The Byzness, 29th March 2026

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Mar 29, 2026, 1:01:55 PM (4 days ago) Mar 29

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THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY BYZANTINE SOCIETY
The Byzness, 29th March 2026
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1. NEWS AND EVENTS

2. CALLS FOR PAPERS

3. JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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1. NEWS AND EVENTS

Dear all,

The OUBS is delighted to share that our recent research trip to Sicily went extremely well. From privately guided visits to the archaeological sites at Cava d’Ispica and Kaukana, to excursions to view the glittering mosaics at Cefalù and Monreale Cathedrals, to a spectacular day spent wandering around Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, each moment of the trip was one to remember.

The Committee would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all trip participants for making the experience so memorable. We would also like to express once more our gratitude for the wonderfully generous guidance provided by Dr. Saverio Scerra. Further thanks are in order as well: to Dr. Julian baker for his dedication, assistance, and time in helping the OUBS plan this trip, and to the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research and Professor Peter Frankopan, for the extremely generous funding provided to the Committee, which made this trip so enjoyable.

Instagram: @ox_byz

Bluesky: @oxunibyzantinesoc.bsky.social

X/Twitter: @oxbyz (if you do follow us on X, we are transitioning over to Bluesky, so please do follow us there in the first instance)

Wishing everyone a happy and restful Easter,

Madeleine.

For those wishing to submit an event, call for papers, job or scholarship opportunity to the Byzness please send details to the committee at byzantin...@gmail.com indicating the relevant list for The Byzness our external to Oxford and year-round newsletter or The Byzantine Lists our Oxford-centered events and circulated only in term-time. Please keep listing brief and include all relevant information in the body of the notice. Outside of exceptional circumstances, we only share events once.

2026 HiSon (Historical Sociolinguistic Nework) Summer School

This is a reminder that there is still time to sign up for the 2026 HiSoN (Historical Sociolinguistics Network) Summer School.

The Summer School will take place from 13 to 18 July 2026 at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University (Belgium).

This year’s programme offers a broad range of historical sociolinguistic perspectives, covering language varieties from Romance, Slavic, and Germanic, to Arabic, Greek, and creole languages.

The lecturers for the 2026 Summer School are:

Carolina Amador-Moreno (Extremadura)

James Clackson (Cambridge)

Simeon Dekker (Giessen)

Chiara Fedriani (Genoa)

Matthias Kappler (Venice)

Oliver Mayeux (Cambridge)

Ulrike Vogl (Ghent)

Registration is now open. While the Summer School is primarily aimed at graduate students and early career researchers, applications from other interested scholars are also welcome.

Please note that registration follows a two-step procedure: interested participants must first submit an application form, after which selected applicants will be invited to complete the registration. The application deadline is 31 March 2026. As places are limited, we encourage early applications.

Further information about the programme, practical details, and updates can be found on the Summer School website:

https://hison2026summerschool.ugent.be/en

Applications can be submitted via the registration page:

https://hison2026summerschool.ugent.be/en/registration

We very much look forward to welcoming you to Ghent in July 2026.

Syriac Hymnal Discussion with Dr. Gabriel Aydin

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐜 𝐇𝐲𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐜 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭

Malphono Dr. Gabriel Aydin discusses with host Shamosho Martin Saji about the Syriac Hymnal, a project initiated by Dr Aydin with the Syriac Music Institute to be used as a resource (now available in the App Store) that meticulously documents the traditions of ancient Syriac chants of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. This Hymnal uses Western Notation along with notational adjustments to accurately reflect the uniqueness of Syriac Chant that can now reach a broader audience and showcases the esteemed oral traditions of various centers of Syriac Orthodoxy. Dr. Aydin here discusses the history of Syriac Chant and his process in the creation of this hymnal.

https://www.youtube.com/live/OafErWVt9tQ?si=taLMtvuBL4Fd3zGE

2. CALL FOR PAPERS

CfP: "Intellectual Interaction Between Paganism and Christianity," University of Bonn, 26-27 June 2026

We are happy to announce that a doctoral workshop on intellectual interaction between paganism and Christianity in Late Antiquity will be held in Bonn on the 26th and 27th of June. This workshop is aimed at doctoral students and early career researches from all fields concerned with the Late Antique world (Ancient History, Philology, Archeology, Theology, Philosophy).

