The Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH) is seeking, as soon as possible and subject to the availability of funds

1 full-time (100 %) Senior Researcher to lead its new research programme on “International Cyber Security (ICS)”. The position runs until 31 December 2022 and is based in Hamburg, with a salary corresponding to EG 14 TV-AVH.

The IFSH is an interdisciplinary research institution based at the University of Hamburg and is funded by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The research activities of the IFSH centre on the analysis of current peace and security developments as well as challenges with a focus on the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian areas. The transfer of knowledge from research into politics and society is a fundamental component of the Institute‘s work.

In the coming years, IFSH will continue to strengthen and expand its existing cyber expertise and in doing so will work closely with the German Federal Foreign Office as well as international research institutions, think tanks and industry. The new research program “International Cyber Security (ICS)” seeks to contribute to international regulation of cyberspace via fundamental research and technical expertise, and to analyse new technological developments and political trends with the aim of transferring this knowledge to politics and the wider society. For this task, we are looking for a Senior Researcher with scientific and technical expertise, communication skills, the ability to effectively mediate between science and politics, and a keen interest in political and technological developments in the field of cyber foreign policy and cyber security. The successful candidate will lead a small team that forms the new research program “International Cyber Security (ICS)”.

Your tasks:

• You will lead a small team that forms the new research area “International Cyber Security” (ICS).
• You will actively contribute to fundamental research and scientific transfer in the field of international cybersecurity. Your research will include principles, norms and rules of international cyberspace, especially in the area of confidence-building; further development of corresponding bilateral and multilateral treaties; approaches to arms control in cyberspace; effects of cyber-sanctions; political effects of increasing autonomy (e.g. in industry as well as in lethal-autonomous weapon systems); digital dependencies vs. sovereignty efforts in Germany and Europe.
• You are interested in the current as well as prospective analysis of political trends in cyberspace with the aim of actively transferring knowledge to politics and society.
• You will publish your research results in high-quality scholarly publications (peer-review) and in relevant policy formats.
• You will disseminate your research results through transfer activities vis-à-vis national, international and transnational actors, through public events and active participation in international conferences as well as through interaction with national, international and social media.

Your profile:

• You have a degree in social or natural sciences or another degree relevant to the position. Your doctorate in a relevant field has been completed or is in the final stage of completion. Alternatively, you have several years of comparable research experience.
• You have demonstrated your scientific expertise in the subject areas of cyber security through high-quality publications.
• You have initial experience in the independent management, organisation and implementation of scientific research and transfer projects.
• International research experience and networking – ideally also in industry – is an advantage.
• You have excellent written and oral knowledge of German and/or English.
• Communicative competence, team orientation and initiative are required.

The IFSH has set itself the goal of promoting the careers of women and is therefore particularly interested in applications from women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are given priority in these areas in accordance with the Hamburg Equal Opportunities Act, provided they have equivalent qualifications. Severely disabled persons are also expressly invited to apply. We also accept applications for this position from non-German speaking individuals. Your application in the context of the advertised position should consist of a cover letter (including a short profile of your research interests), two previously published writing samples and a current CV. Please send all documents exclusively electronically to bewerbung[at]ifsh.de by 5 November 2020 (please send them as one single PDF file of maximum 8 MB in size).

For further information please contact Dr. Ulrich Kühn (kuehn[at]ifsh.de).