COLLEGE OF FELLOWS
Center for Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Studies
The College of Fellows (CoF) is the Tübingen model of a university-based Institute for Advanced Studies. It is addressed to all international postdocs and research fellows at the University of Tübingen. As a platform for research, networking and events, the CoF furthermore invites all university members to actively participate in shaping the international and interdisciplinary exchange within the university and with the public.
More Information about the College of Fellows
All upcoming events
► 26–30 September 2023: Masterclass with Eduardo Viveiros de Castro: "The Anthropology of Perspectivism"
► 28 September 2023: Public Lecture by Eduardo Viveiros de Castro: "Indigenous multinaturalism from a cosmopolitical point of view"
► 13–14 October 2023: Conference "Strukturphilosophie im Widerstreit. Phänomenologische, historische und interkulturelle Perspektiven"
► 23–26 October 2023: New Horizons Workshop with Rita Felski: "Postcritique, Recognition, Life World"
► 25 October 2023: Public Lecture by Rita Felski: "How Not To Talk About Experience"
► 27 October 2023: CoF Semester Opening with Jan Willem Duyvendak: "How to Understand the Rise of Nativism in Western Countries? Territorialized notions of belonging in times of increasing mobility"
►6–10 November 2023: Symposium "Nature" in Buddhism and Christianity
Save the Date
Eduardo Viveiros de Castro at the College of Fellows
In September 2023, we welcome renowned anthropologist Professor Eduardo Viveiros de Castro at the College of Fellows.
We cordially invite you to his public lecture on Thu, 28 Sept 2023:
"Indigenous multinaturalism from a cosmopolitan point of view"
In addition, from 26 to 30 September 2023 the College of Fellows will host the Masterclass "The Anthropology of Perspectivism" with Eduardo Viveiros de Castro for international PhD candidates. The Masterclass will take place as a closed event.
Find detailed information here.
Both events are organised as part of the Focus Group "Interdisciplinary Anthropology".
Current Calls
Call for Applications
New Horizons Workshop with Professor Rita Felski: “Postcritique – Disclosure, Recognition, Life World”
23/24/26 October, University of Tübingen
Organisation: College of Fellows
Application deadline: 8 October 2023
“Rather than taking it for granted that a work gains its meaning in relation to a historical or political context that is being assumed by the critic, why not insist on its potential to transform what counts as a relevant context?” (Rita Felski)
Find more information about the workshop here.
Call for Applications
Workshop "Eco-phenomenology: Exploring Eco-phenomenological Concepts and Theories from and for Africa’s Ecological Lifeworld"
13–15 December 2023, University of Tübingen
Organisation: Dr Abiodun Afolabi, Dr Niels Weidtmann
Application deadline: 10 October 2023
This workshop aims to use "eco-phenomenology" as a concept to analyse African environment or nature-related problems in a bid to contribute important insights that would direct and infuse the habits of thought and action in the everyday lives of African people towards a transformative eco-consciousness.
Read more information on the workshop and the Call for Applications here.
The workshop is organised as part of the Focus Group "Intercultural Studies".
Call for Applications
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in “Intercultural Studies”
Application deadline: 30 November 2023
The College of Fellows – Center for Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Studies (CoF-CIIS) at the University of Tübingen is currently inviting applications for International Research Fellowships in the field of Intercultural Studies, lasting for a period of up to 12 months. The CoF-CIIS is Tübingen University’s Institute for Advanced Studies promoting interdisciplinary research. This is reflected in the CoF-CIIS’s various focus groups, which bring together scholars of different disciplines dedicated to specific topics. One of these focus groups is working on interculturality, in which successful applicants will participate.
The call is open to scholars who have been working academically outside Germany for at least the last two years at the time of application. Applicants must have successfully completed their PhD; initial postdoctoral research experience is welcome. Applicants are expected to pursue their own research project in the field of intercultural and global studies that addresses fundamental questions of awareness of the coexistence of different cultures in the global world. Within the framework of the scholarship program, the main interest lies in the following exemplary issues: What is cultural belonging, and is it even viable to speak of such a notion? What impact does globalization have on conceptions of cultural belonging? In which ways do global cultural entanglements affect the self-understanding of societies, and how can hidden power structures and identity ascriptions be uncovered? Can the diversity of intellectual and lived traditions be reflected in the global reality of contemporary societies, and how? Do globalized cultural entanglements change our relationship to nature? And what does this mean for the humanities and even the sciences? The focus group puts some emphasis on phenomenological approaches but integrates different methodologies. Applications are welcome from philosophy, anthropology, cultural theory, literature, sociology, global studies, global south studies, environmental studies and neighboring subjects.
Successful applicants are expected to organize a workshop in collaboration with the CoF-CIIS, and to participate in weekly research colloquia. Fellows are required to take residence in Tübingen; very good German and/or English language skills are mandatory. The research project must be conducted in one of these two languages. The University of Tübingen provides a monthly stipend of 2.350, - EUR, working space will be available. The scholarship can start earliest 1 January 2024.
