The interdisciplinary Leibniz Research Alliance »Value of the Past« examines the values that societies attach to the past. It focusses on processes of value creation as well as competing values in disputes over the past. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the relevance of the past for societies and the changeable historicity of values, the alliance analyses past and current practices of assessing, rethinking, raising, decreasing and harnessing the value of the past. The alliance postulates that particularly in times of political upheavals and crises, processes of negotiating the value of the past play a crucial role. The research network brings together a total of 21 Leibniz Institutes and numerous other partners, spanning the fields of cultural studies, social sciences, engineering and environmental sciences.
The scholarship offers the opportunity to work as a fellow at one of the participating Leibniz Institutes. The aim is to support research projects that fall within the network’s field of research. Further details on the topics addressed by the network can be found here.
The fellowships are intended to promote academic research that fit into the alliance’s research profile. Fellowship holders can, for example, use the stipend to research in the field of the alliance’s research areas, to develop a research project in cooperation with the host institution, to conduct archival research, or to write an article or chapter of a book. The project should be presented at a colloquium and/or other event of the Leibniz Research Alliance or its participating Leibniz institutes. It is also expected that fellowship holders contribute to the blog »Value of the Past«.
Applicants must have a PhD and an outstanding academic record. Holders of Leibniz Research Alliance Fellowships receive a grant of 3,000 €. The funding should cover all expenses including travel, housing, and insurance. The host institutes will provide office space and other relevant research facilities where possible.
The application deadline is 30 June 2026. Decisions will be announced by mid of July 2026. The fellowships must be taken up by December 2027. Applications from scholars from international crisis regions will be given special consideration.
Applications in English or German must include
- a letter of interest including details about the chosen Leibniz-Institute;
- a curriculum vitae (including a list of publications, with 5 most important publications);
- a project proposal not exceeding 1,500 words;
- a letter of recommendation.
Please send your application to: jakob [dot] schlieper [at] zzf-potsdam [dot] de (jakob[dot]schlieper[at]zzf-potsdam[dot]de).
Further information on the fellowships and a list of participating institutions can be found in the full call for applications on H-Soz-Kult. Any questions regarding the fellowship programme can also be directed to Dr Achim Saupe (saupe [at] zzf-potsdam [dot] de).