25.07.2019

Within the Research Training Group 2304 »Byzantium and the Euro-Mediterranean Cultures of War. Exchange, Differentiation and Reception«, which is financed by the DFG (German Research Foundation), there is at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz

1 position for doctoral research associate (pay scale TV-L13, 2/3 FTE) in Protestant Theology/Early Modern Church History

to be filled by 1 January 2020 for a contract period of three years. 
 
Participating in this Research Training Group are the disciplines of Ancient History, Ancient Church History/Theology, Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, Eastern European History, Early Modern Church History, Classical Archaeology, Christian Archaeology and Byzantine Art History, Early and Prehistorical Archaeology (with a focus on Medieval Archaeology) and Musicology. 

The goal of the Research Training Group is to examine the Euro-Mediterranean Cultures of War from a transcultural perspective, from the Roman Imperial Period to the Early Modern Period. With cultures of war are understood to be the forms and practices of war as well as the norms, interpretations, attributions of meaning and reflections referring to war. The mutual processes of exchange, differentiation or reception will be explored via four thematic areas:

1. Strategies of justification and legitimation
2. Conceptualizations of persons and groups
3. Rituals and worship
4. Knowledge and infrastructure

A thorough description of the research program and the emphases of the participating disciplines is available on the homepage [https://grk-byzanz-wars.uni-mainz.de/].

Doctoral research on early modern church history can produce valuable insight on the reception, impact and interpretation of Euro-Mediterranean cultures of war affected by Byzantium. Candidates are asked either to submit their own proposals for a dissertation topic or to orient their proposals upon one of the perspectives discussed below.

Possible PhD theses could engage with themes such as »Orthodoxy and the Suppression of Heretics: Dealing with Heterodoxy in Byzantine Rulership«, focusing on the fight against heresy by selected Byzantine rulers in order to identify patterns of engagement with heterodoxy, which served as role models for later Orthodox domains. »Prayer and War in Orthodox Liturgical Practice in Times of War – ›Praying Away‹ the Enemy« would explore the use of religious services held in the face of the
approaching enemy and how they were liturgically formed, e.g., with prayers, etc. Discourse analysis could be employed to uncover how narratives were used, for example, to discredit the enemy or to legitimise one's own position, and whether prayers against the enemy were based on their religious and denominational affiliations.

Upon acceptance the graduate students are to participate in a structured doctoral program at the JGU Mainz, for which residence in Mainz is required. The Research Training Group offers intensive specialized and interdisciplinary exchange, crossdisciplinary doctoral supervision by two professors from amongst the participating scholars, praxis-oriented courses directed at public engagement (including through museums), a comprehensive range of key qualifications (e.g. from the sphere of Digital Humanities) and diverse opportunities for international networking.

Requirements for the application include a degree (Magister, M.A. or the equivalent) completed with above-average marks in Protestant Theology/ Early Modern Church History or related field as well as openness to interdisciplinary work. The following application materials are to be submitted electronically in a single .pdf (in German or English):
• A letter of application (one page)
• An outline of the planned dissertation project (two pages)
• A curriculum vitae with list of publications (if applicable), degree diplomas, certificates of scholarly activities
• Master’s Thesis (or equivalent)

The Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz is keen on increasing the proportion of women within the sphere of scholarship and therefore especially welcomes applications from female researchers. Disabled persons will be given preference if equally qualified. 

For subject-related questions please direct your queries to Prof. Dr. Irene Dingel, PD Dr. Mihai Grigore or Dr. Stanislau Paulau, Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG), other questions to the Spokesperson.  

The application deadline ends by 20 September 2019.

The application materials along with two letters of recommendation from universitylevel instructors, who should submit their letters separately, are to be addressed to the Spokesperson of the Research Training Group, Prof. Dr. Johannes Pahlitzsch, (address: grk2304@uni-mainz.de; subject-line: grk2304_Last Name).

Application (PDF)