The Department of Religious Studies (Jewish Studies) at University of Tübingen offers a position for a postdoctoral researcher on the Qur’an and Aramaic Christianity, preferably starting in April 2021. The fixed-term contract will be for 4 years. The position is part of the ERC project “The Qur’an as a Source for Late Antiquity (QaSLA)”. 

The research project is funded by the European Research Council and directed by Prof. Dr. Holger Zellentin, at the University of Tübingen (Germany). QaSLA analyses the affinity between the Qur’an and known forms of Judaism and Christianity surrounding Arabia in order to sketch the religious landscape of the Arabian Peninsula at the turn of the seventh century C.E. 

The successful candidate will participate in all academic aspects of the project. They are expected to author one monograph dedicated to their findings and collaborate in the preparation of the project’s other publications (both in English), as well as acting as a source of information and advice to other members of the project. 

Holding a relevant doctorate, the successful candidate will possess a very good command of Syriac and detailed knowledge of the Late Antique East and West Syrian religious literary tradition. In addition, the candidate should have knowledge of Qur’anic Arabic and of the discipline of Qur’anic Studies. They must be able to work with further late antique Jewish and Christian primary sources relevant to the study of the Qur’an, preferably in the original. Familiarity with additional relevant classical languages (such as Ancient South Arabian, Coptic, Geʿez, Greek, Hebrew, or Safaitic) and with modern research languages, as well as knowledge of Arabic-language scholarship, are especially welcome.