Prae-doc (Diss) W/M/X

Job ID: IFI114DOC225

The Austrian Academy of Sciences - ÖAW, the largest, non-university reseach center for foundational reseach is searching for a candidate for the position of a Prae-doc (Diss) (70%).

Your Tasks

The position is allocated within the framework of the ERC Project Persian Jews – History, Community, Memory, funded by the European Research Council. The research explores the history of Jewish communities in the Persian speaking world from the 19th century until today and is based on anthropological and historical methods and research questions, emphasizing original sources in Persian, Hebrew, and Judeo-Persian. It analyses the status of Jewish communities in the environment in which they lived, the circumstances of leaving and settling in new places and how the memory of the past is created in these processes. While the project emphasizes cultural, socio-economic and political dynamics, a strong focus is on the development and dissemination of religious thought among Persian speaking Jews and their interaction with other Jewish and non-Jewish communities in this regard. Besides the praedoc position, the project includes two post-doctoral researchers in addition to the PI.As a whole, the research team is committed to a fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue and seeks cooperation with the regions involved in order to promote plurilateral research perspectives.

The doctoral position is assigned to research on religious and/or literary aspects of 19th to early 20th-century Judeo-Persian communities. This includes the production and dissemination of texts, religious education and mysticism, as well as the exchange of these ideas in specific locales in the 19th century (for example between Bukhara, Tehran and Jerusalem). The focus on religious thought is envisaged not in terms of theology, but historical and/or religious studies.

The successful candidate will pursue a PhD dissertation at the University of Vienna, while being integrated in the Institute of Iranian Studies, an internationally leading research institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Within the larger research project, the position offers the opportunity to link focused research on Persian Jewish communities to larger questions in the humanities, to develop research in continuous inter-disciplinary exchange and to thereby develop a broader outlook on the area of study. Opportunities for mentoring and training in career-relevant skills are available.

Your tasks:

• Pursuing a PhD dissertation project within the ERC project PersCom

• Presence in Vienna and engagement in the project as an active team member

• Active participation in the project’s activities in the domains of research and knowledge transfer

• International presentations and publication of project results

• Active participation in the activities of the Institute for Iranian Studies

Your Profile

• Completed MA in a humanities field relevant to the study of modern Iran or Central Asia
• Excellent knowledge of Judeo-Persian and religious thought among Iranian and / or Central Asian Jewish communities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills the languages relevant to your research (Russian, Persian, Hebrew, Tajik)
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English, ability to publish academic articles in English
• Openness to interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue
• Initiative and ability to work in a team

Our Offer

The position is awarded on a fixed-term basis for 36 months for an annual gross salary of € 39.208,80 paid out conditional on proof of enrolment at the University of Vienna. PhD supervision arrangements depend on the chosen focus; further information on supervision can be provided upon e-mail request to Ariane Sadjed Ariane.sadjed@oeaw.ac.at.

Please apply online including a (1) cover letter, (2) academic CV and (3) outline of planned dissertation project of research interest later than October 1, 2025. Any queries may be directed to Dr. Ariane Sadjed.

The Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) pursues a non-discriminatory employment policy and places great importance on equal opportunities and diversity. In particular, individuals from underrepresented groups are expressly encouraged to apply.

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