27 October 2026

FUNDAȚIA NOUA EUROPĂ/NEW EUROPE COLLEGE (NEC) invites applications for 1 postdoc position to work within the research project “Transnational histories of ‘corruption’ in Central-South-East Europe (1750-1850) (TransCorr)”, European Research Council Advanced Grant (ERC-2022-AdG no. 101098095), led by dr. Silvia Marton and hosted by the New Europe College – Institute for Advanced Study (NEC) in Bucharest, Romania.

Position: Postdoc
Period: 12 months fixed contract starting 1 January 2027, with an additional 9 months based on positive evaluation
Number of Hours per Month: 57 (40 percent full-time equivalent)
Salary: 1,000 Euros after taxes (net)

Description of the Project: TransCorr seeks to construct a history of the idea of “corruption” in Central-South-East Europe in conjunction with the rise of modernity, between 1750 and 1850. It demonstrates how in the context of new ideas about modernity emanating from West Europe, regional leaders reframed a host of traditional customs and practices as “corrupt”. It examines how Great Power attempts to transform these borderlands into formal and informal imperial provinces further entrenched novel understandings of “corruption,” often pejoratively associating them with the Ottoman legacy. By tracing out this history, TransCorr reveals a genealogy of ideas, discourses, and attitudes that continue to inform analyses of and discussions within the region today. (see more at https://transcorr.eu/)

Job Qualification:

• A PhD degree in history or other relevant humanities and social sciences (up to 8 years after defense) specialized in the history of early modern and modern Central-South-East Europe.
• A good command of written and spoken English and research capabilities in at least one relevant language for the region, Russian, Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, Greek, Polish, Serbo-Croat, Albanian, Bulgarian.
• Archival experience in Central-South-East Europe.
• Experience that indicates potential to conduct independent research and work as part of a larger team.
• A CV that demonstrates a high, international level of research potential.
• A developed interest in transnational history and the theoretical and interdisciplinary framework of the project.
• Ability to handle deadlines, meet research targets, and participate in regular team activities

Expectations of the Position:

• Conduct research documenting the construction of the idea of “corruption” in one of Central-South-East Europe’s inter-imperial regions between 1750-1850: the Russian Empire (including its peripheries North of the Black Sea, Bessarabia, Bukovina, the Caucasus), the Habsburg Empire (notably its Eastern borderlands, including Galicia and the Polish lands but excluding Transylvania), the Ottoman Empire (including Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece but excluding Moldavia, Wallachia and the Dobrudja).
• Attend all in-person TransCorr events and meetings: international conferences, workshops, annual strategic meetings, and research seminars.
• Attend other routine meeting in-person or via Zoom.
• Present your findings at least two times: at the TransCorr international conference and the appropriate TransCorr workshop (TBA).
• Produce at least two publications: a chapter for an edited volume and an article for a special journal issue organized by the team.

What we offer:

As part of an international research group hosted in an interdisciplinary institute of advanced study, we offer an attractive work environment. Postdoctoral researchers will benefit from continuous scientific exchange and mentorship from the group’s senior members. Working conditions include:

• A 12-month fixed contract starting 1 January 2027, renewable contingent on positive evaluation and team needs for an additional 9 months period.
• A monthly salary of 1,000 Euros after taxes (net) (57 hours per month, 40 percent fte)
• Financial support for travel to TransCorr events and meetings at the New Europe College in Bucharest.
• A funded 15-day research trip per year to consult archives.
• Funding for conference participation (a 3-day conference per year including travel, accommodation, registration).

How to apply:
Submit your application to project assistant Gențiana Avrigeanu (gentiana@transcorr.eu ).

Attach the following documents to your application as a single PDF file:

• A cover letter describing how your profile meets the selection criteria, your research interests, and your anticipated contribution to the project.
• A two-page proposal (excluding bibliography) of the research you plan to undertake within the framework of the project. The proposal should demonstrate how you expect to use a transnational and constructivist approach as well as historical semantics to engage with the history of ”corruption” during the period.
• A complete CV, including a list of publications.
• 2 relevant sample publications.
• Copies of your university certificates, including your PhD diploma.

Calendar:
Your application must be submitted by 1^st December 2026. No applications will be accepted after the closing date. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview scheduled on December 2026. They may be asked for additional materials before or after the interview.

For inquiries about TransCorr’s scientific aims and methodology contact Dr. Silvia Marton (silvia.marton@unibuc.ro ). For administrative or financial questions contact project assistant Gențiana Avrigeanu ( gentiana@transcorr.eu).