The project Ptolemaeus Arabus et Latinus (PAL) is dedicated to the edition and study of the Arabic and Latin versions of Ptolemy’s astronomical and astrological texts and related material. These include works by Ptolemy or attributed to him, commentaries thereupon and other works that are of immediate relevance to understanding Ptolemy’s heritage in the Middle Ages and the early modern period up to 1700 A.D.

The project is hosted by the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften in Munich for a period of 25 years starting in 2013. It is supervised by Prof. Dr. Dag Nikolaus Hasse (University of Würzburg) and carried out by five scholars as follows: two research leaders, Dr. David Juste (formerly University of Sydney) and Dr. Benno van Dalen (formerly University of Munich); two post-doctoral researchers; and one doctoral student.

We welcome applications for the two post-doctoral researchers (no age limit):

Two full-time positions for a period of 2 years, which can be extended to a maximum a 5 years pending positive evaluation. The positions are expected to commence between 1 July and 1 October 2013.

The monthly salary range is € 3726-4599 liable to deductions for tax, social security benefits and retirement provisions. The salary will be dependent on relevant academic experience (German pay scale TV-L E13).

The postdoctoral researchers will have office facilities at the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften in Munich, together with the other project members, and are normally expected to work there full time. The contract will be with the University of Würzburg.

Qualifications and skills: applicants must hold a PhD in an area relevant to the project, have an excellent knowledge of Arabic and/or Latin, a good command of English (the primary language of publication of the project), and preferably have research experience in line with PAL objectives, in particular in the history of medieval or early modern science, in editing Arabic or Latin texts, and/or in handling manuscripts. Candidates qualified for preparing the catalogue of Arabic manuscripts are especially encouraged to apply. Knowledge of German is desirable.

The postdoctoral researchers are expected to be active members of the research team and to take part in the various aspects of the project, including decision-making. This is particularly important as the project is in its first years of operation. More specifically, the postdoctoral researchers are expected to:

• each be responsible for one module or research unit (see project description §9), which they are expected to have completed by the end of the contract. This module will be chosen in consultation with the other project members and in accordance with the candidate’s expertise and interests. In most cases, it will consist of a critical edition of an Arabic or Latin text (or both);
• devote part of their time (approx. 25%) to implementing material for the PAL web interface, in particular the digital reproductions and online transcriptions of the Corpus Ptolemaicum;
• participate in other aspects of the project, including the organisation of the first PAL international conference (scheduled in 2015), the edition of the proceedings of that conference, the implementation of the Greek-Arabic-Latin astronomical and astrological glossary, or others to be agreed on among the project members.

The successful candidates agree to publish the main result of the module for which they are responsible (e.g., a critical edition or a catalogue) in the PAL book series and on the PAL web interface. All contributions by members of the research team will be published under their own name and authorship will be duly acknowledged in every collaborative output, including online publications.

Applications should be sent in English or German to Prof. Dr. Dag Nikolaus Hasse by email (info@ptolemaeus.badw.de) before 15 April 2013. Applications should include a complete CV with a list of publications; a letter of motivation, in which the applicant is asked to address the above description and qualifications and to propose a starting date; and the names and contact details of up to two academic referees who may be contacted by the project members.

Applicants may be invited to a phone or Skype interview.
Receipt of the application will be acknowledged.
The outcome of all applications will be notified by email as early as possible.
For further enquiries, please contact David Juste (info@ptolemaeus.badw.de).

We welcome applications for the doctoral student:

One 3-year position expected to commence between 1 July and 1 October 2013.

The monthly allowance is € 2071 (German pay scale 65% TV-L E13), liable to deductions for tax, social security benefits and retirement provisions.

The contract will be with the University of Würzburg and Professor Hasse will normally serve as the main supervisor or as one of the two co-supervisors. There is also a possibility of joint supervision with the Warburg Institute (University of London) and Professor Charles Burnett, in which case the doctoral student would be offered the opportunity to spend time at the Warburg Institute. The doctoral student is otherwise expected to work in Munich, together with the research team, or in Würzburg.

Qualifications and skills: applicants must hold a Master or an equivalent degree in an area relevant to the project, have an excellent knowledge of Arabic and/or Latin and a good command of English (the primary language of publication of the project). Applicants should also have research interests in line with PAL objectives, in particular in the history of medieval or early modern science, in the making of critical editions of Arabic or Latin texts, and/or in handling manuscripts. The doctoral dissertation can be written in English (preferred) or German.

The doctoral student will be able to spend most of his/her working time on his/her dissertation, whose topic will be in line with PAL objectives and will normally include the edition of an Arabic or Latin text (or both). The contract carries with it no teaching or administrative duties, but the doctoral student is expected to devote part of his/her time to other aspects of the project.

The doctoral student will be given the opportunity to publish his/her doctoral dissertation in the PAL book series and, where relevant, on the PAL web interface, and he/she agrees to publish his/her dissertation in priority through those media. All contributions by the doctoral student will be published under his/her own name and authorship will be duly acknowledged in every collaborative output, including online publications.

Applications should be sent in English or German to Prof. Dr. Dag Nikolaus Hasse by email (info@ptolemaeus.badw.de) before 15 April 2013. Applications should include a complete CV (with a list of publications where applicable); an outline (1-3 pages) of the proposed research project; and two letters of recommendation by academic referees. The letters of recommendation must be sent directly by the referees, either by email or by post (Prof. Dr. Dag Nikolaus Hasse, Institut für Philosophie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Residenz – Südflügel, 97070 Würzburg, Germany).

For further enquiries, contact Dag Nikolaus Hasse or David Juste at info@ptolemaeus.badw.de.