W2 Professorship in Sport- and Movement-Related Health and Social Psychology (m/f/d) (Professor - Universities)

With over 6,000 students from 93 countries, the Deutsche Sporthochschule (DSHS) Köln is an outstanding national and international university location. The DSHS stands for excellent research with a high volume of third-party funding and for research-based as well as international teaching in sports practice and all social and life science sub-disciplines of sports science. Research, teaching, and transfer are supported by the administration and the central operating units with their services.

At the Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln, in the Psychological Institute in the Department of Health and Social Psychology, a

W2 Professorship in Sport- and Movement-Related Health and Social Psychology (w/m/d)

is to be filled at the earliest possible date.

The professorship is being advertised as part of the Professorinnenprogramm 2030 (https://www.bmftr.bund.de/DE/Forschung/Wissenschaftssystem/GleichstellungUndVielfaltInDerWissenschaft/Professorinnenprogramm/professorinnenprogramm_node.html).

We are looking for an internationally recognized personality who will represent health and social psychology in various application fields of sport, movement, and physical activity in research, teaching, and transfer at the Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln. Health and social psychological work should relate to both the promotion of and the consequences of sport, movement, and physical activity.

Expertise is expected in particular in at least two of the following areas: (1) Target group-specific motivation for sport, movement, and physical activity, (2) Stress and mental health in the context of sport, movement, and physical activity, (3) Group processes or social interaction in sport and movement contexts, (4) Personality development in sport and movement contexts, (5) Coaching in sport and movement contexts.

The tasks of the professorship include participation in the Bachelor, Master, Teacher Training, and Doctoral programs (especially in the M.Sc. Psychology in Sport and Exercise) as well as in the academic self-administration of the university. The Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln pursues the goal of promoting (inter-)disciplinary and cooperative research. Active participation in shaping institute- and university-wide research activities as well as the successful acquisition, management, and implementation of competitive third-party funded projects are expected.

Furthermore, experience and a high willingness for application- and transfer-oriented research and development are expected. This includes, among other things, participation in and further development of transfer-oriented initiatives established at the department.

Pursuant to § 36 Hochschulgesetz NRW, the following are required:

• a completed university degree
• a doctorate
• pedagogical suitability as well as
• a Habilitation or equivalent scientific achievements.

The following are expected:

• expertise in at least two of the areas listed above in the health and social psychology of sport/movement
• relevant international as well as thematically broad publication achievements in at least two of the aforementioned subject areas of the professorship
• successful acquisition of, in particular, competitive third-party funding
• theory-based way of working
• experience in application- and transfer-oriented research or development
• experience with interdisciplinary and/or international research cooperations
• experience in academic self-administration
• English-language teaching competence
• positively evaluated and/or award-winning teaching
• competencies in the area of personnel leadership and development
• participation in the establishment and further development of curricula and degree programs in the area of the professorship.

The following are desirable:

• experience in the (co-) supervision of doctoral students
• experience in the organization/administration of modules or degree programs
• interdisciplinary connectivity to existing and developing research projects at the DSHS
• willingness to cooperate with other institutes of the Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln
• international experience in academic institutions.

The position is associated with a teaching obligation of 9 SWS.

For international applications, it is expected that German-language courses can be offered within six semesters.

The Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln considers itself a cosmopolitan employer that treats diversity with appreciation. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, as well as sexual orientation and identity. Increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching is one of the strategic goals of the university; therefore, qualified female scientists are expressly encouraged to apply. Women will be given preferential consideration in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz. Severely disabled people and those equivalent to them are very welcome and will be given preferential consideration within the framework of legal provisions.

The Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln offers an excellent scientific environment, diverse offers for professional personnel development, and support for reconciling family and career.

Please send applications with the usual documents, in particular a representation of your professional career, a list of publications, and a selection of important publications, stating the reference number 2625-Prof-Gesundh.-Sozialpsych. by 01.09.2026 in the form of a pdf file exclusively to the e-mail address bewerbung@dshs-koeln.de (https://mailto:[bewerbung@dshs-koeln.de](bewerbung@dshs-koeln.de)). Please attach the completed file "DSHS-Selbstauskunft-Professur-Bewerbung" to your application. This can be found on the job advertisement page, which is located here (https://www.dshs-koeln.de/universitaet/die-uni-als-arbeitgeberin/unsere-stellenangebote).

Applications may be submitted in German or English.

Also visit our homepage www.dshs-koeln.de (http://www.dshs-koeln.de). There, under www.dshs-koeln.de/datenschutz/ (http://www.dshs-koeln.de/datenschutz/), you will also find information on the handling of your personal data transmitted for the purpose of the application.