Doctoral position (Arabist or Latinist) starting in October 2026

The Project Ptolemaeus Arabus et Latinus (PAL) is dedicated to the edition and study of the Arabic and Latin versions of Ptolemy’s astronomical and astrological texts and related material. These include works by Ptolemy or attributed to him, commentaries thereupon, and other works that are of immediate relevance to understanding Ptolemy’s reception and legacy in the Middle Ages and the early modern period up to 1700. The project is hosted by the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Munich for a period of 25 years from 2013 to 2037. It is supervised by Prof. Dr. Dag Nikolaus Hasse (University of Würzburg) and carried out by a team of five scholars, including two research leaders (Dr. David Juste and Dr. Benno van Dalen), two post-doctoral researchers and one doctoral researcher.

• One three-year position expected to commence on 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
• The position is remunerated at 65% TV-L E13 (currently €3,009 gross per month), liable to deductions for tax, social security and retirement provisions.
• The employment contract will be with the University of Würzburg and the Project Director, Prof. Dr. Dag Nikolaus Hasse, will normally serve as the main supervisor or as a co-supervisor. There is also the possibility of spending a research period at our partner institution, the Warburg Institute (University of London), under the supervision of Professor Charles Burnett. The doctoral researcher will otherwise be expected to work primarily in Munich with the research team or in Würzburg. Proposals involving collaboration with other institutions and supervisors are welcome, and the main supervisor may be based at another university.

• Qualifications and skills: applicants must hold a Master's degree or an equivalent qualification in a field relevant to the Project, have an excellent knowledge of Latin and/or Arabic and a good command of English (the primary language of publication of the project). Applicants should also have research interests in line with the objectives of PAL, in particular in the history of medieval or early modern science, in the making of critical editions of Arabic or Latin texts, and/or in handling manuscripts. The doctoral dissertation can be written in English (preferred) or German.
• The doctoral researcher will be able to devote most of their working time to their dissertation, whose topic will be in line with PAL objectives and will normally include the edition of an Arabic or Latin text (or both). The position carries with it no teaching or administrative duties, but the doctoral researcher is expected to contribute part of their time to other activities of the project.

• The doctoral researcher will be given the opportunity to publish their doctoral dissertation in the PAL book series (Brepols) and, where relevant, on the PAL web interface, and they should agree to publish their dissertation in priority through those media. All contributions by the doctoral researcher will be published under their own name and authorship will be duly acknowledged in every collaborative output, including online publications.

• Applications should be submitted in English or German by 31 March 2026 to Prof. Dr. Dag Nikolaus Hasse by email at Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.. Applications must include a full curriculum vitae (including a list of publications, where applicable); a 1-3 page outline of the proposed research project; and two academic letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be sent directly by the referees, either by email at Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo..

Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by email as soon as a decision is made. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview, either on site or online.

For informal enquiries and consultation regarding possible dissertation topics, please contact Dag Nikolaus Hasse, David Juste or Benno van Dalen at Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo..