Frank Grüner

Prof. Dr. Frank Grüner is a Professor at the Department of History within the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology at Bielefeld University. He serves as Vice Dean in the Dean's Office and Administration and is a member of multiple units, including the BiSEd members, Historical Cultures, and Global and Interconnected History departments.

• Education:
  • Studied history and Slavic philology at University of Heidelberg, State University of Saint Petersburg, and Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU)
  • Doctorate from Faculty of Philosophy at University of Heidelberg (2005) on 'Jews and the Soviet State, 1941-1953' under Prof. Dr. Heinz-Dietrich Löwe

Research Focus:

• History of Northeast Asia in the Age of Imperialism
• Russian-European and Russian-Asian exchange relations
• Global and interconnected history
• Transcultural knowledge history of melancholy
• History of Jews in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union
• History of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union

Professional Appointments:

• Since 2017: Professor of Eastern European History at Bielefeld University
• 2012-2017: Project leader in the Cluster of Excellence 'Asia and Europe in a Global Context' at Heidelberg University
• 2013-2014: Acting Professor of Cultural and Economic History at University of Heidelberg
• 2008-2012: Junior Research Group Leader in the Cluster of Excellence 'Asia and Europe in a Global Context' at Heidelberg University
• 2005-2008: Temporary Academic Councillor / Research Assistant at Department of East European History, Heidelberg University
• 2003-2005: Research assistant at Department of East European History, University of Heidelberg
• 2001-2003: Research associate at Slavic Institute of Heidelberg University

Additional Roles: Member of Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology's Executive Board; serves on commissions including Research Commission of the Department of History and Commission for Doctoral Studies.

Contact: Office at Building X A2-216 and A2-252; phone +49 521 106-3266; email frank.gruener@uni-bielefeld.de. Office hours during summer semester 2025 are Tuesdays 4-5 p.m. and by appointment.