معرفی
Sebastian Jobs is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the John F. Kennedy Institute, Freie Universität Berlin, where he has been teaching and conducting research since 2015. His academic journey includes a doctorate from the University of Erfurt (2009, summa cum laude), graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and postdoctoral research at FU Berlin and the University of Rostock. He has held visiting positions at UNC Chapel Hill and New York University.
- Dr. phil., University of Erfurt (2009)
- M.A., University of Erfurt (2004)
- B.A., University of Erfurt (2002)
- Graduate Studies, University of California, Berkeley (2002–2004)
His research focuses on U.S. cultural history, African American history, the history of slavery, and the history of everyday life, with a particular interest in the performative aspects of historical memory and the role of 'uncertain knowledge'—such as rumors—in shaping historical events. He explores how narratives, emotions, and embodied practices influence historical understanding, especially in contexts of resistance and identity formation.
His publications reveal a consistent engagement with themes of power, identity, and historical epistemology. He examines how rumors of slave revolts destabilized antebellum Southern society and how victory parades functioned as political theater. His work bridges cultural, social, and transnational history, often through interdisciplinary lenses.
- DAAD P.R.I.M.E Fellowship (2014–2015)
- Fulbright American Studies Summer Institute (2007)
- Doctoral Fellowship, German Historical Institute, Washington, DC (2006)
- Member, Research Network 'The History of Everyday Life in a Transnational Perspective' (2012–2015)
Sebastian Jobs has supervised graduate students and organized academic events such as the 'Histories of Resistance' lecture series and the 'Visions of Humanity' conference. He has received research grants from the John F. Kennedy Institute and the German Research Foundation. He leads the MA Colloquium in History and teaches courses on slavery, the body in colonial America, and transatlantic resistance movements.
He is involved in multiple research collaborations and has co-edited volumes on transculturation, embodiment, and historical uncertainty. His current work continues to explore the intersection of rumor, power, and resistance in American history.
