Call for Applications: for the post of Postdoc at The Department of Criminal Law at the Max Planck Institute, Submission Deadline- 7 December 2026
The Department of Criminal Law at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany), is seeking to recruit a highly qualified Postdoc (f/m/div) with a research profile in criminal law theory, legal philosophy, or metanormative theory for the research project “Theory of Normativity and the Criminal Law – ‘Normentheorie’ between UK and Germany”, jointly funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), starting on 1 February 2027 (or as soon as possible thereafter).
The project
The postdoctoral researcher will work in the research project “Theory of Normativity and the Criminal Law– ‘Normentheorie’ between UK and Germany”, which is led jointly by Philipp-Alexander Hirsch (MPI-CSL, Freiburg) and JP Fassnidge (University of Aberdeen) and runs for 36 months from 1 February 2027. The project asks what is distinctive about normativity in criminal law and how this bears on our doctrinal understanding of criminal wrongdoing, liability, and punishment. German scholarship has developed a rich doctrinal paradigm in Normentheorie, but has rarely engaged with metanormative questions; Anglophone legal philosophy has produced sophisticated accounts of legal normativity, and analytic philosophy has developed a rich discussion on metanormative questions, but both have rarely brought them to bear specifically on the criminal law. The project addresses these complementary gaps by developing a shared analytical framework through which German Normentheorie and Anglophone theories of (legal) normativity can engage with each other, and by establishing a structured dialogue between UK and German scholars.
Your profile
You should have a strong academic background in criminal law theory, legal/practical philosophy, or metanormative theory, and a keen interest in interdisciplinary work at the intersection of criminal law and philosophy. The position is open both to legal scholars and to philosophers, and a willingness to engage with both disciplines is key. Ideal candidates will possess the following qualifications:
A university degree in law or philosophy with outstanding results.
Proven research excellence, as evidenced by a PhD in law or philosophy, as well as a good publication record or strong potential for publication in peer-reviewed journals or other equivalent research contributions.
Demonstrable research focus on the normative foundations of criminal law and punishment, on legal or practical philosophy, or on metanormative theory and metaethics; familiarity with German Normentheorie is an advantage.
Willingness and ability to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and enhance innovative research approaches.
A good command of English (the working language of the project is English) and a good command of German (at least the ability to read academic texts in German), since the project builds a bilingual frame of reference across both traditions.
Experience in systematic literature work and collaborative research; editorial or translation experience is an advantage.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a highly dynamic, interdisciplinary and international research environment.
Please submit your application via our online application portal by the closing date of 7 December 2026 . Click the ‘I would like to apply’ button on the bottom left of the job ad. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Dr. Dr. Philipp-Alexander Hirsch (MPI-CSL Freiburg and EBS University for Business and Law; p.hirsch@csl.mpg.de) or Dr. JP Fassnidge (University of Aberdeen; jp.fassnidge@abdn.ac.uk).
For more details, refer here
