2 Doctoral Researchers (f/m/d)

bicc - Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies is an independent international research institute dedicated to research and policy advice on the conditions, dynamics and consequences of violent conflicts to contribute to a more peaceful world. bicc was founded in 1994 with the support of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is a member of the Johannes-Rau-Research Community.

We are looking for

Doctoral Researchers (m/f/d)
Research Group: Lived Experiences of Violence and Coerced Livelihoods
in Translocal Spaces of Conflict

Two part time positions to be filled (65% each).
Salary according to German public sector tariff (TV-L) EG 13 and previous working experience.
The position may be filled as of 1.10.2026 for a fixed term of 48 month until 30.09.2030.

The Doctoral Researcher position is part of the research group “Lived Experiences of Violence and Coerced Livelihoods in Translocal Spaces of Conflict” (VIOLET), led by Dr. Benjamin Etzold, funded by the German Research Foundation under Germany's Excellence Strategy – Cluster of Excellence Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS) at the University of Bonn. The BCDSS offers excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary and comparative research of different forms of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies (SADs) across time periods and world regions. In its second funding phase (2026–2032), the BCDSS will investigate the underlying causes and mechanisms that contribute to the persistence of SADs across historical and contemporary contexts.

Within the BCDSS, the research group VIOLET will investigate the entanglements of violence, labour exploitation and livelihood precarity in translocal settings of armed conflict and displacement. It seeks to answer how livelihoods and dependencies evolve under violent conditions, and which traces lived experiences of violence leave within societies. The PhD research shall contribute to this research group, bicc’s research on the conditions, dynamics and consequences of violent conflicts and to the BCDSS’s research Area “Power, Violence and Trauma”. The successful candidate will participate in BCDSS’s Doctoral Program that offers thorough preparation and support during doctoral dissertation work, including academic course work, additional skills training, and close supervision.

Your tasks:

• Initiate a PhD-agenda encompassing a research query, theoretical and methodological structure within the context of the project and the BCDSS’s overarching framework;
• Carrying out empirical research in Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya or Ethiopia on people’s lived experiences of violence and livelihoods under the conditions of violent conflict;
• Participate and contribute to content-related, conceptual and methodological debates within bicc, the BCDSS and other academic audiences;
• Participate in regular activities of the research consortium, i. e. networking meetings, transfer activities;
• Co-authoring of at least one journal article and presentation of research insights in academic forums.

Your profile:

• Master (or equivalent) with excellent grades in social sciences (i. e. Human Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Migration/ Refugee Studies or similar) matching the position’s research profile;
• Proven knowledge and experience of research methodologies in the social sciences, with a particular focus on qualitative, ethnographic or participatory research methods;
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment;
• Research or work experience in the research regions (Kenya, Ethiopia, Bangladesh or Nigeria) is an asset;
• Excellent written and spoken English language skills (C1); additional proficiency in a language spoken in one of the research regions and by research partners (German) is an asset;
• Willingness and aptness to travel abroad, including countries with a tropical climate („Tropical suitability required“).

We offer:

We offer you the opportunity to do research on and write your PhD thesis in a transdisciplinary applied research and advisory institute (bicc) and in a PhD programme at the University of Bonn’s Cluster of Excellence BCDSS. Your scope of activity is professionally demanding, multi-faceted and offers a great deal of creative freedom. Your place of work is Bonn.

The position is remunerated according to the collective wage agreement for the public service of the Länder (TV-L) pay scale 13, according to previous work experience, and also includes the option of a company pension scheme (VBLU) as well as a special annual payment in accordance with the TV-L.

bicc strives for gender equality and diversity, so we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from people with severe disabilities.

Please send your detailed application with complete documents (cover letter, CV, references and work samples) with the reference 3_26 by 17 May 2026 exclusively by email to Ms Nadine Gebauer-Haspel (application@bicc.de), who is also your contact person for the application process. Please compile your documents into a single PDF file with a maximum size of 5 megabytes.

Your personal data will be processed in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations during the selection process. Detailed information on this can be found in our data protection information.

Publication date: 13 April 2026

bicc – Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies gGmbH
Pfarrer-Byns-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany, +49 (0)228 911 96-0, www.bicc.de

Source: https://bicc.de/Cosmos/Vacancies/03_26_Doctoral%20Researchers%20(m-f-d)