We are looking for an excellent and research driven candidate (m/f/d) who is positioned to propose a research project that corresponds thematically and methodologically to the research theme of the department Borders.
Borders are a fundamental problem of contemporary life: there is a veritable boom in the building of walls and the fortification of borders around the world. Borders have never been static lines, but are mobile, disputed and invisible; they encompass the physical to the intellectual and cultural but mark the differences between our humanity and all that would seem to deny it or contradict it or aim to replace it. The project considers, on the one hand, the materiality of marking margins and borders with objects, sculptures, or by carving nature, and on the other hand the political and cognitive implications of the representation of borders on maps and paper, as well as recent bordering techniques which have broken away from the map. It also considers the historical and contemporary presence of visible and invisible borders within the context of cities,



with areas or buildings inhabited by minorities or merchant nations, such as today's quarters inhabited by foreign-born communities.
The Academic Assistant (f/m/d) will conduct his/her/their own research within the framework of the new department and of the project Borders.
Alongside excellence in research, the candidate should demonstrate flexibility and readiness to take on responsibilities, commitment to pursuing new insights through original scholarship, international experiences, and capability of working in a group.Candidates must be fluent in English. Additional language skills (preferably active) may include knowledge of one or more of the following languages: Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese.
Application Deadline
The deadline for application is September 30, 2026, 12 pm CET.
Starting Date
December 1, 2026. In justified cases, we may also consider later starting dates.The position is offered

📌 Pre- or Postdoc Academic Assistant (Toscana)
🏢 Max Planck Group
📍 Toscana