The National Science Center (NCN) and Austrian Science Fund (FWF) co-funded project “NonUkrainians in Revolutionary Ukraine, 1917–1921” (NURU) invites prospective candidates to join
this collaborative four-years project with one research team at the Polish Academy of Sciences and
another one at the University of Vienna. The Warsaw team will consist of three researchers and the
Vienna team of four researchers. At the University of Vienna, the following position will be filled:
Research position (PhD) on the topic of “Greeks, Bulgarians, or Moldovans/Romanians (or
another nationality) in revolutionary Ukraine” (University of Vienna)
The Project in its Entirety
NURU aims to reinterpret one of the most critical periods in modern Ukrainian history – the
revolutionary changes of 1917-1921 that brought fundamental transformations of the political system,
economic relations, and social and cultural life in the Ukrainian lands – by exploring the diverse
experiences of non-Ukrainian populations. At that time, the Ukrainian lands were a multicultural and
multiethnic space. Our project comprehensively investigates the political, cultural, and socioeconomic agency exerted by non-Ukrainians, both nationally and transnationally, within the
revolutionary context of opportunities for emancipation and challenges for survival. In NURU, we
do not essentialise nationality but instead apply a framework of fluid identities and multiple loyalties.
The project takes transnational and entangled approaches and adopts both top-down and bottom-up
perspectives by analysing:
1) in-group transformations among non-Ukrainians,
2) their interactions with state authorities,
3) their relations with co-national kin (states) outside Ukraine,
4) cooperation among non-Ukrainians,
5) and their experience of violence.
Through this project, we aim to rethink the history of revolution, nationalism, and imperial
transformation in modern Ukraine, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
For more information on the project, please refer to our website https://nuru.univie.ac.at/en/. For any
further questions, do not hesitate to contact the project’s two principal investigators:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Börries Kuzmany
Institut für Osteuropäische Geschichte
Universität Wien
Tel.: +43-1-4277-41109
boerries.kuzmany@univie.ac.at
Dr. habil. Gennadii Korolov
Polska Akademia Nauk
gkorolov@ihpan.edu.pl
Research Position (PhD) on the topic of “Greeks, Bulgarians, or
Moldovans/Romanians (or another nationality) in revolutionary Ukraine”
(University of Vienna)
Responsibilities
- Conduct research on the five above-mentioned fields with regard to one of the nationalities
inhabiting revolutionary Ukraine: Greeks, Bulgarians, or Moldovans/Romanians (or other).
The choice of which national group you want to study depends on your interests and
qualifications. So far, our team consists of researchers working on Poles, Jews, Russians, and
Germans. - Complete a PhD thesis at the University of Vienna on a topic related to your research in the
project. However, your thesis does not need to overlap entirely with the project – you are
welcome to choose a specific focus and approach. - Publish preliminary results and present at conferences.
- Collaborate with our team: participate in the bi-weekly meetings of the project team, discuss
your findings, make them accessible in our project’s database, help to organise two
conferences, and assist in the maintenance of the project website.
We Offer - A two-year contract, renewable for another two years after an interim evaluation. The preferred
but negotiable starting date is 1 October 2025. - A gross salary of approx. 39,000 EUR/year, corresponding to 75% (30 h) of a full position.
- A fully equipped workspace at the University of Vienna.
- Research visits to the Warsaw team and funding for research missions and participation to
international conferences. - A team and network: Engagement with an international research team of seven scholars in an
intellectually stimulating and ambitious project in one of Europe’s most pleasant cities. While
you are expected to reside in Vienna as NURU is an inhouse project, research visits to the
Warsaw team are very welcome.
Your Qualifications
We invite applications from individuals who - Hold an MA degree (or equivalent) in history by the time of employment, ideally with a
background in Eastern European history, nationalism studies, and/or Bulgarian, Greek,
Romanian, or Moldovan history. However, other educational backgrounds are welcome. We also
welcome applications from postdoctoral researchers. - Demonstrate an interest in nationalism and minority issues, transnational approaches, social and
political history, history of transformation, and comparative research questions. We strongly
encourage candidates whose research explores intersectional aspects such as generation, gender,
class, religion or other. - Possess language proficiency in English, Ukrainian and/or Russian, and Bulgarian or Greek or
Romanian/Moldovan. - Are familiar with reference management software, e.g. EndNote or Zotero.
How to Apply
You can apply in German or English before 1 August 2025. Please send the following documents
as a single PDF document (titled: SURNAME, NURU, application 2025, Greeks [or] Bulgarians [or]
Romanians/Moldovan [or] other) to boerries.kuzmany@univie.ac.at
1) Motivation letter (max 2 pages).
2) Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications (if applicable).
3) Name, email and telephone number of at least two referees (no recommendation letters).
4) An exposé of your planned PhD thesis. Please outline how your thesis relates to the objectives of
NURU in general and how you will approach your chosen nationality in particular (approx. 1000
words, excluding bibliography).
5) A writing sample (e.g. an article, or a significant chapter of your MA thesis). It is not necessary
that it has already been accepted for publication.
6) A certificate and transcript of your MA degree.
You will be informed of the outcome of the selection process by late August 2025. Shortlisted
candidates will be invited for interviews on 8 or 9 September 2025 in Vienna. The University of Vienna is an equal opportunity employer.