Application deadline
2026-07-31

The Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’ (UWA) is seeking to recruit a doctoral researcher in the field of Ottoman or Turkish Studies. UWA offers an exciting opportunity to research handwritten artefacts across materials, periodsand regions within a collaborative team of doctoral, postdoctoral and senior/professorial researchers. You will be part of aninternational team of researchers from across over forty disciplines in the Humanities, the Natural Sciences and ComputerScience. The Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures is by now the largest research centre of its kind worldwide and offers auniquely dynamic research environment.

Your responsibilities

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue further academic qualificationsoutside of their work responsibilities.
Your core responsibility is to pursue your research project that fits the overall comparative research profile of UWA. You will activelycontribute to the cluster’s interdisciplinary Graduate School and collaborative research activities. Activities include participation inresearch 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 Ottoman Studies, Turkish Studies or a closely related discipline such as OttomanHistory. Fluency in both English and Turkish, written and spoken, is required.
You should have a strong interest in the materiality of written artefacts and in cooperating beyond disciplinary boundaries, that is, acrossvarious fields in the Humanities, and/or across the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Computer Science. Further preferred qualifications and experiences include:

 - experience in working with primary sources in Turkish or Ottoman Turkish and familiarity with methodological approachesfrom history and/or cultural studies
- ability to work in a team 
- excellent written and oral communication skills

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. 2,500words (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 mustfit the overall research profile of UWA. For further information, see the FAQand the UWA website on
Research.
PhD researchers with ongoing projects are also eligible to apply during the first year of their PhD and supervisors external to the University ofHamburg can be members of the supervisory committee. The first supervisor has to be from UWA.

We offer

Reliable remuneration based onwage agreements
Continuing education opportunities
University pensions
Attractive location
Flexible working hours
Work-life balance opportunities
Health management, EGYMWellpass
Educational leave
30 days

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

- enrolment in the clusters Graduate School 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 equity and diversity.

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 theglobal challenges facing us. Our guiding principle “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future in a digital age” drives collaborationwith academic and nonacademic partner institutions in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and around the world. We would like to invite youto 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 socialbackground, 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. Barbara Henning
barbara.henning@uni-hamburg.de

Dr. Eva Jungbluth
eva.jungbluth@uni-hamburg.de

Reference number
182

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 bewerbungen@uni-hamburg.de
More information on data protection in selection procedures.