Research assistant (postdoc) (f/m/d) full-time job limited to 3 years salary grade (Engeltgruppe) E13 reference code: WiMi_Postdoc_Zemmin_2026

The Institute of Islamic Studies at Freie Universität Berlin conducts research on Islamic and Middle Eastern history, as well as on Muslim societies and cultures, with a focus on global interrelations and analogies to other temporal or spatial contexts. The field specializes primarily on theories and methods from history, the social sciences, and cultural studies. This orientation is fundamentally reflected in the institute’s main research areas. For the professorship of "Islamic Studies with a special focus on modernity and present" (Prof. Dr. Florian Zemmin), these are as follows: religion and society in the Islamic and Arab modernity and present; Islamic reformism; Middle Eastern conceptual history; sociology in Arab countries; theories of modernity and secularity.

Job Description

Participation in teaching and research in the field of the professorship. Involvement in the administrative self-governance of the department and in the preparation of grant proposals, particularly on topics related to contemporary Arabic knowledge production and Arabic conceptual history. This position supports the candidate’s own academic development in Islamic Studies.

Requirements

Completed academic university degree (Master) and completed doctoral degree (PhD) in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (or a closely related field)

Desirable

• at least 2 years of professional experience at an academic institution, including administrative and teaching tasks
• very good command of Modern Arabic (C1)
• very good proficiency in German (C1) and English (C1), ability to teach at university level in both languages
• research project on the history of modern Islamic or Arab thought or on contemporary Arabic knowledge production (Please include a 4–6-page project proposal.)
• familiarity with theories and methods in the cultural or social sciences, as demonstrated by scholarly publications
• independent, international research and publication activity
• experience in independently conducting academic research projects
• ability to work effectively in a team

For further information, please contact the administrational office ( ).