Job Advertisements

At the Heidelberg Center for Transcultural Studies (HCTS) of Heidelberg University and at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies (depending on PhD supervision), the following positions (65%) for up to 3+1 years are to be filled by 1 April 2026:

12 pre-doctoral research fellows (f/m/d)

The place of employment is Heidelberg, in the interdisciplinary Research Training Group (RTG) 2840 entitled "Ambivalent Enmity: Dynamics of Antagonism in Europe, Asia and the Middle East" - a collaboration between Heidelberg University and Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies (HfjS).

Heidelberg University is a comprehensive university with a strong focus on research and international standards. With around 31,300 students and 8,400 employees, including numerous top researchers, it is a globally respected institution that also has outstanding economic significance for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.

The Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies is a lively place of dialog: Tradition and modernity, science and religion, people of all backgrounds and convictions come together here. As one of the leading centers of Jewish Studies in Germany, it combines academic excellence with social openness and builds bridges between past and future, between community and academia.

Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the RTG aims to reveal enmity as a processual, relational, and deeply ambivalent category. It pursues this agenda in three Research Fields that will trace the ambivalences of enmity through studies dedicated to: (1) knowledge production(Research Field "Knowing the Enemy"), (2) representation(Research Field "Staging Enmity"), and (3) physical encounters(Research Field "Enemy Contact"). Our research regions include Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The RTG Ambivalent Enmity targets doctoral candidates with a background in the following disciplines: Israel Studies/Jewish Studies, Political Science, Chinese Studies, Clinical Psychology, Romance Studies/Linguistics, Modern South Asian Languages and Literatures, Global Art History, Middle Eastern Studies, Eastern European History, Global History and Medieval History. We strongly encourage international junior scholars to apply!

Your tasks:

• ...Pursue your own doctoral project to obtain a Ph.D.
• ...Actively engage in various formats of scholarly exchange offered by the RTG
• co-organize workshops and other internal and external events.

Your profile:

• an excellent Master's degree or equivalent in one of the above-mentioned disciplines;
• an innovative and feasible doctoral project within one of the three research fields of the RTG Ambivalent Enmity;
• an interest in and readiness to engage in transdisciplinary cooperation;
• very good English language skills, (C1/CEFR or above) and language of the region of study. ⎯ A high personal

motivation for scholarly work and research in your discipline.

We offer:

• ...A stimulating interdisciplinary and international environment at Germany's oldest university
• ...Collaborative networks of European and international scholars;
• ...Individualized mentoring
• ...A qualification program tailored to academic as well as professional career paths.

The positions are limited up to 3+1 years, starting 1 April 2026; salaries are predicated on the German public sector remuneration system (TV-L 13, 25,675 h/week, i.e. 65%).

Your documents:

• a letter of motivation (max. 2 pages);
• an academic CV;
• an outline which identifies the topic, research area, research question, theoretical approaches and methodology of
• your proposed research project (max. 3 pages)
• a writing sample from your master's thesis or equivalent, which demonstrates familiarity with the standards of
• academic work (max. 10 pages);
• copies of degree certificates and diplomas;

• proof of your language skills.

Please submit all documents in one collated PDF file to Silke Engelhardt by email (ambivalent-enmity@hcts.uni-heidelberg.de). The application deadline is September 30, 2025.

Based on the applications received, the RTG board will select qualified applicants with an interesting profile and invite them to an interview in October 2025.

For details about the research design, curriculum and qualification program of the RTG Ambivalent Enmity, please visit https://www.ambivalentenmity.uni-heidelberg.de/en

Heidelberg University and the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies stand for equal opportunities and diversity. Qualified female candidates are especially invited to apply. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Proof of severe disability must be enclosed with the application. Information on job advertisements and the collection of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market.

Further job advertisements for the HfJS Heidelberg can be found at www.hfjs.eu/en/university/organization/job-advertisements.html

The University of Jewish Studies Heidelberg is seeking to fill the position of a

Academic Assistant (m/f/d) in the field of Jewish Philosophy
(full-time position 100 %)

to be filled for a limited period of 36 months. The position is assigned to the Chair of 'Jewish Philosophy and Intellectual History' of Prof. Dr. Michael Engel.

Research will focus on the migration of knowledge from Provence to Italy and the Hebrew-Jewish philosophical tradition, ca. 1400-1600.

The area of responsibility includes:

• Working with medieval Hebrew manuscripts
• Conducting philosophical and historical analysis
• Coordinating project-related activities, including events and publications

Required qualifications:

• completed academic university degree and doctorate in the field of Jewish philosophy
• Working knowledge of Hebrew
• Experience with manuscripts is desirable

Remuneration is in accordance with pay group E 13 TV-L.

