Director for the Study of International Relations, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin [WZB Berlin Social Science Center], Germany. Deadline: 20 September 2026.
The Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB Berlin Social Science Center) is one of the leading global research institutions in the field of social sciences. It unites the social sciences to address society’s biggest challenges. The WZB conducts world-class problem-oriented basic research in the social sciences and connects research and society by engaging with decision-makers in the public and private sectors, civil society and the general public. By bringing together scholars from all over the world with their various methodological and disciplinary backgrounds – including sociology, political science, economics, and law -, the WZB fosters a vibrant and stimulating research environment that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. Research at the WZB is characterized by long-term projects based on multidisciplinary cooperation and transnational perspectives. The current cross-cutting research topics at the WZB are: Climate, Democracy, Digitalization, Education, Gender, Health, International Orders, Migration, and Work. The WZB is a publicly funded non-university research institute and a member of the Leibniz Association.
The WZB seeks to establish a new research department and to fill a permanent full-time position of Director (f/m/x) for the study of international relations, broadly understood. They aim to appoint a world-class scholar in political science, sociology, or economics who will establish and lead a team to implement an ambitious research agenda focused on theory-driven empirical research on transformations of the international order and shifting power relations. Specializations might include conflict and war, international security, contestation and legitimacy of international institutions and norms, transnational politics, international political economy, and global governance challenges, such as climate change, migration, trade, or development.