University assistant predoctoral

At the University of Vienna more than 10,000 personalities work together towards answering the big questions of the future. Around 7,500 of them do research and teaching, around 2,900 work in administration and organisation. We are looking for a/an

University assistant predoctoral

40 Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies

Job vacancy starting: 10/15/2024 | Working hours: 30,00 | Classification CBA: §48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc)

Limited contract until:

Job ID: 2880

Interviews are expected to take place at the beginning of October.

Among the many good reasons to want to research and teach at the University of Vienna, there is one in particular, which has convinced around 7,500 academic staff members so far. They see themselves as personalities who need space for their continuous striving and curiosity in order to be scientifically successful. Does this sound like you? Then join our accomplished team!

As Predoctoral University Assistant you will complement the team in the field of Islamic Art History around Professor Markus Ritter. The team’s research interests include media and contexts of Early Medieval Arabic art and architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamia; of Medieval and Modern Persian art in Iran and beyond; and of Medieval and Modern art and architecture in Asia Minor and the Ottoman Empire.

The Department of Art History in Vienna researches and teaches on arts all across Eurasia, from Late Antiquity to the present day, using a variety of methodological approaches. The team on Islamic art history benefits from exchange with colleagues in the Department who work on European, Byzantine and East Asian art history. We cooperate with institutions that study and teach the history, literature, culture, and anthropology of Islamic societies, inside and outside the University of Vienna. We conduct research in countries of Islamic art and study artefacts in the extensive museum and library collections of Vienna and Austria.

What is important to us as a team is to foster exchange, discussion, and ideas in research; committed teaching and openness in communication.

You actively participate in research, teaching, and administration, which means:

• You research and write your doctoral thesis at the University of Vienna, on a topic in Islamic art history supervised by the professor
• You present your doctoral project to the faculty committee of the Doctoral School within one year after coming to Vienna (Faculty public presentation)
• You independently teach courses in the BA program (proseminars, case studies), one course per semester (every fourth semester is without teaching, according to the employment contract)
• You support the Chair for Islamic Art History in research, teaching and administration

• a completed Master or Diploma degree in Art History or Archaeology or Architectural History and Building Research or a field in Oriental or Islamic studies; with a completed thesis on a topic relevant to Islamic Art History
• knowledge of at least one Arabic-written language, such as Arabic, Persian, Ottoman
• practice in academic writing and research methods
• didactic skills
• very good knowledge of English
• enthusiasm, interest, and ideally proven ability to work in a team, with social and communication skills
• the will, the perseverance, and the plan to research and write a very good and methodologically competent doctoral thesis within the foreseen time

Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic team, with an excellent research infrastructure, at one of the largest art history university departments in the world, in a relaxed working environment.
Work-life balance: You have flexible working hours with the option of working from home. You have a working sabbatical without teaching every fourth semester, intended to enable you to further concentrate on your doctoral thesis.
Internal further training and coaching: Opportunity to deepen your skills on an ongoing basis. There are over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge. We support your participation in scholarly workshops and conferences, and at summer schools.
Life in Vienna: Vienna has been voted the most liveable city worldwide several times in a row, including this year. The city has a rich cultural landscape, outstanding infrastructure and excellent public transportation. Your workplace is easily accessible by public transport. The cost of living in Vienna is moderate by international standards.
Fair salary: This is a 30-hour position, of which at least 10 hours are available for the provision of independent academic work, in particular the dissertation, as well as for relevant training and further education. The salary for 30h per week, 37.577,40 € per year, increases if we can take professional experience into account.

Employment: The employment duration is 3 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 3 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a declaration of non-extension. With appropriate work progress, an extension to a total maximum of 4 years is possible.
Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality to the team!

• a signed letter of motivation
• your academic curriculum vitae
• an exposé of your doctoral project. It explains the topic and its relevance; it addresses the aim of the work, its approach, and the gap of research intended to be filled by the project; the state of research with reference to existing literature; the artworks and sources to be studied and consulted; the guiding idea(s) in examining and contextualizing the artworks; working hypotheses; it provides a preliminary outline and a timetable (around 5 pages of text, without illustrations, plus outline and bibliography)
• a summary of the topic, the approach, and the results of your Master or Diploma thesis (maximum 3 pages), the table of contents of the thesis and the grading report for your thesis
• a copy of the certificate of your completed Master or Diploma program
• proof of language skills

Through our job portal / apply - now - button

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Markus Ritter

markus.ritter@univie.ac.at

We look forward to new personalities in our team!
The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We lay special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions among the academic and general university staff and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

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Application deadline: 09/25/2024