Date limite de candidature : 30 mai 2024 à minuit
The École Pratique des Hautes Études, PSL-University in Paris, France, is inviting candidates for two Doctoral scholarships in the field of Hebrew Palaeography and Manuscript Studies. The successful candidates 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).
We invite specific doctoral proposals on individual topics within the following broader fields:
Paléographie 1: “Medieval Hebrew Liturgical Manuscripts: Between France and Germany”
Paléographie 2: “The Mishnah and its 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 and 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 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqAWSw-vtn0
The selected doctoral research students will work on an original research topic towards their doctoral dissertation for 80% and participate in annotating palaeographical samples of Medieval Hebrew manuscripts for the online Hebrew Palaeography Album (HebrewPal) (https://www.hebrewpalaeography.com/) for 20% of their time. They will attend one weekly research seminar and coorganize/participate in an annual conference of students in Hebrew Manuscript Studies at the EPHE.
University : The students will prepare their doctorate at the prestigious Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, 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 8 months in Year 4.
Place : 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
Start date : 1 November 2024
Essential qualifications :
– Master degree in Hebrew and Jewish Studies (to be completed before 15 October 2024)
– Training / interest in medieval Jewish history and Manuscript Studies
Required competencies:
– 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 Paléographie 1 or Paléographie 2):
– Covering motivation letter (1 page maximum)
– Doctoral project (5 pages maximum including bibliography)
– CV
– List of publications if any
– Official transcript of Master results
– 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 Sarah Fargeon at the address: sarah.fargeon@ephe.psl.eu by 30 May 2024 Midnight, Central European Summer Time at the latest.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (in person of by Zoom) in the second week of July.
Contact: For further information, please contact Judith Olszowy-Schlanger, judith.schlanger@ephe.sorbonne.fr