Intellectual Interaction Between Paganism and Christianity

It is a truism to call the Late Antique world a Christian world. The imperial families became Christian and so eventually did most of the imperial elite and also step by step most of the inhabitants of the empire. One could say Constantine’s embracing of Christianity was a turning point that led from a pagan to a Christian world. Yet the Lebenswelt of the average Late Antique person was far from being Christianised in a total sense of the word. On the contrary the remains of centuries of pagan culture were present in every part of everyday life. Of course pagans did not suddenly disappear but for a long time constituted a significant part of the inhabitants of the empire. This pagan presence challenged, provoked or inspired intellectual interaction with it. In most cases it could not simply be ignored. The ways that Christian authors dealt with it were very different: Assimilation, condemnation or reinterpretation are among the most common approaches. But some authors might not even have considered the dichotomy to be problematic and thus engaged with paganism in a casual manner even though this (at least for our conceptions) was not in accordance with their public function.

Within the scope of this postgraduate workshop we ask you to present thoughts and cases on those intellectual interactions. PhD students and recent PhD holders from all fields that study the Imperial Roman Era and Late Antiquity are welcome to apply. Chances are that you have been confronted with these discourses in your texts as well while working on your dissertation. We encourage you to send in short proposals for case-study oriented presentations (20-30 minutes) on this topic. Every presentation will be followed by a discussion on the presented case among early-career peers that will lead to a broader understanding of this complex phenomenon. Guiding questions can include but are not limited to: How and why did certain authors engage with elements of pagan culture? Were certain parts of pagan culture more likely to be embraced or rejected as part of one’s background? What was considered specifically pagan by Christians? And how did pagan authors for their part react to the rise of Christianity? How did the political or social background of our authors shape their view of the dichotomy? Is the outlined dichotomy still fruitful for analysing and interpreting Late Antique sources or is it a careless simplification that does not reflect the Lebenswelt of some of our sources?

A proposal can be sent until the 31.03.26 to Gregor Kirilov (gkir...@uni-bonn.de) or Jacob Bernitzki (jber...@uni-bonn.de). It should not exceed 500 words and must be (like the presentation itself) in English. The workshop itself will be held on the 26th and 27th of June at the University of Bonn. Further information about scheduling will be sent to all participants after the evaluation of the proposals. We aim to secure additional funding to cover travel expenses and accommodation but applicants are strongly encouraged to seek compensation from their home university.

CfP: "Understanding textual content of manuscripts across traditions," Hamburg, 1-2 October 2026

The Project Beta maṣāḥǝft: Manuscripts of Ethiopia and Eritrea at the University of Hamburg (with the financial support of the Akademie der Wissenschaften Hamburg) is pleased to announce the International Conference Understanding textual content of manuscripts across traditions; University of Hamburg, Asien-Afrika-Institut, 1-2 October 2026

Describing the intellectual content of a manuscript (in any language or tradition) requires a clear strategy for addressing the textual complexity inherently present in this medium. Where do we draw the boundaries between texts, dividing the content into distinct textual units? Should a text be delimited based on its material inscription, linguistic coherence, communicative function, or interpretability? What features indicate that we are dealing with a specific textual unit? How can we consistently and clearly identify, classify, and relate textual units and layers both within and across traditions? Are all possible versions merely manifestations of a single underlying text, or does a certain degree of variance justify regarding a version as a text in its own right? How should non-literary texts transmitted through manuscripts be treated? What are the implications for a culturally and historically situated literary text when it is transmitted across regional and temporal boundaries?

In manuscript studies, these questions are not purely theoretical. Our understanding of a text or textual unit influences how we handle manuscripts in our research, how we edit and interpret their content, and how we conceptualise the cultures that produced these texts. Employing consistent approaches is crucial for creating reliable catalogue descriptions and, even more so, for establishing an authoritative list of all documented texts.

Building on experiences from (re)cataloguing manuscripts within a digital environment and from developing reliable digital text repertoires, this conference invites an interdisciplinary dialogue about the conceptual, practical, and technological implications of working with pre-modern manuscripts and texts in any language tradition.

Scholars at all stages of their academic careers are encouraged to submit abstracts addressing these questions and related topics:

The internal logic of transmitting and classifying texts and textual units across diverse written cultures;

The definitions of textual units within specific fields and how these influence cross-disciplinary and cross-boundary research;

How titles, languages, and naming conventions can respect local usage while maintaining data reusability and recognisability;

Ways in which multidisciplinary and multilingual research environments can best link traditions while respecting their internal differences;

The implications of these decisions for digital infrastructure and data management.

