Reflex Reflexive Globalisation and the Law, Call for Applications 2026/27 Fellowships

The RefLex Centre for Advanced Studies based at Humboldt University’s Faculty of Law invites applications for fellowships for the duration of either three or six months, with possible starting dates 1 October 2026, 1 January 2027, 1 April 2027 and 1 July 2027.

About RefLex

The ongoing debates around colonial legacies in a multipolar world mark a new phase in
globalisation. Traditionally viewed in economic terms and often seen as a unidirectional process ultimately of ‘Westernisation’, globalisation in this new phase brings to light also critical intellectual dimensions, becoming more multidirectional. The positions of the South and North, of periphery and center, are being redefined and rebalanced. We describe this shift as reflexive globalisation. In this phase, the Northern foundations of concepts, vocabularies, and epistemic assumptions, along with the Northern dominance in knowledge production, are increasingly challenged for their colonial and imperial legacies. RefLex explores this phase – in substance and in process: It studies the role of law in reflexive globalisation and its implications for basic concepts of law. At the same time, it practices this multidirectional exchange through its fellowship programme. The Centre’s Directors are Humboldt Law Professors Philipp Dann and Florian Jeßberger. Given their own fields of research, the main areas of work at the Centre are public law and (international) criminal law. For more information about the Centre, see reflex.hu-berlin.de.

About the Fellowships
Being an Institute for Advanced Studies, our fellowship programme stands at the heart
of RefLex. Fellows are based in Berlin, are expected to present their work, and to
regularly participate in the Centre’s events. RefLex is committed to selecting a diverse
array of scholars and practitioners and offers three types of fellowships:

• Senior Fellowships: distinguished professionals who have established themselves as thought leaders and experts in their field, including professors and senior researchers. Senior fellows receive a monthly stipend of 6,000 euros.

• Junior Fellowships: early-career researchers, typically postdoctoral researchers up to 7 years since completion of their PhD or doctoral candidates in the advanced stages of their dissertation work. Junior fellows receive a monthly stipend of 3,000 euros.

• Practice Fellowships: practitioners or activists with at least 5 years of professional experience that aligns closely with the Centre’s thematic focus. The stipend for practice fellows will be determined on the basis of their experience and classified as either junior or senior.

Guidelines for Applications
Applications for fellowships should include:

• a cover letter indicating the fellowship category you are applying for, the proposed starting date and fellowship duration, and a brief motivation for the application (max 1 page);
• a project proposal outlining your plans for the duration of your fellowship, how they relate to the thematic focus of RefLex and relevant previous publications/work experience (max 2 pages);
• a curriculum vitae, including a list of publications or practice-related activities; if publications are not in English, please provide a translation of the titles (max 3 pages);
• for applications on junior fellowships, the names and contact details of two persons ready to provide reference on our request.

To apply, please send all documents as one PDF file to reflex.info@hu-berlin.de by 31 January 2026. Please mention in your cover letter if you would need any additional support for reasons of disability or family care responsibilities.

Selections will be made by a committee comprising the RefLex Directors and senior staff as well as the Advisory Board and will follow an inclusive and comprehensive approach that reflects the Centre’s commitment to intellectual diversity, inclusivity, and impactful global research, aiming to ensure a balanced representation across regions, genders, career levels, and disciplinary backgrounds.