Visiting Fellows for the project „Subjectivities of Owning Land: Land Redistribution and theNation-State in the Baltics Across the 20th Century“
The Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe, the University of Birmingham and the Martin-Opitz-Library are pleased to announce a call for applications for up to three visiting fellowships to collaborate on the research project Subjectivities of Owning Land (SOL): Land Redistribution and the Nation-State in the Baltics Across the 20th Century. The research stay, scheduled for the summer of 2025, will last up to four weeks and take place at one of the three partner institutions.
About the project
Subjectivities of Owning Land is a collaborative research initiative involving the Herder Institute, the University of Birmingham, and the Martin-Opitz-Library. It examines how successive land redistribution projects have shaped the history of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) throughout the 20th century and have contributed to a very specific relationship between society and state. By retracing the aggregate impact of interwar land reform, Soviet collectivisation, and post-1991 privatisation on subjectivities, it bridges entrenched ruptures in the region’s history. The SOL project is headed by two Principal Investigators: Prof. Dr. Heidi Hein-Kircher from the Martin-Opitz-Library / Ruhr University Bochum and Prof. Dr. Klaus Richter from the University of Birmingham. The project team includes Dr. Paris Pin-Yu Chen and Dāvis Pumpuriņš, M.A. as research staff members.
Fellowship aims
We invite up to three scholars whose work focuses on the Baltic region, particularly on the relations between land, state, and society, to join us as visiting fellows. Our aim is to ensure that the project develops in close dialogue with academics based in the Baltic states and that it encompasses a multidisciplinary scope of knowledge. Therefore, we welcome applications from scholars affiliated with Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian academic institutions in diverse fields, such as anthropology, ethnology, political science, sociology, history, or economics. Both young career researchers and advanced scholars are eligible for application. We actively encourage applications from female scholars to uphold gender balance and foster diversity and inclusion. Visiting fellows are expected to engage deeply with the research team and contribute to the project’s outcomes, including submitting an article for a special thematic issue in an English-language journal. You will also get a chance to collaborate with Eastern European history specialists, participate in the host institution’s activities, and present your research.
Research Stay Details
– Duration: up to four weeks
– Period: Summer 2025
– Location: one of the partner institutions
– Scholarship: € 3000 for covering the additional costs in the city of your host institution, including travel and accommodation costs (pro rata if
duration shorter than four weeks)
Application Procedure
To apply, please submit the following materials via email to the SOL Project Coordinator, Anna Ivanova (anna.ivanova@herder-institut.de), by January 15, 2025:
– Cover Letter: Describe your research interests, how your work aligns with the SOL project, and your motivation for applying (max. 1 page).
– Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include a list of publications and relevant research experience.
– Research Proposal: Provide a brief proposal (max. 2 pages) outlining the research you plan to conduct during your stay, its relevance to the SOL
project, and the archives or collections you plan to consult.
Selection Process
Applications will be evaluated based on their relevance to the SOL project, the quality of the research proposal, and an academic track record commensurate with your career stage. The SOL team will review applications based on the criteria mentioned above. Successful candidates will be notified by February 15, 2025.