We look forward to receiving your application with the usual documents by 30.4.2025 at the latest by e-mail (in one PDF document) to: michael.engel(at)hfjs.eu

The Heidelberg School of Jewish Studies stands for equal opportunities and diversity. It aims to increase the proportion of women in areas in which they are currently underrepresented. Applications from suitably qualified women are encouraged, and severely disabled persons will be given priority if equally qualified.

The Heidelberg School of Jewish Studies is seeking to fill the position of an
Academic Assistant (m/f/d) in the Department of Jewish Philosophy
(part-time position 50 %)

to be filled on a temporary basis. The duration of the fixed-term contract depends on the qualification objective; an initial contract period should not be less than three years.

Your core tasks will include

• academic support in research and teaching activities

• supervision of courses (to the extent of 2 semester hours per week)

• academic supervision of students

• Collaboration in academic self-administration

• Collaboration on publications (also in English)

The activity serves the own scientific qualification.

Required qualifications:

• sound knowledge of German

• completed academic degree in the field of Jewish Philosophy

• Working knowledge of Hebrew

• very good knowledge of English

• independent and committed way of working

We offer:

• The opportunity to do a doctorate

• an excellent supervisory relationship

• a dynamic and supportive environment for further academic qualification

• a creative and inspiring working atmosphere

• Expansion and deepening of existing specialist knowledge

• internationally oriented research activities

Remuneration is in accordance with pay group E 13 TV-L.

We look forward to receiving your application with the usual documents by 30.04.2025 at the latest by e-mail (in one PDF document) to: michael.engel(at)hfjs.eu

The Heidelberg School of Jewish Studies aims to increase the proportion of women in areas in which they are currently underrepresented. Applications are invited from suitably qualified women. The university sees and lives the added value of diversity and attaches great importance to the diversity of its members. Severely disabled persons will be given priority for employment if they are equally qualified (please enclose proof).

The Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg is seeking to fill the position of a cook (m/f/d) for the canteen (part-time position 25%) as soon as possible, initially for a limited period of one year.

Subsequent employment is planned.

The kosher canteen is primarily used to provide students and staff with lunch. It also provides catering for university events and Shabbat celebrations.
The area of responsibility includes in particular

• Preparation and cooking of kosher and dairy dishes
• Professional guidance of the student assistants
• Organization of food distribution
• Compliance with food and hygiene regulations and safety standards

Your profile:

• Completed vocational training as a cook or several years of relevant professional experience
• Ability to work independently and in a structured manner, taking into account economic aspects
• An open and positive personality
• Commitment, ability to work in a team and reliability

We offer

• Remuneration depending on qualifications up to pay grade E 5 (TV-L)
• A varied and interesting job in a pleasant and collegial working atmosphere
• Many benefits in line with the public sector (annual special payment, subsidy for the Deutschland-Ticket, 30 vacation days, etc.)

We look forward to receiving your application with the usual documents by e-mail (in a PDF document)
to: verwaltungsleitung(at)hfjs.eu
The Heidelberg School of Jewish Studies stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Severely disabled persons will be given priority if equally qualified.

The Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities is a non-university research institution in the field of cultural and intellectual history with more than twenty research projects and over 200 employees.

In the project "Bible glossaries as hidden cultural carriers. Judeo-French Cultural Exchange in the High Middle Ages" project is seeking to fill one or two positions at the earliest possible date as

qualified or unqualified research assistant
(m/f/d; scope of 30-80 hours / month)

in the field of Jewish Studies. The position is initially limited to twelve months, whereby an extension is possible. The vacancy is primarily aimed at students who are enrolled at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies or the University of Heidelberg.

The Judaic-romanistic project (duration end 2040) is dedicated for the first time to the comprehensive edition, processing and documentation of medieval Hebrew-French Bible glossaries. The linguistic and literary tradition documented here will be analyzed for the first time by an interdisciplinary team in terms of its cultural, linguistic and theological-historical significance.

The tasks include

• Editing work,
• scientific research,
• bibliographical research and preparation,
• Preparation of publications,
• Organization of events.

What you should bring with you:

• above-average academic performance

• good written and spoken German language skills, knowledge of Hebrew; knowledge of French is useful but not essential; native English speakers are also welcome

• friendly and confident demeanor

• independent, cooperative and meticulous working style, organizational talent

• sound computer skills (MS Office package, Adobe)

The Heidelberg Academy aims to increase the proportion of women in areas in which they are currently underrepresented. Applications are invited from suitably qualified women. Applications from qualified persons with the gender entry "diverse" in the civil status register are also expressly welcome. Severely disabled persons will be given priority if equally qualified.