While the goal is not to establish a single, binding definition, we hope that the papers and discussions will foster a shared understanding that can serve as a reference point for our disciplines—or, alternatively, reveal the productive necessity of multiple, context-specific approaches.

Please visit https://www.betamasaheft.uni-hamburg.de/conferences/texts2026.html for more information.

Call for Papers: Symposium on Bar ʿEbroyo (1226–2026) at Heidelberg University

Bar ʿEbroyo (1226–2026): Universal Scholar of the Syriac Church

800 Years of the Life, Work and Influence of One of the Most Important Scholars of the Orient

To mark the 800th anniversary of the birth of Gregorius Yuhanon Bar ʿEbroyo, we cordially invite you to contribute a scholarly paper to the symposium Bar ʿEbroyo (1226–2026): Universal Scholar of the Syriac Church, to be held on 30–31 October 2026 at Heidelberg University.

Bar ʿEbroyo ranks among the most outstanding figures in the intellectual history of the Orient. His work spans theology, philosophy, linguistics and historiography – an intellectual breadth that continues to impress to this day and has left a lasting mark on the Syriac tradition. The symposium aims to shed light on this extraordinary figure from various perspectives and to take a fresh look at his contribution to Syriac intellectual culture.

We particularly welcome contributions on the following topics:

• Bar ʿEbroyo as a theologian and philosopher

• His role as a mediator between Syriac-Aramaic and Arabic scholarship, and in interfaith dialogue

• Linguistic and literary aspects of his work

• Medical and scientific writings

• Historical significance and reception in the East and West

• Bar ʿEbroyo in the cultural memory of the Arameans and the Syriac Churches

• The manuscript tradition of Bar ʿEbroyo

The symposium is aimed at Syriacists, Orientalists, theologians and historians, as well as all researchers engaged with the intellectual world of the Syriac-Aramaic Middle Ages. We welcome contributions in German, English or Aramaic.

Please let us know if you intend to attend and provide the title of your presentation by 22 April 2026. Further organisational details will follow.

The Nisibin Foundation has limited funds and can therefore only contribute to travel and accommodation costs to a limited extent. Priority is given to applications from early-career researchers without institutional funding. As a rule, full coverage of costs is not provided. In exceptional cases, partial support may be granted.

We would be delighted to welcome you to this special anniversary and to explore the rich legacy of Bar ʿEbroyo together.

CALL FOR PAPERS: 52nd annual Byzantine Studies Conference (Oct 22-25, 2026)

DEADLINE: May 25, 2026

The Fifty-Second Annual Byzantine Studies Conference (BSC) will be held in South Bend, Indiana, from Thursday, October 22, through Sunday, October 25, 2026. The conference will be hosted by the University of Notre Dame. The local arrangements chairs are Alexander Beihammer, Professor of Byzantine History and Co-Chair of the Byzantine Studies Committee, Medieval Institute; Alexis Torrance, Associate Professor of Byzantine Theology and Co-Chair of the Byzantine Studies Committee, Medieval Institute; and Jeff Wickes, Associate Professor of Syriac Christianity and Robert M. Conway Director of the Medieval Institute.

The BSC is the annual forum for the presentation and discussion of papers on every aspect of Byzantine Studies and on related topics relevant to the field. Conference attendance is open to all, regardless of nationality or academic status.

The Program Committee invites proposals for papers and thematic panels on all topics and in all disciplines related to Byzantine Studies, broadly construed. Paper proposals for the 2026 BSC may be submitted in the form of individual papers or as part of organized panels.

To deliver your paper at the BSC, you must be a member of BSANA in good standing and either enrolled in a graduate program at the time of submission or hold a graduate degree in any field related to Byzantine Studies. We encourage undergraduate attendance but do not accept submissions from undergraduates.

You can join or renew your membership in BSANA and pay your dues according to your current status at: https://bsana.net/members/

For instructions on how to submit a proposal and to learn about funding opportunities, please visit the BSANA website: https://bsana.net/annual-conference/

Prolongation de l’appel à communications/Extended Call for Papers – XVIIe Rencontres internationales des jeunes byzantinistes (Paris, 2–3 octobre 2026)

We are pleased to inform you that the call for papers for the XVIIe Rencontres internationales des jeunes byzantinistes, to be held in Paris on October 2–3, 2026, has been extended until Monday, April 7th, 2026.

This year’s theme, "Innovating in New Rome. Conceptions, Practices and Responses to Change in the Byzantine World" aims to explore the various ways innovation and novelty were conceived and experienced in Byzantine societies.

