Junior Professorship (W1) with Tenure Track leading to W2 for Ancient History with a focus on the Cultural History of Greco-Roman Egypt

Institution: Faculty of Humanities

Commencement of duties: 1 January 2027

Application deadline: 2026-03-19

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.

Responsibilities

The Faculty of Humanities is seeking a junior professor with tenure track (W1TTW2) of ancient history. Research should focus on the cultural history of Greco-Roman Egypt from the fourth century BCE to the sixth century CE, with special emphasis on the significance, contexts of use, materiality, and mediality of written artifacts.

In addition to research in the fields mentioned above and teaching duties in ancient history, responsibilities include:

• teaching in the BA and MA in History and the MA in Manuscript Cultures programs
• active involvement in the Cluster of Excellence Understanding Written Artefacts
• interdisciplinary cooperation, especially with the related disciplines of classical philology and archeology

Your profile

This junior professorship is aimed at early career researchers. We are looking for a candidate with an outstanding academic track record and research experience in the professorship field.

We expect:

• an outstanding doctorate in the field of ancient history, classical studies, or a comparable discipline relevant to the research area
• very good knowledge of ancient Greek, Latin, and English
• very good knowledge of papyrology or epigraphy (ideally in both areas)
• potential for ties to the University’s core research area of Manuscript Cultures
• experience in interdisciplinary research
• relevant publications, including your dissertation, in the research areas mentioned above

We also expect:

• proficiency in German to C1 level. Language proficiency may be obtained within the first 2 years of employment. The University of Hamburg is happy to assist you.
• less than 4 years since completing your doctorate (parental and care leave periods granted a standard period of 2 years per child); the junior professor will be evaluated prior to the end of their posting to ascertain whether they fulfill the requirements for a tenured professorship

Ideally, you will also have:

• initial experience in university-level teaching
• knowledge of other languages relevant for the field

University of Hamburg

The University of Hamburg strives to integrate gender equality, diversity, and a work/study-life balance into teaching and management. We also value diversity and encourage women, people with a disability, and those from diverse ethnic backgrounds to apply.

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

We offer our professors the opportunity to research and teach at the highest level. The University of Hamburg and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg also provide:

Application and appointment procedure

Upload all supporting documents as a single PDF:

• cover letter
• CV
• publication list
• proof of teaching experience (e.g., as a list of courses)
• proof of experience and success with acquiring and conducting externally funded projects
• certificates and supporting documents
• 3 representative publications
• description of teaching and research plans
• evaluations, where available
• further documentation such as talks, posters, and important roles in organizations, where available

If you have technical problems, contact .

Short-listed candidates will be evaluated by an assessment center. Further information on the academic search procedure is available at .

The appointment requirements and professorial duties are determined by the relevant regulations (particularly Sections 15, 18 and 12 subsection 7 Hamburg higher education act [Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz]). Read more about .

Contact

Prof. Dr. Werner Rieß

Prof. Dr. Markus Friedrich

Location

Von-Melle-Park 6
20146 Hamburg

Reference number

JP 367