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CSMC

CSMCCentre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures

Photo: CSMC

Information for Applicants

Welcome to our information page for applicants! The Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’ (UWA) is an international, cross-disciplinary research project for the holistic study of (hand)written artefacts. UWA is housed at the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC), a cross-faculty research centre at the University of Hamburg. UWA’s main objective is to investigate the rich diversity of global manuscript cultures in a comparative way.

UWA Objectives 

Our paradigm and framework can be summarised by our concept of the written artefact (WA), defined as ‘any artificial or natural object with visual signs applied by humans’. This way, our global perspective encompasses all objects carrying handwriting, from the beginning of writing to today’s digital age, including clay tablets, papyrus sheets, inscribed rocks, wooden tablets, palm-leaf pothis, parchment codices, wall graffiti, digital twins of WAs and many more. This comprehensive understanding of humanity’s handwritten heritage enables our scholarly community to study the material dimensions of WAs in relation to their content in order to provide a fuller understanding of how societies have shaped writing and how societies, in turn, have adapted writing to their needs.

The cluster’s research has overcome long-established academic boundaries between regions (especially between Europe and ‘other’ world regions), periods (such as between Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the modern period) and disciplines (between the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Computer Science). UWA brings together more than 150 researchers from over 40 academic disciplines, currently working on over 60 research projects; since 2019, more than 50 projects have been completed.

UWA has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of Germany’s Excellence Strategy since 2019, with substantial additional funding by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the University of Hamburg (UWA I, 2019–2025). UWA’s second funding phase UWA II has started in January 2026 and we are delighted that new researchers will join us in this exciting phase.

FAQ

Can I apply for a doctoral position with an ongoing PhD project?

PhD researchers with ongoing projects are also eligible to apply, but only during the first year of their PhD. Supervisors external to the University of Hamburg can be members of the supervisory committee. The first supervisor has to be from UWA.

What is meant by ‘literature review’ in the project proposal?

The literature review included in your project proposal should provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art research related to the topic of the proposal. This is also known as Literature Survey or State of the Art Review. If the applicant has any relevant publications on the subject, these should certainly also be acknowledged. All referenced literature should be listed in the bibliography.

Does the bibliography count towards the 5-page limit?

No, the bibliography does not count towards the 5-page limit of the project proposal.

How do I calculate the budget in my project proposal? (Postdoctoral researchers)

In your budget plan please calculate your expected project costs per year, especially expenditures such as field trips and conference participation. You do NOT have to calculate your salary costs.

How does my project fit into UWA’s research programme?

Applicants propose a research project (Independent Research Project, IRP) as specified in the corresponding call, with which they contribute to UWA’s research programme and to one or more of its general objectives shown above. Once accepted, all researchers will become involved in Project Group (PGs) and Concepts and Methods Units (CMUs), according to their fields of expertise. However—and this is an important point—your IRP does not have to be a perfect fit for a PG or CMU. You are free to design a project that is independent and original, even if it does not neatly fall into one of those pre-existing structures.

Where does collaboration take place?

Primarily, UWA researchers are working self-responsibly in their Independent Research Projects (IRP). IRPs should be open to cross-disciplinary collaboration, for which UWA provides a range of fora including,

  • Research groups like PGs (Project Groups), CMUs (Concepts and Methods Units) and working groups
  • Events and activities in the Graduate School (for doctoral researchers)
  • The UWA laboratory system for written artefact analysis
  • Research and Study Days
  • Workshops, conferences and lectures etc.

Doctoral researchers will join an existing PG; postdoctoral and advanced postdoctoral researchers will join an existing PG and CMU; advanced postdoctoral researchers are subsequently expected to develop their own PGs.

Is remote work possible?

With its many different disciplines and research projects on various writing cultures, the cluster’s holistic approach to understanding written artefacts depends on face-to-face collaboration and participation. Therefore, remote work is not an option, though up to two home office days per week are permitted.