Research Associate for the Project “Cluster of Excellence Understanding Written Artefacts” (Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures) § 28 Subsection 3 HmbHG

Institution: Cluster of Excellence „Understanding Written Artefacts“

Salary level: EGR. 13 TV-L

Start date: 01.01.2027, fixed until 30.06.2030 (This is a fixed-term contract in accordance with Section 2 of the academic fixed-term labor contract act [Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG]).

Application deadline: 2026-07-31

Scope of work: part-time

Weekly hours: 75 % of standard work hours per week

The Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’ (UWA) is seeking to recruit a doctoral researcher in the field of African studies with specialisation on West Africa. UWA offers an exciting opportunity to research handwritten artefacts across materials, periods and regions within a collaborative team of doctoral, postdoctoral and senior/professorial researchers. You will be part of an international team of researchers from across over forty disciplines in the Humanities, the Natural Sciences and Computer Science. The Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures is by now the largest research centre of its kind worldwide and offers a uniquely dynamic research environment.

Your responsibilities

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue further academic qualifications outside of their work responsibilities.

Your core responsibility is to pursue your research project that fits the overall comparative research profile of UWA. You will actively contribute to the cluster’s interdisciplinary Graduate School and collaborative research activities. Activities include participation in research meetings, organising scholarly events and developing relevant networks.

Your profile

A university degree in a relevant field.

You hold an excellent degree (Master or equivalent) in African Studies or a closely related discipline, with a focus on West Africa. Fluency in English, written and spoken, and knowledge of a West African language is required.

You should have a strong interest in the materiality of written artefacts and in cooperating beyond disciplinary boundaries, that is, across various fields in the Humanities, and/or across the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Computer Science. Further preferred qualifications and experiences include:

• depending on your potential field of research (History, Linguistics, Anthropology), competence in Islamic codicology/palaeography or historical (socio)linguistics or anthropology of education;
• if you intend to work on written artefacts in Arabic and/or Arabic script (Ajami), knowledge of Arabic and/or respective West African language(s);
• if you intend to work on written artefacts in indigenous script(s) of West Africa, knowledge of respective language(s);
• ability to work in a team.

You must apply with a project proposal (in English) with a clear focus on the study of written artefacts. The proposal should be of max. 2,500 words (plus bibliography), including a brief summary, state of the art/literature review, a detailed project description and a 3.5-year schedule. In your schedule, please indicate major research trips, like conference travel, fieldwork, library visits etc. per year. The proposed project must fit the overall research profile of UWA. For further information, see the and the UWA website on .

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

We offer

Reliable remuneration based on wage agreements

Continuing education opportunities

University pensions

Attractive location

Flexible working hours

Work-life balance opportunities

Health management, EGYM Wellpass

Educational leave

30 days of vacation per annum

The successful candidate can benefit from a range of tailored support measures at the Cluster, which include,

• enrolment in the clusters with an interdisciplinary structured PhD programme
• additional funding for a range of research activities, including fieldwork
• doctoral mentoring programmes
• workshops to support your academic skills as well as your career planning
• promoting

Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence is one of the strongest research educational institutions in Germany. Our work in research, teaching, educational and knowledge exchange activities is fostering the next generation of responsible global citizens ready to tackle the global challenges facing us. Our guiding principle “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future in a digital age” drives collaboration with academic and nonacademic partner institutions in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and around the world. We would like to invite you to be part of our community to work with us in creating sustainable and digital change for a dynamic and pluralist society.

The University of Hamburg is committed to equity. Diversity enriches our university life, whether in our studies, research, teaching, education, or workplace. We therefore welcome all applications, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic or social background, age, religion or belief, disability, or chronic illness.

Severely disabled and disabled applicants with the same status will receive preference over equally qualified non-disabled applicants.

Instructions for applying

Contact

Prof. Dr. Dmitry Bondarev

Dr. Eva Jungbluth

Location

Warburgstraße 26
20354 Hamburg

Reference number

178

Application deadline

2026-07-31

Use only the online application form to submit your complete application documents until 31.07.2026, 11:59 PM CEST:

• cover letter
• project proposal (PhD)
• CV
• one letter of recommendation
• writing sample (e.g. chapter of your MA-thesis)
• copies of degree certificate(s)

Interviews are scheduled for the period between 10.08.2026 and 01.09.2026.

If you experience technical problems, send an email to .

More information on in selection procedures.