Call for Applications
Two Doctoral or Post-Doctoral Research Contracts in Medieval Hebrew Palaeography
ERC Synergy MiDRASH (Grant N° 101071829)
Application deadline: 30 April 2025 Midnight, Central European Summer Time
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The École Pratique des Hautes Études, PSL-University in Paris, France, is inviting candidates for two Doctoral / Post-Doctoral scholarships in the field of Hebrew Palaeography and Manuscript Studies. The successful candidates on a doctoral level will prepare their doctorate at the EPHE – PSL, under the supervision of Professor Judith Olszowy-Schlanger and will join the team led by her in the framework of the ERC Synergy project MiDRASH (Migrations of Textual and Scribal Traditions via Large-Scale Computational Analysis of Medieval Manuscripts in Hebrew Script). On a post-doctoral level, candidates will work part time on a monograph on the following topic and part-time on the implementation of the palaeographical annotations of the digital Hebrew Palaeography Album (HebrewPal).
We invite doctoral/post-doctoral proposals on individual topics within the following broader fields:
Palaeography 1: “Medieval Hebrew Liturgical Manuscripts: Between France and Germany”
Palaeography 2: “The Mishnah, the Talmud and their Commentaries: Codicology, Palaeography and Book History”
Founded in 1868, EPHE – PSL is a leading French institute of advanced studies. Its Humanities’ sections include ancient and medieval Jewish Studies. The EPHE – PSL is a pioneer and a leader in the fields of Hebrew palaeography and codicology.
ERC-Synergy programme MiDRASH is composed of four teams led respectively by Daniel Stökl Ben Ezra (EPHE – PSL), Judith Olszowy-Schlanger (EPHE – PSL/Oxford), Nachum Dershowitz (Tel Aviv-University), Avi Shmidman (Bar Ilan University), in collaboration with the National Library of Israel and Haifa University. Its overall aim is to advance our understanding of the literary, textual and manuscript production processes in Ancient and Medieval Judaism by applying computational methods to transcribe and analyse thousands of medieval Hebrew manuscripts. For a brief presentation of the project please check https://escripta.hypotheses.org/500
The selected doctoral research students/post-doctoral researchers will work part time on an original research topic towards their doctoral dissertation/monograph publication for the post-doctoral candidate and participate part-time in annotating palaeographical samples of Medieval Hebrew manuscripts for the online Hebrew Palaeography Album (HebrewPal) (https://www.hebrewpalaeography.com/). They will attend one weekly research seminar and coorganize/participate in an annual conference in Hebrew Manuscript Studies at the EPHE – PSL.
University: The doctoral candidates will prepare their doctorate at the prestigious École Pratique des Hautes Études – PSL, Paris, France, in the Section des Sciences Historiques et Philologiques. In addition, they will be affiliated with the research cluster EA 4116 Saprat – Savoirs et pratiques du Moyen Âge à l’époque contemporaine (https://www.saprat.fr/).
Length: 3 years with the possibility of extending for further 6 months in Year 4.
Place: Paris, France. The students will benefit from shared MiDRASH office space at the Campus Condorcet. They are expected to be physically present in the office for at least one day a week.
Grant amount: Conditions of remuneration for doctoral students’ contract are defined by the decree of 26 December 2022, which can be consulted at: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000046820745 and for post-doctoral researchers by the decree of 4 November 2021, which can be consulted at: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000044293348
Start date: 1 November 2025
Essential qualifications:
For doctoral candidates:
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- Master degree in Hebrew and Jewish Studies (to be completed before 15 July 2025)
- Training / interest in medieval Jewish history and Manuscript Studies
For post-doctoral candidates:
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- PhD (doctorate) in Hebrew / Jewish studies of the medieval period (to be completed before the start of the position)
Required competencies:
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- Excellent knowledge of Hebrew
- Excellent writing skills in English and preferably knowledge of French
- Some experience with / knowledge of databases
- Excellent organisation and sense of responsibility
- Capacity to work in a team
To apply: Send (as a single PDF file with your name and MiDRASH, specifying the field Palaeography 1 or Palaeography 2):
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- Covering motivation letter (1 page maximum)
- Doctoral / post-doctoral project (5 pages maximum including bibliography)
- CV
- List of publications (if any)
- Official transcript of Master results / a proof of a doctoral degree
- Sample of a written work (c. 15 pages)
- Two letters of recommendation from senior academic figures
To:
Judith Olszowy-Schlanger at the address: judith.schlanger@ephe.sorbonne.fr and to Athina Boleti at the address: athina.boleti@ephe.psl.eu by 30 April 2025 Midnight, Central European Summer Time at the latest.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (in person or by Zoom) in May.
Contact: For further information, please contact Judith Schlanger, judith.schlanger@ephe.sorbonne.fr