At the University of Göttingen -Public Law Foundation-, RTG 3209 China-GRASP: China´s Geoeconomic Rise and the Accumulation of Structural Power - Goettingen - Kiel, there are 11 positions as
PhD researcher (all genders welcome)
Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L/75%
to be filled. Starting date is 10/1/2026. The position is limited to 09/30/2029.
Are you fascinated by how China is reshaping the global order — and want to research it systematically? Our Research Training Group (RTG) brings together scholars from Economics, Political Science, and Area Studies at the University of Göttingen and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy to examine China’s geoeconomic rise in international politics. We study how China accumulates and exercises structural power across four interconnected domains: security, production of goods and services, finance and credit, and knowledge and information — and how states, firms, and societies respond. The framework of structural power, rooted in international political economy, gives your research a theoretically rigorous and policy-relevant foundation. Whether your background is in quantitative methods, qualitative research, or both, you will find a home here. A particular strength of our group is working with innovative data sources, including Chinese-language materials — giving you the opportunity to contribute original empirical findings where systematic data is still scarce.
Your research will be situated within one of our
15 Focus Areas , grouped into five Research Clusters — giving your PhD project a clear thematic home while connecting it to a broader intellectual agenda
— spanning China’s role in regions along the Belt and Road, in Africa, Eurasia, and Europe. While each Research Cluster has its own thematic focus, they are designed to speak to each other, and many projects productively bridge two or more clusters.
As a PhD researcher,
you will design and carry out your own original PhD project within this broader framework. You will engage with cutting-edge debates, develop advanced methodological skills, and join a cohort of researchers working on one of the most consequential topics in contemporary international relations. Our goal is to gain a systematic understanding of China’s geoeconomic rise by using an innovative international political economy approach which explores how China’s structural power accumulates.
What we offer
Joining our RTG means becoming part of a dynamic, internationally connected research community at one of Europe’s largest centers for social science research on Asia. Here is what you can expect:
- Your own PhD project — supervised personally and tailored to your disciplinary background and research goals
- A stimulating intellectual environment — regular exchange with leading scholars and practitioners in international political economy, China studies, and related fields
- Interdisciplinary training — through collaborative coursework bridging Economics, Political Science, and Area Studies
- An international network — with opportunities for research stays abroad through the University of Göttingen’s and the Kiel Institute’s global partnerships
- Dedicated career development and mentorship — to prepare you for academic and non-academic careers
- A welcoming, diverse community committed to equal opportunities — we actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups
The RTG is hosted at the University of Göttingen and its Centre for Modern East Asian Studies, which together form a hub for social science research on Asia in Europe.
Who we are looking for
We welcome applications from curious, ambitious researchers who want to make an original contribution to understanding China’s role in the world. You should bring:
- A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent, graded good or very good) in a relevant discipline — including Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Asian or China Studies, Development Studies, Global Governance, International Security, Agricultural Studies, or related fields
- Strong methodological skills, quantitative or qualitative, suited to your chosen Focus Area
- Fulfillment of the requirements to the Doctoral Program for your discipline at the University of Göttingen: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/54551.html
- Fluency in written and spoken English (the RTG’s working language); advanced knowledge of the Chinese language will be an asset (and will be required for some positions)
- A self-designed, innovative, and feasible research proposal that makes a clear contribution to one or more of our Research Clusters (see below)
Please submit the following in English (required for CV, motivation letter and research proposal) or German as PDFs:
- CV
- Motivation letter (max. 1 page) explaining why you want to pursue your PhD within this RTG
- Research proposal outline (max. 2 pages) addressing a specific Focus Area — you may submit up to two proposals and indicate an interest in altogether three Focus Areas
- Writing sample (approx. 10 pages, e.g. a chapter from your Master’s thesis, seminar thesis, or an academic publication)
- List of publications (if applicable)
- Language certificates
- Certificate of the academic university degree(s) and transcripts of record
- Names and contact details of two academic referees
- Responses to the questions in the application portal (all questions need to be responded to)
Further information
If you have any questions regarding the advertised positions or RCs, please contact the main supervisor(s) involved (see the RC descriptions online: https://uni-goettingen.de/de/research+clusters/708380.html )
If you have any general questions regarding the application process, please send an e-mail to:
[email protected]
More information on the RTG 3209 and its RCs can also be found online at: https://uni-goettingen.de/de/about+/708378.html
Application deadline and procedures:
Please upload your application as one consolidated PDF file by
July 24, 2026 via the University of Göttingen’s application portal. This can be accessed via the following link: : http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/76523
The first round of interviews is scheduled to take place online from August 10 to 14, 2026, and the second round from August 18 to 20, 2026. Depending on geographical distance and practical feasibility, applicants will be invited to in-person interviews. Travel expenses may be reimbursed up to a maximum of 300 euros.
The RTG 3209 is strongly committed to promoting equal opportunities and diversity. We consider a diversity of perspectives as particularly enriching of our work, especially from among those underrepresented in academia (or some of the disciplines involved in the RTG’s work). We therefore welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of gender, social status, religion, ethnic origin, nationality or migration background.
The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in fields in which they are underrepresented. The university has committed itself to being a family-friendly institution and supports their employees in balancing work and family life. The University is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled employees and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal qualifications, applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preference. A disability or equality is to be included in the application in order to protect the interests of the applicant.
Please upload your application in one pdf file including the usual documents until 7/24/2026 on the application portal of the university using this link:
http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/76523 . For more information get in touch with Laura Fuhrmann directly via E-Mail:
[email protected], Tel. 05513924140 .
Please note:
With submission of your application, you accept the processing of your applicant data in terms of data-protection law. Further information on the legal basis and data usage is provided in the Information General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