Please send your abstracts to: aemb....@gmail.com

For further information, please find the detailed call available on the AEMB website:

https://www.aembyzantin.com/xviie-edition-2-3-octobre-2026/

Call for papers: Shared Stories, Motives, and Images between the Greek, Oriental, and Latin Worlds in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (International Conference, Hamburg, 9-10 September 2027)

An International Conference organised by the DFG-ANR Project PhysioLab

9-10 September 2027

University of Hamburg,

Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures

Warburgstraße 26

Hamburg

The German-French collaborative project PhysioLab, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) (2025–2028), aims to produce new editions—both digital and print—of the earliest versions of the Physiologus. Over the course of this work, it has become evident that the connections between the Latin and Christian Oriental translations are far more extensive and intricate than previously recognized. Moreover, tracing the sources and examining the literary and iconographic reception of the Physiologus has revealed complex pathways that transcend linguistic, cultural, and religious boundaries.

Stories, motifs, and images from the Physiologus circulated widely during Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, contributing to the formation of a shared system of mental references despite linguistic, cultural, or religious differences. Similar patterns of large-scale, multilingual transmission—encompassing written, oral, and pictorial media—can be observed in numerous narrative traditions, whether hagiographic, biographical, fictional, or historical in nature. Studying the complex histories of these traditions challenges conventional dichotomies such as West/East, centre/periphery, religious/secular, courtly/popular. Notable examples include Barlaam and Josaphat, the Alexander Romance, the Seven Sages, the legend of Saint Pelagia, the Miracles of Mary, and the Dionysian legends, among others.

This conference seeks to bring together scholars working on such large and complex multilingual traditions of textual and pictorial narratives. We invite contributions from researchers across linguistic boundaries and disciplinary approaches—philological, historical, iconographical, literary, or digital—to critically engage with the methodological challenges posed by these traditions. By doing so, we aim to refine our understanding of the cultural history of the premodern era, characterized by its long-term, multicultural, and multilingual dynamics.

During the conference, the PhysioLab team will present the new electronic, multilingual edition of the earliest versions of the Physiologus.

A selection of papers will be considered for publication, potentially in the series Cultural Encounters in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (Brepols).

Submission deadline: 31 May 2026. Further information available here.

CFP Reminder: Imaginative Landscapes and Otherworlds 2026: The Alterity of Deserts and Arid Environments

Hosted by Charlotte Spence and Ryan Denson

13 June 2026, online

While the surging interest in the Blue Humanities has focalized aqueous realms as spaces of otherworldly encounters, similar elements also occur in environments characterized by their very lack of water. Deserts are one such environment often portrayed as profoundly hostile to humanity. The scarcity of potable water and difficulty of navigation naturally fosters a sense of danger and unease within these environments, which function as highly imaginative landscapes. Modern science fiction, most famously Dune and Star Wars, often utilizes desert worlds to represent such hostile ecosystems and the potential therein for transformation within such otherworldly spaces. Yet, such popular themes are themselves built upon traditions stretching back to antiquity of conceptualizing arid spaces as sites of marvels, transcendental experiences, and fantastical encounters with non-human forces.

These spaces, with their distance and separation from the normative communal spaces of human habitation, make for prominent sites of mystical encounters with evil. For example, Athanasius’ Life of Antony depicts the desert as a space brimming with demons, and into which Saint Antony travels in order to confront them. This hagiography begins a long history of Christian conceptions of desert-like spaces as associated with spiritual journeys, and encounters with cosmological evil. Elsewhere, we see also the example of Navajo folklore conceptualizing remote spaces of arid environments as the dwelling places of skinwalkers, shapeshifting malevolent figures that are the antithesis of Navajo cultural and communal values.

This year’s theme focuses on deserts and arid environments as spaces that, through their lack of hospitability for humans, are envisioned as otherworldly and harboring encounters with non-human entities. We welcome abstracts on topics related to how these spaces and figures dwelling within them are conceptualized in religious, mythological, and folkloric systems of knowledge.

Contributions might include, but are not limited to:

• Investigating the function(s) of the desert in narratives of religious and spiritual development

• Ecotheological analysis of legends characterizing arid environments as sites environments associated with the divine

• Exploring cultural conceptions of deserts as dwelling spaces for non-human creatures and supernatural entities

• Examination of folkloric or mythological narratives that involve “cold desert” environments, such as tundra, glacial and arctic regions

This is an online conference, which will take place on June 13, 2026. Abstracts should not be more than 250 words for a 15-20 minute paper. Please include your name, affiliation, and a brief bio (50-100 words) with submissions. These should be sent to iloconfere...@gmail.com The deadline for submission is April 20, 2026

Select papers from this conference will be chosen for inclusion in an edited volume that we are proposing on this theme.

