Assistant Professor of Historical Studies and Digital Humanities (f/m/d) Department of Historical Studies, Central European University

Starting date: 1 September 2024
Application deadline: 31 January 2024
Location: Vienna
Full- Or Part-Time: Full-time

The Department of Historical Studies at Central European University invites applications for an Assistant Professorship position in Historical Studies and Digital Humanities. Regional and chronological specializations are open, but applicants should demonstrate the ability to engage in research on transregional phenomena in Eurasian history between c. 800 and c. 1850, based on expertise in one or more regional/local languages. Scholars working on the Islamicate and/or Persianate world and/or South Asia are particularly encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to teaching digital tools and methods in historical analysis, as well as in the area of their research specialization. Possible thematic concentrations and methodological approaches may include (but are not limited to) environmental history, material culture, manuscript studies, etc. The candidate will join and contribute to the development of the new Department of Historical Studies, which will integrate the strengths of CEU’s existing Departments of History and Medieval Studies and launch in September 2024. The candidate is expected to have a track record of research excellence and ability to collaborate with faculty across historical disciplines. Please see the international faculty profiles of the new Department of Historical Studies here and here.

The department recently won a prestigious Cluster of Excellence grant for a project on “EurAsian Transformations” (in partnership with the Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Vienna, and University of Innsbruck). The candidate will be expected to contribute to the Cluster, which will entail multi-year research and teaching on the history of Eurasia as a geographic entity and imagined geostrategic space, a site of imperial rivalries, and a vital place of intersection for cultures, religions, and languages. The department prides itself on being a vibrant and welcoming home for young scholars from all backgrounds and origins and is excited to offer this opportunity to begin a career at a university that welcomes students from over 100 countries.
Your duties and responsibilities:

  • Developing and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, supervising BA, MA, and PhD theses in the above areas. The department serves a global student population. A firm commitment to inclusive instruction and mentoring for a diverse international student body is expected.
  • A clear and active research agenda and a commitment to regularly publish in major professional venues.
  • Administrative tasks at departmental and university levels, and commitment to contribute to the development of a department at a world-class university

Your qualifications:
A PhD in history or related disciplines or in digital humanities in hand by the start of employment as well as a track record of internationally recognized publications commensurate with the career stage.

What CEU Offers:
We offer a yearly salary of 62.500 EUR as well as additional benefits (e. g. pension plan, sabbatical system). The initial contract is for 6 years. The contract is renewable and can be turned into an indefinite contract depending on the outcome of a review.

How to Apply:
Applications should include:

  • A brief (1-2 page) cover letter including a statement about the applicant’s research and teaching plans
  • A comprehensive CV, including
    o a list of publications
    o experience in teaching and/or engaging with various DH methods and tools
    o language skills
    o the names and contact details of three referees
    o student evaluations (if available)
  • An article-length writing sample
  • A draft syllabus for a graduate course (MA) in methods of Digital Humanities
  • A draft syllabus for an undergraduate course (BA) in the applicant’s area of historical specialization

We do not ask for reference letters at the first stage of application; the referees of long-listed candidates will be contacted for references later by CEU.
Questions of an academic nature may be addressed to the chair of the search committee, Jan Hennings (henningsj@ceu.edu). Please send your complete application package to advert095@ceu.edu – including the job code in the subject line: 2023/095. CEU is an equal opportunity employer and values geographical and gender diversity, thus encouraging applications from women and/or other underrepresented groups. Since CEU strives to increase the share of women in professorial positions, given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female applicants. CEU recognizes that personal and family circumstances shape the trajectory of one’s career and working patterns. As such, and in line with CEU’s promotion of Equal Opportunities, we encourage applicants to detail periods of leave, part-time work or other such situations in their applications so that the Search Committee is able to assess an applicant’s academic record fairly in the context of their circumstances. Any declaration of personal and family circumstances is voluntary and will be handled confidentially and only considered in so far as it impacts on the academic career of an applicant. To contribute to CEU’s monitoring efforts to improve gender equality in the academic body, we kindly ask you to fill in this form with your gender identity. This is a completely anonymous and non-mandatory requirement and therefore not linked in any way to the assessment of your application. Thank you for sharing this statistical data with us.
The privacy of your personal information is very important to us. We collect, use, and store your personal information in accordance with the requirements of the applicable data privacy rules, including specifically the General Data Protection Regulation. To learn more about how we manage your personal data during the recruitment process, please see our Privacy Notice at: https://www.ceu.edu/recruitment-privacy-notice-austria (Austria: Central European University, CEU Central European University Private University).
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AT CEU

About CEU
One of the world’s most international universities, a unique founding mission positions Central European University as both an acclaimed center for the study of economic, historical, social and political challenges, and a source of support for building open and democratic societies that respect human rights and human dignity. CEU is accredited in the United States and Austria, and offers English-language bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in the social sciences, the humanities, law, environmental sciences, management and public policy. CEU enrolls more than 1,400 students from over 100 countries, with faculty from over 50 countries.

In 2019, CEU relocated from Hungary to Austria as the Hungarian government revoked its ability to issue US-accredited degrees in the country. As a result, CEU offers all of its degree programs in Vienna, Austria; and retains a non-degree, research and civic engagement presence in Budapest, Hungary, through its CEU Democracy Institute, the Institute for Advanced Study, the CEU Summer University and The Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA), and its Hungarian language public educational programs and public lectures.
For more information, please visit https://www.ceu.edu/.

Find the Call as a PDF-file here: Assistant Professor_Historical Studies_CEU