Prae doc assistant

We are looking to strengthen our team at the newly established Cluster of Excellence EurAsian Transformations. The Cluster involves more than 30 researchers from four academic institutions (Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Vienna, Central European University, University of Innsbruck). The Cluster explores original-language sources in dozens of languages with a view towards addressing issues of contemporary relevance - diversity, mobility, identity - in historical perspective, pursuing comparative questions and stressing forms of connectivity in the realms of culture and religion, economy and politics, across Eurasia. We strive for a fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue and seek cooperation with the regions involved in order to create new academic infrastructures in Austria and internationally and to promote plurilateral research perspectives. EurAsia explores the transformation processes of Eurasia - understood as the entire landmass of both continents, Europe and Asia - from antiquity to the present.

We are looking for a PhD candidate in the field of 

Geographies of Power in the Eastern Mediterranean World (c. 1000-1800)

Your personal sphere of interest:

Your position will be embedded in the cluster activities of Research Node 1 ("Geographies of Power") and the conceptual discussions of the Transversal Working Group 4 "Decentering Eurasian Empires and Geographies, from the 1200s to the Present".

You will pursue a PhD project related to one (or several) of the following subprojects or work packages of the cluster: 

• Agencies and Space in Imperial Borderlands: Ottoman Transformation of the Balkans (14th-16th Century), coordinated by Grigor Boykov and Jens Oliver Schmitt
• Resource Accumulation and Labour Coercion in Premodern Household Economies in a Long-Term Perspective, coordinated by Juliane Schiel and Michael Jursa
• Nature, Environments and Societies in Ottoman and Turkish Sources, coordinated by Yavuz Köse
• Mobility and Migration in Byzantium, coordinated by Claudia Rapp

Your future tasks:

You actively participate in research, teaching & administration, which means:

• Work on your dissertation within the subproject of the Clusters as defined above.
• We expect the completion of your doctoral thesis agreement within 12 months.
• Research in the area of the Clusters as defined above.
• Active participation in the activities of the Clusters.
• International publication and presentation activities.
• Participation in the further development of the Clusters.
• You take on administrative tasks in research, teaching and administration.

This is part of your personality:

Your profile:

• MA in history
• Excellent knowledge of at least one source language and at least two modern languages of the Eurasian region
• Competences in a regional discipline within Eurasia as geographically defined above
• You are in the initial phase of your PhD education
• Ability to work in a team
• Very good written and spoken English skills. Good written and spoken German skills is an advantage but not a must

We also expect: 

• Willingness to engage in interdisciplinary exchange and research work in teams
• Outstanding MA thesis
• Comprehensive exposé of the planned PhD thesis (max. 5 pages)
• Demonstration of use of source languages of the Eurasian region

What we offer:

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours and can partially work remotely. 

Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment.

Good public transport connections: Your workplace is easily accessible by public transport.

Internal further training & Coaching: Opportunity to deepen your skills on an ongoing basis. There are over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.

Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 3714,80 (on a full-time basis) increases if we can credit professional experience.

Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality to the team!

It is that easy to apply:

• With your scientific curriculum vitae / letter of intent
• With your summary of research interests / ideas for a prospective doctoral project proposal (max. 5 pages)
• Master Degree  /  Diploma
• Demonstration of use of source languages of the Eurasian region
• Via our  job portal/ Apply now -  button