CfP: Annual Orthodox Canon Law Society of North America conference, 30–31 Oct 2026Late Antique Encounters

On October 30-31, 2026, the annual conference of the Orthodox Canon Law Society of North America (OCLSNA) will take place at the Maliotis Cultural Center on the campus of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445. The deadline for submission of paper proposals is May 31, 2026.

OCLSNA holds an annual forum for the presentation and discussion of papers on every aspect of Orthodox canon law and on related topics relevant to the discipline. Orthodox canon law includes the entire field of Eastern Christian canonical history and practice, including the Oriental and Eastern Catholic traditions. The discipline extends beyond the review of formal legislation and includes a vast scope of practice and literature. The canonical and legal life of the Church is reflected in such diverse areas as hagiography, liturgy, art, hymnography, church history, and pastoral practice. Conference attendance is open to all. Although blessed by Orthodox hierarchy, the society is academic in nature and not affiliated with any Orthodox jurisdiction or with the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States.

The society aims to foster growth in the study of the Orthodox canonical tradition by gathering scholars, professors, graduate students, attorneys, seminarians, and interested clergy in academic conferences to provide an avenue for the presentation of papers embodying current research in a professional setting.

The Program Committee invites proposals for papers on all topics and in all disciplines related to Orthodox canon law, as described above broadly construed. Since this year's conference is being held on Halloween, papers will also be welcomed on related themes dealing with such subjects as death, the forces of darkness, the overcoming of evil, and the last things. Scholars, professors, graduate students, attorneys, seminarians, and interested clergy are encouraged to contribute. Since the society is academic in nature, all are welcome to submit proposals without any consideration of denominational affiliation.

For details on proposal requirements and submission, including those for organized panels, please see the Society's website at https://www.oclsna.org

3. JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Job Posting: Part-time Programs Assistant, American School of Classical Studies at Athens

Programs Assistant (Princeton/remote)

Position will remain open until filled. Review of applications will begin May 1, 2026.

This position reports to the Programs Administrator and works collaboratively with the current Programs Assistant.

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), a non-profit overseas research institution, is seeking a qualified individual to work for the U.S. administrative office of the School based in Princeton, NJ. This office facilitates the academic governance of the School, as carried out by a consortium of nearly 200 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada (Cooperating Institutions), and their representatives, the School’s Managing Committee. The office also promotes and administers programs and fellowship opportunities at the School. Work will be conducted remotely. No relocation necessary. Position is part-time, approximately 20 hours per week, year-round, beginning early June 2026 (start date negotiable). Applicants must have the legal right to work in the United States.

The principal duties of the Programs Assistant primarily involve general clerical support and support for the Managing Committee including general correspondence, preparation of meeting materials, collection of Cooperating institution membership dues, database entry (as needed), compilation and tracking of fellowship and program applications, helping promote the programs and fellowships, as well as correspondence with applicants, School members, staff, and Managing Committee members. In addition, the Programs Assistant provides as-needed clerical support to the Director of Finance and Administration. This position reports to the Programs Administrator and works collaboratively with the current Programs Assistant. The anticipated salary for this position is $20,000 per year.

Minimum requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree. General background in office administration activities preferred. Excellent communication skills required, both verbally and in writing, with strong customer service orientation. Strong self-motivation skills. Computer literacy, especially in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat/PDF editor. The position requires availability during standard business hours, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Eastern Time. Preference given to applicants with experience relevant to the mission of the School.

To apply, submit a cover letter, CV or resume, and names of two recommenders as part of the online application: https://ascsa.submittable.com/submit/4887aa0b-b5de-486c-80f3-a07b7803e296/programs-assistant-2026.

Inquiries can be directed to Alicia Dissinger, the Programs Administrator, at adiss...@ascsa.org.

Position will remain open until filled. Review of applications will begin May 1, 2026.

Link to online posting.

Postdoctoral Fellowship, North-West University, South Africa

There is a Postdoctoral Fellowship available in the School for Ancient Language and Text Studies at the Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University, South Africa. The position is initially for one year but is renewable for up to three years. The closing date is 30 April 2026.

We would especially welcome applications from those whose research focuses on Late Antiquity or the Middle Ages, though there is no restriction on area of interest.

