PhD (100%) and Post-doc (50%) position in Ancient History / History of Christianity

„Councils and Conflicts. Coping Strategies and Trouble Shooting in Late Antiquity”

Responsibilities
The Institute of History and the Institute for Historical Theology will conduct research in the field of religious conflicts from a historical perspective. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stefan Rebenich (Ancient History) and Prof. Dr. Katharina Heyden (Ancient History of Christianity and Interreligious Encounters), the fellows will concentrate on church councils in late antiquity: the PhD candidate will focus on synods dealing with the Donatist movement, the post-doc fellow on the four ‚ecumenical’ councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus and Chalcedon.
The candidates will be part of an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Bern working on ‘Religious Conflicts and Coping Strategies’ in history and today. They will be trained in the advanced methods of historical and theological research and will benefit from the institutes’ and the university’s infrastructure for the promotion of junior researchers.

Requirements
The successful PhD candidate holds a Master’s degree or equivalent in Theology, History, Classics, or Religious Studies. The post-doc-candidate holds a PhD in one of these fields. For both positions, the candidate must exhibit existing special interest in the history of Ancient Christianity. Strong language skills in Ancient Greek and Latin, German and/or English and communication skills are expected.

Further information
The positions are funded for four years (interim evaluation after 2 years) from 1st February 2018. The salary will match the current base salary paid by the Swiss National Science Foundation: for PhD candidates 47’000 to 50’000 CHF per annum, for Post-docs (50%) ca. 60.000 CHF per annum. A work space will be provided.
Applications in German or English (one PDF, including CV, letter of motivation, certificates and diplomas, and a list of publications) as well as enquiries about the positions should be sent by email to stefan.rebenich@hist.unibe.ch and/or katharina.heyden@theol.unibe.ch.
Application deadline: November 30th, 2017.