plan and intended outcomes to be implemented during your fellowship.

• A list of publications – please highlight your five most relevant publications for the planned project.

• A letter of recommendation from a renowned researcher in your field (NOT from the KIU!)

• An indication of your potential academic host at KIU, including your idea why and how you would like to co-operate with this scholar