The Cluster of Excellence Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS) invites applications for up to six Visiting Researcher Stays within the framework of the SCRIPTS Forum 2026.

About the SCRIPTS Forum

The SCRIPTS Forum 2026 is a public outreach programme that focuses on “Emergent Digital (Dis-)Orders: AI Governance between Liberal and Authoritarian Scripts.”

The Forum examines how artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape global political order. It treats AI as a political instrument that can support transparency, participation, and democratic inclusion, while also enabling surveillance and authoritarian control.

Using a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, the Forum explores how institutions, governance structures, and normative frameworks shape AI governance across contexts such as China and the United States. Activities include lunch talks, participatory mini-projects, policy simulation workshops, and a two-day conference, combining academic research with public engagement.

Principal Investigators

• Prof. Dr. Genia Kostka (Freie Universität Berlin), Professor of Chinese Politics
• Prof. Dr. Anita Gohdes (Hertie School), Professor of International and Cyber Security

Research Stay

Research stays can range from a minimum of one month to a maximum of six months and will take place between April and December 2026. Depending on availability and demand, the funding allows for flexible configurations (e.g. one long stay, several shorter stays, or combinations thereof).

Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred duration and time period in their application.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Visiting Researchers are expected to:

• Develop a mini-project or research idea related to the SCRIPTS Forum 2026 and present it at the end-of-the-year conference

• Collaborate with the SCRIPTS Forum team in planning and implementing outreach activities, such as roundtables, half-day workshops, town halls, and the final conference

• Support MA and/or PhD students working on mini research projects connected to the Forum

Eligibility

The Visiting Researcher Stay is open to early-career researchers, including:

• PhD candidates in the advanced stages of their doctoral research

• Postdoctoral researchers up to six years after completing their PhD

Applicants must be affiliated with an academic institution outside Germany, have an excellent academic record, and demonstrate strong alignment with the research agenda of SCRIPTS and the thematic focus of the SCRIPTS Forum 2026.

Applications from SCRIPTS partner institutions and from researchers from underrepresented regions or communities in academia are particularly welcome. SCRIPTS values diversity and encourages applications that contribute to a broad range of perspectives.

Benefits and Support

• Up to €2,800 per month to cover living expenses in Berlin

• Access to office space at either the Institute for Chinese Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, or SCRIPTS

• Support with visa procedures and welcome services, including assistance with childcare arrangements upon early request

For full details on the Visiting Researcher Stay, including application requirements and deadlines, please see the complete job posting here.