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Postdoctoral researcher – Munich Center for Technology in Society

The Innovation, Society and Public Policy (ISPP) research group at the Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS) is inviting applications for the following position to be filled immediately:

Postdoctoral researcher (TV-L E13, 100%, 2+1 years, fixed term)

About us

ISPP investigates the practices, politics, knowledge structures, and economic processes underwriting today’s innovation-driven societies. We examine current phenomena at both the level of public policy (e.g. national and regional innovation strategies, sustainability transitions, test beds) and concrete technologies (e.g. electric mobility, neuroscience, robotics, food innovation). Across a range of domains and projects, we are committed to a strong co-productionist approach that treats technoscientific and societal changes as essentially interrelated and co-evolving.

Our research group brings together perspectives from science and technology studies (STS), political science, sociology, public policy, management, and anthropology to study cultural, political, and economic dynamics that shape, and are being shaped by, innovation. Among the questions that drive research in our group are: How do understandings and practices of innovation differ across technological domains, regions, and cultures? How do governments and institutions go about building capacities in innovation? How do societies envision their future and express social values through projects of science and technology? How do science and innovation play out in international and collaborative settings? How can we govern science, technology innovation responsibly, sustainably, deliberatively, and inclusively?

ISPP is currently leading several national and international research projects (besides a range of individual projects), including “Regional Innovation Cultures” (DFG), “Cultivating Engagement” (EIT Food), “Technoscientific Constitutionalism” (DFG/NSF), and the EU-H2020 consortium SCALINGS (“Scaling Up Co-creation? Avenues and Limits for Including Society in Science and Innovation), coordinated by ISPP.

Job description

Ÿ  Conduct independent STS research projects (of your choice) compatible with the research group’s general areas of interest and ongoing projects;

Ÿ  Publish with recognized international journals and book publishers, including the option to co-author papers with other senior group members;

Ÿ  Apply for competitive and internationally oriented research grants;

Ÿ  Teach graduate-level courses in STS (1-2 per semester);

Ÿ  Supervise Master’s students at TU Munich and mentor PhD candidates in the research group;

Ÿ  Design and organize international workshops and conferences;

Ÿ  A central role in supporting the work of the research group on an administrative level;

Ÿ  Active engagement at MCTS and in the national and international STS community.

Profile

Ÿ  Completed/submitted dissertation in Science and Technology Studies (STS), (Qualitative) Policy Studies, Innovation Studies, Sociology, Political Science or other field, presuming that they can demonstrate an equivalent level of qualification and subject-specific expertise;

Ÿ  Broad knowledge of the topics, theories and methods of STS;

Ÿ  A distinct research profile in STS or related fields (demonstrated through publications and previous teaching) compatible with the ISPP research profile and interests;

Ÿ  Experience in designing and conducting independent empirical research projects, using qualitative methods;

Ÿ  Knowledge of co-productionist and comparative approaches in STS are a strong advantage;

Ÿ  Experiences in (co-)supervising student theses are an advantage;

Ÿ  International experience is an advantage;

Ÿ  Excellent command of the English language and ability to write for different audiences (STS journals, broader academic audiences, policy-makers);

Ÿ  Strong inclination to work in a team-oriented environment.

About MCTS

The Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS) is the largest STS center in the German-speaking countries. MCTS offers you an excellent, inspiring, and international research environment at one of Europe’s eminent technical universities where you will find many opportunities and support to develop your academic profile. As the latest addition to TU Munich’s vibrant academic and entrepreneurial community, MCTS is a trans-disciplinary STS center launched in 2015 as part of Excellence Initiative by the German Federal Government. MCTS’ mission is premised on the insight that today’s grand challenges are thoroughly sociotechnical in nature and that excellence in science and engineering requires coequal excellence in addressing associated questions in the social, political, legal, historical, and ethical domain. The MCTS community includes STS researchers from the social sciences, humanities, the natural sciences, engineering, and architecture, and is committed to multi-faceted forms of dialogue across both expert communities and various publics.

Find out more about the MCTS and ISPP online.

Application

Please submit your application as a single pdf document, including the following parts (in this order):

Ÿ  Your CV, including a list of publications and presentations;

Ÿ  A letter of motivation that describes your research profile, your research plans for the next years and expectations regarding your intellectual trajectory, your broader interests, and how your work relates to the research group’s overall interests (max. 1000 words);

Ÿ  1-3 writing samples (e.g. a chapter of your PhD thesis, a publication, or a submitted manuscript);

Ÿ  A syllabus of a course you would like to teach at MCTS (either based on your specific area of expertise or your personal version of an advanced introduction into “science, technology, and public policy”);

Ÿ  The names and contact details of three references, including a brief statement explaining your relationship;

Ÿ  Relevant transcripts and certificates (e.g. a copy of your Master’s or doctoral degree).

All application materials should be sent to application@mcts.tum.de, mentioning “ISPP Post-Doc” in the subject line.

The deadline for application is July 15, 2018. Earlier applications will be considered immediately.

Specific questions regarding the ISPP research profile and or this position should be addressed to Prof. Sebastian Pfotenhauer (sebastian.pfotenhauer@tum.de).


OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Nathalie Ortar (June 25, 2018). Postdoctoral researcher – Munich Center for Technology in Society. Energy Anthropology Network. Retrieved March 23, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/nz9f


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