As part of the new Excellent Ideas programme, the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg is pleased to announce two vacancies within the Department of Egyptology: 1 postdoctoral researcher and 1 doctoral assistant.

These positions will be part of a new in-depth project studying “magical” texts from Late Antique and early Islamic Egypt written in Coptic, and will involve the creation of a database of published and unpublished texts, the edition and re-edition of original manuscripts, and the production of research situating them within their historical, social and intellectual context. The appointed applicants will work with the team co-ordinator (Dr. Korshi Dosoo). Both positions will begin 1 September 2018, running for five years until 31 August 2023.

The postdoctoral candidate will require a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline (Coptic Studies, Papyrology, Egyptology, Early Christian Studies, Islamic Studies etc.), and a strong knowledge of the Coptic and Greek languages, as well as fluent English and at least a reading knowledge of German, French, Italian, and Spanish. Language skills in Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, and earlier phases of Egyptian are also highly desirable. As a position intended for a junior researcher, applicants are normally expected to have completed their doctorate within the last three years.

The candidate for the position of a doctoral assistant will require a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (Ancient History, Coptic Studies, Papyrology, Egyptology, Early Christian Studies, Islamic Studies etc.), and a strong knowledge of the Coptic and Greek languages, as well as fluent English. A reading knowledge of German, French, Italian, and Spanish is highly desirable, as are language skills in Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic, Spanish, Latin, and earlier phases of Egyptian. She or he will receive supervision to allow her or him to complete her or his doctoral degree. The candidate will be free to decide on a thesis topic, although it will preferably overlap to some degree with the project theme.