Visiting Fellowship

The Visiting Fellowship offered by the Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality” at the University of Konstanz is a prestigious opportunity aimed at internationally recognized scholars who are advancing research into the political causes and consequences of inequality. The Cluster draws on interdisciplinary expertise from political science, sociology, economics, linguistics, and related disciplines to explore perceptions of inequality, their mobilizing effects, and political reactions. The goal is to support scholars who contribute meaningfully to this research agenda and enrich the Cluster's intellectual environment. The fellowship is funded through the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments, specifically by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), under grant EXC-2035/2 – 390681379. The fellowship program supports researchers for a duration of two to six months during the academic year 2026–2027. The earliest starting date is October 1, 2026, and the latest end date is September 30, 2027. Fellows will receive a monthly flat rate of 6,000 EUR intended to cover accommodation and living expenses. In addition, a research allowance of up to 1,500 EUR per month is available to support conference travel, hiring research assistants, and other related expenses. The program also includes reimbursement for relocation costs to and from Konstanz, subject to certain limitations. Fellows are expected to reside in Konstanz during the fellowship to facilitate deep engagement with the Cluster’s community. Active participation in the Cluster’s events, including the In_equality Colloquium public lecture series, is required. Fellows are also encouraged to provide mentorship to early career researchers within the Cluster. The program seeks to foster dynamic academic exchange and collaboration, making presence on campus a core expectation. The application is open to scholars from outside the University of Konstanz who demonstrate an established academic record and international recognition in fields that align with or complement the Cluster’s focus areas. There are no restrictions based on discipline or geographic location. Scholars working in domains not already represented at the Cluster are particularly welcome. Applications from pairs of researchers, including dual-career teams, are also considered and should be discussed with the Managing Director in advance. To apply, candidates must submit a completed application form, a research proposal (maximum four pages, not including references), and a combined document containing a curriculum vitae and list of publications. The proposal should address how the project contributes to the Cluster’s agenda on the political dimension of inequality and include a proposed schedule with relevant work packages. All documents should be submitted in English via the Cluster’s online application portal. The submission deadline is January 31, 2026, by 23:59 CET. Applications will be reviewed by the Cluster's Board. Decisions will be based on the applicant’s academic track record, relevance of the proposal to the Cluster's themes, and potential for engagement with the research community at Konstanz. For further questions, applicants are encouraged to contact Managing Director Thomas Wöhler by phone at +49 7531 88-4878. Additional guidance can be found in the Cluster’s FAQs and on the official website at http://inequality.uni.kn.

Proposal must clearly align with Cluster research on inequality and describe schedule and use of research allowance.