Full Professorship for “Islamic Intellectual History of the Post-Classical Period (1200-1800)

The Institute for Islamic Theology at Berlin’s Humboldt University invites applications for a full professorship for “Islamic Intellectual History of the Post-Classical Period (1200-1800)” (W3) starting 1st October 2019 and initially limited to a 5-year contract.

The successful candidate will focus on the significance of the post-classical intellectual history in his or her research and teaching, especially in the areas of Kalām, philosophy and mysticism, with a special emphasis on different doctrinal currents (especially Sunna and Shia). Furthermore, the professorship is intended to open up selected debates of the post-classical period to contemporary theological-philosophical discourses using adaptable hermeneutic approaches. An excellent knowledge of the full spectrum of the state of research into the post-classical intellectual history of the Islamic world is required; this includes a familiarity with the known body of texts and intellectual and religious currents in their temporal, regional and systematic diversity. Owing to the nature of the existing sources, expertise in the scientific study of manuscripts in Arabic and, preferably, a further source language (e.g. Persian, Ottoman, Urdu) is also a requirement. Experience of editing practices is welcome. For the purpose of interpretation, a familiarity with current theological-philosophical debates is indispensable both in regions of the Islamic world and in the Western context. Drawing on gender aspects in research and teaching is expressly appreciated. Moreover, the willingness for interdisciplinary cooperation within the Humboldt-Universität (in particular with Christian theologies and within humanities and cultural studies), as well as with other Berlin research institutions on the history of ideas and science is expected.

With respect to teaching, the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the establishment of the undergraduate Bachelor’s programmes, the Master’s programmes in Islamic Theology and “Islam und Gesellschaft”, as well as to the envisaged doctoral programme.

The successful candidate will also be required to support the establishment and self-administration of the Berlin Institute for Islamic Theology.

The applicants must meet the legal requirements for professorial appointments in accordance with § 100 of the `Berliner Hochschulgesetz`.

HU is seeking to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching, and specifically encourages qualified female scholars to apply. Researchers from abroad are welcome to apply. Several disabled applicants with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential consideration. People with an immigration background are specifically encouraged to apply.

Please send your application by January 15th, 2019, and quoting the reference number PR/036/18 to: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Prof. Dr. Gabriele Metzler, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin or preferably in electronic form in one pdf file to: berufungen.islamtheo@hu-berlin.de. (Your application should include a CV, certificates, list of publications, teaching experience and research statement, sample of five scholarly publications). Since we will not return your documents, please submit copies in the application only.