3 July 2026

Photo: CSMC

The Cluster of Excellence Understanding Written Artefacts (UWA) at the CSMC is inviting applications for five doctoral researcher positions starting on 1 January 2027.

The positions are part of the Cluster’s long‑term research programme on written artefacts and are located in the fields of West African Studies, Arabic Studies, Art History, Early Medieval Studies, and Ottoman or Turkish Studies. All doctoral projects must have a clear focus on written artefacts and align with the comparative research profile of UWA.

Successful candidates will develop their own research project within the Cluster’s Graduate School and will be closely integrated into UWA’s research activities. Their responsibilities include pursuing a dissertation project in one of the above disciplines, participating in research meetings and colloquia, contributing to the organisation of scholarly events, and building international networks in an interdisciplinary research environment. The positions are designed for early‑career researchers who are interested in working with primary sources and in engaging with methodological approaches from history and cultural studies, while also being open to cooperation across disciplinary boundaries.

Applicants are expected to hold an excellent Master’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the relevant fields and to submit a project proposal in English with a clear focus on the study of written artefacts.

More information on the positions and how to apply is available here.