Please send your application documents (letter of motivation, CV etc.) in one PDF by e-mail to: Bibelglossare(at)hadw-bw.de

We ask for your understanding that application documents received will not be returned.

In the long-term project (12 years; 2018-29) Corpus Masoreticum: Die Inkulturation der Masora in die jüdische Gelehrsamkeit Westeuropas im 12.-14. Jh. Digitale Erschließung einer vergessenen Wissenskultur an der Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg sind zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt 2 Stellen einer geprüften und/oder ungeprüften wissenschaftlichen Hilfskraft (m/w/d; Umfang von 20-40 Stunden / Monat; die Arbeitszeit kann individuell vereinbart werden) to be filled.

We are looking for research assistants for the areas of Digital Humanities and general activities.
The positions are initially limited until 31.07.2024 (end of project phase 2), but have an extension option. The call for applications is aimed at students who are enrolled at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies or at another university. A place of residence in Heidelberg is not mandatory, as the collaboration can also be organized digitally.
The long-term project Corpus Masoreticum: Die Inkulturation der Masora in die jüdische Gelehrsamkeit Westeuropas im 12.-14. Jh. Digitale Erschließung einer vergessenen Wissenskultur (Corpus Masoreticum: The Inculturation of the Masora into Jewish Scholarship in Western Europe in the 12th-14th Centuries), which was established by the German Research Foundation in 2018, is the first project to comprehensively edit, process and document the Western European (Ashkenazi) Masora tradition between the 12th and 14th centuries. it differs from the Oriental masora not only philologically, but also in its external appearance as a masora figurata, which indicates that the masora was received in a very special way among the Jews of Western Europe.

Further information on the project:
www.corpusmasoreticum.de, facebook.com/Masoreticum, twitter.com/Masoreticum, Corpus Masoreticum (Youtube)
Corpus Masoreticum Working Paper, Heidelberg University Library

The tasks include:

• Assistance in the creation of digital manuscript editions
• Preparation of electronic source files and data models
• Participation in software and usability tests

What you should bring with you:

• Interest in digital methods in the humanities with relevant
  Previous knowledge
• Knowledge of Hebrew is an advantage
• Ability to work independently and flexibly
• Teamwork and communication skills

The Heidelberg School of Jewish Studies aims to increase the proportion of women in areas in which they are currently underrepresented. Applications are invited from suitably qualified women. Applications from qualified persons with the gender entry "diverse" in the civil status register are also expressly encouraged. Severely disabled persons will be given priority if equally qualified.

Please send your application documents (letter of motivation, CV, etc.) in one PDF by e-mail to: hanna.liss(at)hfjs.eu and clemens.liedtke(at)hfjs.eu
We ask for your understanding that application documents received will not be returned.

The Heidelberg School of Jewish Studies is seeking to fill the following position at the earliest possible date, initially for one year

student assistant (m/f/d)

at the Chair of Jewish Philosophy and Intellectual History with an employment period of 15 hours per month.

The tasks include in particular

• assistance in the preparation of courses and publications

• assistance in the realization of research projects.

Requirements:

• Enrollment at a university
• careful, independent and reliable way of working

The Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Severely disabled persons will be given priority if equally qualified.

Are you interested?

We look forward to receiving your application with the usual documents by e-mail (in a PDF document) to the chair holder, Professor Dr. Michael Engel: michael.engel(at)hfjs.eu

If you have any questions, please also contact Professor Dr. Michael Engel: michael.engel(at)hfjs.eu

We ask for your understanding that application documents received will not be returned.

Do you like cooking and enjoy trying out new recipes together in a small team?

Then you've come to the right place:
Apply for a job in the kosher canteen of the Heidelberg School of Jewish Studies:
We are looking for a student assistant (m/f/d) to work up to 40 hours per month as soon as possible.
The work will take place on individual days in the mornings to afternoons by arrangement and occasionally during evening events:

• Help with recipe selection and menu planning
• Assistance with food preparation and serving
• Help with tidying up

Requirements:

• Enjoy cooking
• Reliable way of working
• Enjoy working in a small team
• Enrollment at a university

We look forward to receiving your application by e-mail to: beate.metwaly(at)hfjs.eu
If you have any questions, please also contact Ms. Metwaly, Tel.: 06221 5419203.

The Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Severely disabled persons will be given priority if equally qualified.