Please follow the link to the official advertisement for further details (including remuneration rates), and to apply: https://nwu.ci.hr/applicant/index.php?controller=Listings&method=view&listingid=d15de42e-a446-4821-bbdf-4ea505ecb5e8

Queries may also be directed to lynton....@nwu.ac.za.

Assistant Professor in Classical Greek Language and its Legacies, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

We are delighted to advertise for an Assistant Professor in Classical Greek Language and its Legacies. This is a tenure-track position and is based in the Department of Classics in the School of Histories and Humanities. The primary purpose of this post is to consolidate and expand teaching provision in Classical Greek language and to broaden the scope of research into Classical Greek and its reception, with a new research strand in the legacies of the Classical Greek language. Applicants should have a research specialism in any aspect of Classical Greek language and its reception in any one of a range of areas (philology, literature, history, material culture, philosophy and science, politics and institutions) and be able to contribute to the Department's active engagement with the ongoing presence of the Classics in the modern world. We particularly welcome specialisms that expand our horizons to explore the legacy of Greek and Greek Studies beyond Europe. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to core teaching needs in Classical Greek language (especially elementary Greek language provision) for Joint Honours (JH) Classical Languages (Greek), our Common Entry programme, Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology (CLAHA), and depending upon research specialisms, across our other joint honour degree programmes in Ancient History and Archaeology (AHA) and Classical Civilisation (CC) and to the School's multidisciplinary degree in Ancient Medieval History and Culture (AMHC). They will also offer advanced undergraduate and taught postgraduate (MPhil) modules relating to their areas of research and supervise postgraduate research.

Applications should be submitted by midday on Monday April 27th 2026.

More details can be found via the following link (search under School of Histories and Humanities): https://tcd.ie/hr/vacancies/ and informal enquiries about this post should be made to the Head of Classics, Dr Ashley Clements (clem...@tcd.ie).

Call for Applications: CEMES International Fellowships 2026–2027

The Käte Hamburger Center for Messianic Studies (CEMES) at the University of Würzburg invites applications for international fellowships beginning in November 2026. CEMES, a Käte Hamburger Kolleg, is dedicated to interdisciplinary research on messianism within cultural, political, religious, and social contexts.

The first phase of the fellowship will focus on person-centered messianism from diverse disciplinary

perspectives. We welcome 8–10 international senior and junior fellows annually—scholars whose work critically and creatively engages with the study of messianic figures, narratives, and practices as forms of cultural, political, religious, and social power.

Research Theme 2026–2027: Person-Centered Messianism and Emergence

We invite proposals exploring person-centered messianism—defined as the formation, circulation, and impact of messianic figures, personas, and imaginaries across cultural, political, religious, and social contexts. Special emphasis will be placed on the emergence of messianic phenomena, examining how messianic identities, narratives, and expectations come into being and evolve within specific historical and cultural settings.

Successful applications should present original research questions and methodologies while meaningfully engaging with existing scholarly debates. Projects may employ historical analysis, empirical investigation, critical theory, cultural studies, or comparative approaches.

We particularly encourage proposals that:

• Investigate messianic figures as agents or constructs of social and political

power

• Explore messianism across diverse cultural and religious traditions

• Address messianism in historical, contemporary, or evolving global contexts

• Propose new theoretical frameworks or methodological innovations

Applications from scholars from underrepresented regions and disciplines are strongly

encouraged.

Duration and Conditions

After November 2026, fellowships will be awarded for six to nine months. Fellows are expected to reside in Würzburg during their fellowship period and actively participate in CEMES activities, including colloquia, workshops, lecture series, and collaborative research initiatives. A workspace at the Center will be provided. Fellows who take unpaid leave from their home institution during the fellowship will receive financial compensation in the form of a stipend (approx. 5,000 to 9,000 EUR/mo, calculated individually). Alternatively, if a fellow decides to keep their current salary and contract benefits, CEMES compensates the fellow's home institution with the corresponding salary for a teaching replacement. Both options are capped by the regulations of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Fellows are responsible for their own accommodation, travel costs, and health insurance.

Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed a PhD (submitted and successfully defended by the

application deadline) with an outstanding academic record.

Applications should be submitted via email and must include:

• Cover Letter

• Proposed Start Date and Duration (6–9 months)

• Project Title

• Project Proposal (max. 2 pages, Times New Roman, 11pt, single-spaced),

including:

o Title and abstract (150 words)

o Summary of proposed work and its relation to person-centered

messianism