Two postdoctoral fellowships (fixed-term contract) in the research project Locally Crafted Empires (LoCiS), School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University

The research project

Locally Crafted Empires: Intersecting identities under Imperial rule in Western Asia as expressed in local portrait cultures (1st c. BCE-5th c. CE)

(LoCiS) headed by Professor of Classical Archaeology and Art, Rubina Raja, at the School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University (AU), is looking to recruit two full-time (37 hours/week) postdoctoral researchers. The postdoctoral researchers will be working on specific project tasks set out by the project director.

The positions are for 1 year with the possibility of prolongation for another 2 years. Both positions will commence on 1 January 2026.

About the project

The LoCiS project investigates the rich but understudied local portrait cultures of ancient Western Asia with the aim of determining how they reflect local and regional entanglements with and responses to different imperial hegemonies. LoCiS aims to reveal new knowledge about intersecting identities on an individual, local and regional level through a

long durée

perspective with a global historical outlook. The thousands of surviving portraits have not been studied comprehensively – neither diachronically nor in contexts or in cross-regional perspectives. LoCiS aims at offering unprecedented insights into the multilayered narratives of the varied individual experiences in antiquity.

The postdocs will work closely with Professor Rubina Raja and other project members. Tasks include work on the project database and catalogues, producing a monograph, co- and single-authored articles and contributions, organizing conferences, workshops and guest lectures, undertaking research travel. The postdocs will specifically undertake research on locally produced portraits from the region of West Asia from 100 BCE – 500 CE. The more narrowly defined region will be subject to definition together with the project director at the time of a potential interview for the position. Applicants should therefore specify in their application the region(s) within the study area where they believe their strongest competences lie.

We are looking for candidates who are specialised in Classical Archaeology with a focus on Greece and/or the eastern Roman provinces and/or Near Eastern archaeology in the period between 100 BCE – 500 CE and who have a solid research profile and demonstrates wide-ranging knowledge of the archaeology and history of West Asia – here defined that the region from and including Egypt to Anatolia and from the Tigris to the Mediterranean with a focus on visual culture.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD degree in Classical Archaeology or closely related disciplines and be able to demonstrate expertise in ancient visual culture.

Applicants must also be able to document:

• Research and knowledge in archaeology on topics relevant to the outlined project.
• Relevant academic publications.
• The ability to work critically with archaeological and ancient historical sources.
• A methodological and structured approach to work.
• Good organisation skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Flexibility and the ability to prioritise.
• Excellent time-management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• The ability to speak and write professional/academic English.
• The ability to read German, French and Italian.

Please submit up to two publications for assessment. Note that only publications that are actually submitted with the application will be assessed; a list of publications is not sufficient. Applications that are not accompanied by publications will not be assessed.

The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their personal background. Members of the academic staff at the School of Culture and Society are expected to contribute to a vibrant, dynamic and collegial work environment.

Further information

The application must be uploaded in English.

Deadline: 1 September 2025.

For further information about the positions, please contact Professor Rubina Raja (rubina.raja@cas.au.dk ). Applicants are encouraged to make contact with the project director before applying.

For more information about the application process, please contact HR support (iks-hr-sag@au.dk ).

The workplace will be at Institute for Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 5, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

The School of Culture and Society

The LoCiS project is anchored at the School of Culture and Society. At the School of Culture and Society, the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:

• From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
• From Antiquity to the issues facing contemporary societies
• From local questions to global challenges.

The school’s ambition is to produce compelling research with an international resonance as well as to offer teaching and talent development of the highest quality. The school has a broad cooperative interface with society as a whole, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.

For further information about the school, please see http://cas.au.dk/en/ .

For more information on the Locally Crafted Empires project, please see https://projects.au.dk/locally-crafted-empires

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities

(the Appointment Order)

.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here:

https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 700 academic staff members, 200 PhD students, 9,000 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.