[spectre] Fwd: JOB: FWF-Postdoc "Performing Postsocialism in 21st Century China", Vienna

[Andreas Broeckmann]

Date: Jun 20, 2025
Subject: JOB: FWF-Postdoc "Performing Postsocialism in 21st Century 
China", Vienna

University of Vienna, Austria, Jan 1, 2026–Dec 31, 2027
Application deadline: Jul 4, 2025

Postdoc position on FWF-funded project "Performing Postsocialism in 
Twenty-First-Century China" at the University of Vienna, 45 Faculty of 
Philological and Cultural Studies.

The postdoctoral researcher will join the Chinese Studies (Sinology) 
section of the Department of East Asian Studies to work on the project 
“Performing Postsocialism in Twenty-First-Century China”. They will be 
part of a team of researchers led by Professor Rossella Ferrari (PI).

- The project is funded by the Austrian Science Fund/Österreichischer 
Wissenschaftsfonds FWF (grant DOI 10.55776/PAT9791923). - The duration 
of the postdoc contract is of 2 years (24 months, 30h/week), from 
January 1, 2026 until December 31, 2027. - The language of the project 
is English.

The project introduces the framework of “performing postsocialism” to 
explore both how China’s postsocialist condition has affected Chinese 
performance since the postmillennial period and how examining Chinese 
postsocialism through a performance lens can enrich knowledge of 
postmillennial China. The project adopts a broad definition of 
performance: not only as a creative practice, but also as a 
manifestation of social and cultural behaviour, and as a methodology.

Consequently, the research focuses both on artworks that reflect China’s 
postsocialist condition and on performance as a way of understanding 
postsocialist China. It examines theatre, dance, media, and performance 
art works by independent performing and visual artists as well as forms 
of activism through the arts. This production encapsulates the cultural, 
ideological, and socioeconomic ambivalences of Chinese postsocialism and 
its complex temporalities, as it reflects on the socialist past, 
responds to current realities, and envisions potential futures.

On the one hand, postsocialist performance is analysed in the context of 
the postmillennial expansion and commercialisation of the cultural and 
creative industries. On the other hand, the research explores the 
challenges posed by stricter policy regulations and increased state 
monitoring of culture and the arts, as well as shifts occurred since the 
COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it investigates how the meaning of 
performing postsocialism can extend beyond art and aesthetics to 
reflect, more broadly, on politics, society, and everyday life. For 
further details on the project themes, research questions, and 
objectives visit: 
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/projects/performance-und-postsozialismus-im-china-des-21-jahrhundert

As part of the project team, the post holder’s tasks and 
responsibilities will include:
- Developing innovative research on cultures and practices of 
performance-making in twenty-first-century China (PRC) within the 
conceptual framework of the project
- Pursuing an independent research agenda in accordance with the aims of 
the project
- Delivering publications for peer-reviewed journals and high-quality 
academic publishers
- Conducting fieldwork and data collection in China (funding will be 
provided for this purpose)
- Participating in academic conferences
- Organizing research and dissemination activities (workshops, seminars, 
public events) independently and in cooperation with the project team
- Contributing to the dissemination of project results to both academic 
and broader audiences
- Undertaking administrative tasks related to the project

Required qualifications (essential criteria):
- Completed doctoral/PhD studies by the start date
- A research specialization in a subject relevant to the project: 
Chinese/East Asian Studies, Theatre and Performance Studies, Art History 
and Visual Cultures, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, or related fields
- Proven theoretical and methodological foundations in the study of 
Chinese arts and cultures
- Proven experience in conducting research in China (PRC)
- Advanced research skills and proven experience of independent 
scholarly writing at a high academic level
- Proven ability or demonstrable potential to publish in peer-reviewed 
international journals
- Experience in presenting at international academic conferences
- Advanced English proficiency (written and spoken, equivalent to C1 level)
- Advanced Chinese proficiency (written and spoken)
- Organizational, administrative, and teamwork skills

Additional qualifications (desirable but non-essential criteria):
- Experience in event organization
- Experience in data management
- Experience in designing and managing websites, databases, and datasets
- Working knowledge of German (for administrative/communication purposes 
within the university)

What we offer:
- Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours, 
remote/hybrid and/or part-time work (upon agreement)
- Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international 
academic team in a healthy and fair working environment
- Good public transport connections: Your workplace in the center of 
beautiful Vienna is easily accessible by public transport
- Internal further training & Coaching: Opportunity to deepen your 
skills on an ongoing basis. There are over 600 courses to choose from – 
free of charge
- Fixed-term contract and fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 4,932,90 
(14 times a year, based on fulltime) for a period of 2 years / 24 months 
increases if we can credit professional experience

Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality 
to the team!

The application package should include the following:
- Motivation letter in English explaining how you meet the selection 
criteria and how your previous experience is relevant to the position 
(max. 2 pages)
- Academic CV including a list of conference presentations, a list of 
publications (if available), and the names and contact details of two 
potential referees (reference letters are not required)
- Summary of the PhD thesis in English (1 page)
- Copy of PhD degree certificate, or clear indication of when this will 
become available (the degree must be in hand before the start date)
- Copies of language certificates or other proof of advanced language 
proficiency in English and Chinese (if available)
- One academic writing sample (e.g., thesis chapter, book chapter, 
journal article)
- Publication plan deliverable within the timeframe of the project (1 
page, with details of at least 2 publications)
- Postdoctoral research proposal in English (2 pages), that should: 
focus on a topic related to performance in twenty-first-century China 
(PRC). The topic can be in the performing arts, the visual arts, or 
address broader cultural practices that can be investigated through 
performance theories and method align with the key themes, research 
questions, and objectives of the project, as detailed in the description 
above demonstrating engagement:
- with debates, theories, practices, and methods related to performance 
research in twenty-first-century China,
- demonstrate familiarity with scholarship on China
- demonstrate familiarity with performance theories and methods

Please submit your application through the provided job portal of the 
University of Vienna until July 4, 2025:
https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Scientific-project-assistant-postdoc/1210420601/

Contact info:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rossella Ferrari: rossella.ferrari at univie.ac.at


Reference / Quellennachweis:
JOB: FWF-Postdoc "Performing Postsocialism in 21st Century China", 
Vienna. In: ArtHist.net, Jun 20, 2025. <https://arthist.net/archive/49531>.