Call for Applications

CAPAS is a centre for advanced studies at Heidelberg University dedicated to innovative and socially relevant research on the end(s) of world(s). Going beyond traditional disciplinary and institutional boundaries, we bring together outstanding international scholars and scientists to contribute to the centre’s collaborative research while working on their individual projects. It is our mission to make space for a diverse knowledge collective, enriching exchanges in the humanities with insights from relevant perspectives from the social, life, and natural sciences and integrating non-academic forms of knowledge production in the arts and beyond.

In the 2027–2028 academic year, we focus on the role of vulnerabilities. This annual topic enables the intersectional differentiation of vulnerability and thus reflects different degrees of exposure of individuals and communities towards existential threats, while it considers the relationship of individuals and communities to apocalyptic fantasies as a result of their positionality. Vulnerability applies to all disciplines because the concept is not limited to physical injuries, the options for protection (e.g. through bunkerisation and prepping) or access to medical help, but also includes topics such as political risk management, the predictability of and adaptation to crises, as well as the impact of epistemic violence and the associated dangers and forms of injustice. From a historical perspective, epistemic violence manifests itself, for example, in the colonial oppression of indigenous epistemologies; today it concerns, for example, the increasing importance of big data and algorithms or “haunted data”. As an aspect of human embeddedness in ecosystems and “more-than-human entanglements”, the topic of vulnerability is also compatible with approaches from life and environmental sciences. In addition, the term also invites reflection on transdisciplinary connections in knowledge production, in the sense of a “vulnerability of science.” Furthermore, there is a growing interest in the political scope of vulnerability as a collective, embodied and mobilising form of resistance, highlighting interdependence, coalition, and shared ethics in a seemingly disintegrating world.

This annual topic follows the previous focal themes of biopolitics and subjectivities and is closely connected to them conceptually. We also explicitly encourage proposals offering theoretical or methodological reflections on the overall conceptual framework of CAPAS.

The Fellowships

We invite applications for 10 Fellowships for the 2027-2028 academic year, starting in October 2027. Fellowships are available for up to 12 months, including at least one academic term (October to February or April to July). During their fellowship, fellows must reside in Heidelberg and are expected to participate in the centre’s weekly activities. English is the working language at CAPAS.

Fellows who take unpaid leave from their home institution during the fellowship will receive financial compensation in the form of a stipend (calculated individually according to the university’s criteria for fellowship compensation). Alternatively, if a fellow decides to keep their current salary and contract benefits, CAPAS compensates the fellow's home institution with the corresponding salary for a teaching replacement. Both options are capped by the regulations of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and subject to availability of funds. At CAPAS, fellows have access to office spaces and university resources (guesthouse, library, canteen, daycare). CAPAS also provides support with administrative formalities (visa application, registration).

Eligibility

The minimum requirement for eligibility is the rank of assistant professor (or equivalent), or have a minimum of five years of post-doctoral research experience. Activists and artists with substantial experience collaborating with academia are also welcome to submit proposals. CAPAS is strongly committed to diversity and explicitly encourages women* and BIPOC to apply.                    

Application

Applications should include the following materials:

• Completed application form (available below; please use Adobe Acrobat to fill in the form),
• CV (maximum four pages, including a list of relevant publications)
• Two publications that are representative of your work and relevant to CAPAS’ research (languages accepted: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese or German)

All documents must be submitted in English and as four individual PDF files (application form, CV,  publication 1, publication 2) to 

For further queries, please refer to our contact 

The deadline for applications is 3 July 2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered

Selection Process

Criteria for the selection are the originality and relevance of the project proposal, as well as the applicant’s academic merits and other achievements. The selection is made by the Board of Directors and the centre’s Academic Advisory Board. Successful applicants will be notified by 30 December 2026.