Applications (research proposal, CV, letter of recommendation) are welcome before 30 November 2023 (via e-mail):
College of Fellows – Center for Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Studies
PD Dr. Niels Weidtmann, Director
University of Tübingen, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany
niels.weidtmann@cof.uni-tuebingen.de
Student / Research Assistant (m/f/d)
The College of Fellows is looking for a student assistant (unexaminded) or research assistant (BA) for 15-20 hours per month, starting immediately / 1 November 2023.
We require interest in interdisciplinary work and in contact with international guests of the university. Furthermore, we expect the willingness to work independently and project-oriented as well as the cooperation in the implementation of interdisciplinary events of the College of Fellows. Independent work, organizational skills, very good language skills in German and English, and confidence in the use of common PC software are requirements for this position.
The job include the following tasks:
- Assisting with organizational tasks related to public relations and event organization,
- Collaboration in events of the College of Fellows,
- Communication and cooperation with international Research Fellows and partners,
- Assisting with website and social media channel maintenance, newsletter maintenance, and creation of promotional materials.
The contract duration is 6 months with the possibility of extension. The compensation is € 12.00 per hour (unaudited), € 12.87 (undergraduate/BA).
Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability. The university is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. Recruitment is carried out by the Central Administration.
Are you interested in a diverse job in cooperation with a committed team? Please send your application (including cover letter, CV and references) by email in a pdf file to info@cof.uni-tuebingen.de or to the following address by 15 October 2023:
COLLEGE OF FELLOWS
University Tübingen
Dr Niels Weidtmann
Director
Geschwister Scholl Platz
72074 Tübingen
Past Events
4 November 2022: Semester Opening Event
"Global Challenges - The Role of Institutes for Advanced Studies"
On 4 November 2022, the College of Fellows invited all international visiting fellows and postdocs of the University of Tübingen and all interested parties to the 'Alte Aula' to get to know the College of Fellows, to find out about opportunities to become actively involved in the CoF and to network with other international scholars at the University of Tübingen.
Following an impulse lecture by Professor Alexander Easton (Director of the IAS of the University of Durham), the participants were invited to a joint discussion on the opportunities of interdisciplinary and international exchange and to a small get-together.
28 – 29 September 2022: Postdoc Days 2022
The Graduate Academy and the Research Funding Office, in cooperation with the faculties and central supporting structures, put together a diverse program with virtual and in-person meetings for the Postdoc Days 2022. The College of Fellows was present with an information stand at the "Get together" in the "Alte Aula" on 28 September, informing participants about its work and role as a university-based Institute for Advanced Studies.
CIN Dialogue 2022
The CIN Dialogue 2022 took place on 07.07.2022 under the title "Love in Culture and the Brain". Professor Eva Illouz and Professor Larry Young led a discussion moderated by Dr Alison Abbott.
Brochure of the CIN Dialogue 2022 for download here.
A report on the event in the "Schwäbisches Tagblatt" can be found here.
You can find further information and impressons in our events-archive.
Summer Lecture 2022
On 1 June 2022, French anthropologist Professor Philippe Descola held the Summer Lecture 2022 organised by the College of Fellows, entitled “The multiple births of naturalism”. Descola’s lecture gave a profound, detailed, and concise insight into his comparative anthropological research, which focuses on the description of four major ontologies – animism, totemism, analogism, and naturalism – and their lifeworldly basis which he describes with the term ‘worlding’.
You can find further information on our Summer Lecture in our events-archive.
Opening Ceremony
On 28 April 2022, the College of Fellows was officially inaugurated. In her opening address, vice-president Professor Monique Scheer highlighted that the University of Tübingen by founding the College of Fellows offers its many outstanding international guest researchers an academic home beyond their respective disciplinary affiliation. This, Professor Scheer said, will significantly increase the visibility of the international guests.
See further information and impressions of the opening ceremony below:
Opening Ceremony
Professor Sheer emphasized that the College of Fellows adapts the idea of classical Institutes for Advanced Studies in that it is aimed specifically at visiting scientists coming to Tübingen from abroad and primarily targets younger researchers at the post-doc level. She called on all members of the University to get involved in the work of the College of Fellows and to participate in the events.
Dr. Weidtmann, who has been appointed as the founding director of the College of Fellows, emphasized the interdisciplinary and global orientation of the institution. According to his ideas, the College of Fellows should also offer space to discuss globally pressing questions in a cross-disciplinary exchange and to search for completely new answers. In this way, the College of Fellows could also provide impulses for the university and society.
The keynote address was given by Professor Garsten, Principal of the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Studies. She recalled the founding idea of the Institutes for Advanced Studies, the first of which was established at Princeton University in 1930, but also called for readiness for change. Those who want to keep the idea of the IAS’s alive must be prepared to constantly develop their structures. She compared the concept of IAS’s to that of political think tanks. Both, she said, are places where leading minds from science and politics, respectively, come together to provide decisive impetus for their respective fields. On the occasion of the ceremonial opening of the College of Fellows, modern jazz sounds could be heard in the venerable "Großer Senat", much to the delight of the large audience.