Postdoctoral Researcher in Syriac Christianity

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Your working environment:

Working with Dr Dan Batovici, the PI, the post holder will be part of the project Generative Authority: The Followers of the Apostles as Literary Characters, funded by a 2024 START Award of the Austrian Research Fund (FWF).

The GenAut Project (genaut.univie.ac.at) traces the development and dissemination (in Greek, Coptic, Syriac and Armenian) of early Christian and late antique literature in which the main characters are early Christian individuals connected in some way to a prominent apostolic figure. Within this literature, figures such as Thecla of Iconium, Dionysius the Areopagite, and Clement of Rome among others are placed at the centre of literary works of different kinds that kept being composed for a whole millennium starting from the second century.

The post holder will be responsible for carrying out research on the literature focused on the early Christian figures styled as followers of the apostles (Thecla of Iconium, Dionysius the Areopagite, Ignatius of Antioch, etc.) and their manuscript transmission in Syriac.

The successful candidate will be a specialist in Syriac studies (with knowledge of Greek), will hold or be close to obtaining a PhD in a relevant field, and will have significant experience in working with Syriac manuscripts.

Your future tasks:

•    Manage your own academic research as well as scholarly and administrative activities as directed by the PI.
•    Carry out research in relevant manuscript libraries (e.g. the British Library and Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana).
•    You will be contributing on the Syriac side of the GenAut project and collaborate with your colleagues that work on the Greek, Coptic, and Armenian.
•    Compile and update the list of Syriac manuscripts with GenAut writings and feed the data in the project database.
•    Co-organise the conferences and workshops of the project, and co-edit the volumes of proceedings.
•    Represent the GenAut project at external conferences, and prepare results for publications, individually or in collaboration with your colleagues.

Selection criteria

•    Excellent knowledge of Syriac and Syriac manuscript culture.
•    The ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with your colleagues.
•    Demonstrable experience of independent scholarly writing at a high academic level.
•    Working experience on early Christian literature can be a plus but it is not a requirement.

What we offer:

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours, remote/hybrid and/or part-time work (upon agreement).

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 in the center of beautiful Vienna 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.

Fixed-term contract and fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 4,932,90 (14 times a year) for a period of 4 years if we can factor in professional experience.

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

It is that easy to apply:

• Via our job portal/ Apply now -  button
• Please include 

  •    Your academic CV, including publications list and the details of two referees (who will only be contacted if shortlisted).
  •    A motivation letter explaining how you meet the selection criteria, and how your previous work experience could be relevant (max 2 pages).
  •    A writing sample: an article, book chapter, thesis chapter, or unpublished manuscript, ideally no longer than 10,000 words