Professorship in Philosophy

The Institute of Art Studies at the Braunschweig University of Art (HBK) is currently seeking to fill the following professorship: University Professor in Philosophy, specialising in Aesthetics and Art Theory (salary scale W3 NBesG), starting October 1, 2024.

The successful candidate will be appointed under German civil service regulations, if applicable, or otherwise as an employee. This is a permanent appointment.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in philosophy and a Habilitation or equivalent in philosophy or a related arts and humanities subject. The professorship will focus on contemporary aesthetic theory and its historical preconditions.
The post holder is expected to approach the spectrum of aesthetic phenomena in their complex social contexts. It is a particular feature that the HBK Braunschweig is offering a professorship in philosophy specialising in aesthetics within an Institute of Art Studies. The modules that will fall under the remit of the professorship are mandatory for all students enrolled in a bachelor or master's degree in Art Studies. However, teaching in this subject should reflect the fact that the modules are also open to students of the Fine Arts, Art for the Teaching Profession, Art Education, Performing Arts, Media Studies and Design.

We are seeking a person who
–is able to reflect different approaches in contemporary philosophical aesthetics in transcultural, sociological, economic, ecological, political, historical and ethical contexts
–is able to complement theoretical discussions related to aesthetics with ideas drawn from other disciplines (e.g. cultural studies, ethnology, sociology, psychoanalysis, political theory, gender studies, postcolonial and decolonial theory, visual studies, media theory, cultural studies)
–can reflect upon and inspire production processes in art, including in the context of artistic plenary sessions,
–is willing to address mass media phenomena as well as the intermedial interweaving of contemporary arts that are currently emerging and not yet discursively located
–possesses the ability to enable students enrolled in the BA and MA degrees in Art Studies, in Fine Arts, Art for the Teaching Profession and other degree subjects to engage in relevant philosophical/aesthetic questions and current related theories from an academic viewpoint.

As the HBK Braunschweig has the status of a university (that is, it is entitled to confer doctoral and Habilitation degrees), the new professor will be expected to deepen their own research in their special areas of expertise, to supervise doctoral students and students working towards artistic diplomas, and to attract and acquire third-party funding. They will also be expected to participate in academic self-governance.

They will be expected to have competency in German to at least C1 level and to demonstrate social and leadership skills as well as an awareness of gender and diversity issues. Further requirements of the position are defined under Section 25 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (Niedersächsisches Hochschulgesetz of February 2, 2022): see here.

Candidates who can demonstrate the following qualifications are particularly encouraged to apply:
–the ability and enthusiasm to establish collaborative partnerships with local contemporary art collections and museums and with other national and international universities, art colleges and other institutions for the contemporary arts.
–the ability and enthusiasm to network with other areas of the HBK Braunschweig such as Art for the Teaching Profession, Fine Arts, Design and Media Studies in teaching and research.

The HBK Braunschweig is committed to increasing the proportion of women in art, research and teaching as one of its strategic goals. We therefore explicitly encourage women to apply. Where candidates have equivalent qualifications, under the relevant regulations, preference will be given to female candidates. Subject to the same provisions, preference will also be given to disabled candidates (please enclose evidence of the relevant disability with your application). The HBK Braunschweig cultivates a culture of diversity. We therefore particularly welcome applications from candidates who will increase the diversity of our staff and student body and/or who are actively working towards a culture of diversity.

The HBK Braunschweig is a member of the Dual Career Network (South-East Lower Saxony) and offers support to candidates and their families in managing dual careers. This position is suitable for part-time employment.

Applications should include:
a cover letter, a CV (which should include a description of the candidate’s research specialisms), relevant certificates of academic qualification, a list of publications, a list of courses previously taught, a summary of planned research projects in relation to art and art theory, and a description of your (cross-disciplinary) teaching approach. The summary of planned research projects and the description of your teaching approach should each not extend one page. Please also include a list of third-party-funded projects in which you have been involved. Please submit all application materials electronically as one PDF file (maximum ten MB) by September 17, 2023 to berufungen@hbk-bs.de. Please note that applications submitted in other formats will not be accepted.

Unfortunately we are unable to reimburse any costs in relation to your application.

Personal data provided as part of your application will be processed by HBK Braunschweig on the basis of the following legislation: Section 88, Lower Saxony Civil Servant Act (NBG) (for German civil servants) in conjunction with Section 12, Lower Saxony Data Protection Act in conjunction with Section 88 NBG for employees who are not civil servants). Should your application be unsuccessful, all documents and data relating to your application and all personal data will be destroyed/deleted six months after the recruitment and selection process is legally completed. Detailed information regarding data protection during the recruitment process can be found here.

Enquiries in relation to the application process should be addressed to Carina Haas berufungen@hbk-bs.de T +49 (0) 531 391 9343.