From 2018 to 2020, the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Konstanz will host a Research Group funded by the Balzan Prize that was awarded in 2017 to Aleida and Jan Assmann for their work on Cultural Memory. The topic of research project will be

“Reconstructing Memory in the City - Transnational and Local (European) Sites of Memory”

European memory is often conceived of as a supra-national memory to be shaped and imposed in a top down process. The focus of our project, however, will be on the dynamics of collective memory as it is shaped by initiatives and movements from below. Emphasis will be put on (European) cities and local actors that respond to new social, political and cultural challenges in their built environment. A basic tenet of the project is that towns and cities are a crucial context for the negotiation of the past in a time of radical change. We encourage investigations that study the emergence of new memory practices that reshape collective memory and identity in the age of globalization and migration at the beginning of the 21st century.

The Institute for Advanced Study (“Kulturwissenschaftliches Kolleg”) is part of the Center of Excellence “Cultural Foundations of Social Integration” established in 2006 at the University of Konstanz to support innovative research in the humanities in an interdisciplinary context. Each year, the Institute hosts scholars from different fields and countries. The Balzan Team will be part of this group and profit from interdisciplinary exchange and discussions, as well as from the infrastructure of the Institute with its various facilities.

The Balzan Project Call invites applications for the following fellowships:

Fellowship period: 24 months within the academic years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020.
(Given particular circumstances, an extension of the fellowship for an additional period of 12 months can be considered.)

Start of residence: 1 April 2018
The fellowship is 2000 € monthly. In addition, arrival and departure costs will be covered. The Institute will help in finding appropriate and affordable accommodation. An office will be provided at the Institute, Bischofsvilla Otto-Adam-Strasse 5, 78464 Konstanz.

Requirements: Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. requirements. Their applications should be directly related to the thematic orientation of the Balzan Research Project. Full-time residence is required.
The Balzan researchers are expected to publish the results of their studies in bookform and/or articles. Costs of publication will be supported by the foundation. They are further expected to assist the directors (Aleida and Jan Assmann) in preparing and coordinating workshops and guest lectures, as well as an international symposium in the frame of the Balzan project.

Required application documents as one single PDF file

Length: a maximum of 10 pages (not counting certificates and list of publications), font size 12, Times New Roman, line-spacing 1.5.

- Cover letter (please include a description of the reasons for wishing to pursue research as part of the Balzan team, ma. 2 p.)

- Project-Outline:
a. Summary (max. 15 lines)
b. Detailed description of planed research project at Konstanz (ca. 5 p.)

- Detailed CV (ca. 2 p.)

- List of publications

- Abstract of Ph.D. thesis (max. 1 p.)

- PhD certificate

Information on the “Cultural Foundations of Integration” Center of Excellence can be found at: https://www.exzellenzcluster.uni-konstanz.de, on the Institute for Advanced Study Konstanz: https://www.exzellenzcluster.uni-konstanz.de/kolleg.html.

Deadline: Please send your application (in German or English) by 10 January, 2018 (24:00 hrs. CEST) to: applications@assmanns.de
Contact: Aleida Assmann (aleida.assmann@uni-konstanz.de)
Jan Assmann (jan@assmanns.de).