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Postdoctoral Research

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The research in HJS is world renowned, wide-ranging, and innovative. 

Staff and doctoral research includes, but is not limited to:

  • Ancient Near East
  • Early rabbinic literature
  • Jewish time and calendars
  • Code switching in the Talmud
  • Ancient science & medicine
  • Ancient Jewish magic
  • Witchcraft in biblical & post-biblical times
  • Body marking & tattoos
  • Yiddish literature
  • Hebrew & Yiddish theatre
  • Jews and photography
  • Jewish feminism
  • Maskilic Hebrew
  • Endangered languages
  • Jewish mysticism
  • Jewish food
  • Jewish-Muslim relations 
  • The Arab-Israeli conflict
  • Peace efforts in the Middle East
  • Antisemitism
  • Jewishness and gender
  • The Holocaust/Shoah
  • Eastern European Jewish history

Fellowship programmes aim to help early-career researchers strengthen their experience of research and teaching in a university environment with a view to helping them obtain permanent lecturing posts by the end of their Fellowship.  We encourage interdisciplinary and cross-departmental research. 

Relevant postdoctoral competitions

If you are interested in being hosted by the department for a postdoctoral fellowship, please contact jewish.studies@ucl.ac.uk.

Some applications have to go through multiple decision stages - departmental, faculty, and funder - and thus require substantial lead times. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible if you wish to be considered for support.

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 

This highly competitive scheme provides funding to cover the costs of a 36 month fellowship. Its purpose is to enable the award holder to pursue an independent research project, towards the completion of a significant piece of publishable research. Eligibility is limited to British citizens, nationals from the European Economic Area, and any nationals with a UK doctorate, all within three years of the PhD. Candidates should initially email their proposed mentors within the Department, with a copy to jewish.studies@ucl.ac.uk.

Grant currently closed. Next deadline likely Summer 2025

British Academy International Fellowships

The International Fellowships Programme provides support for outstanding early career researchers to make a first step towards developing an independent research career through gaining experience across international borders. Each award is expected to involve a specific and protected research focus with the award holder undertaking high quality, original research. This scheme is jointly run by the British Academy and the Royal Society.

Grant currently closed. Next deadline likely March 2025.

Rothschild Foundation Europe

Candidates researching and/or teaching any topic within the field of Jewish Studies are eligible for funding. The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from those engaged in the study of contemporary Jewish life in Europe from a social science perspective or those whose proposals involve digital humanities research techniques. Please submit a research proposal and CV by the internal deadline to be considered as a candidate put forward with Departmental support.

Internal deadline: Friday 13 December 2024 (Rothschild deadline: Monday 13 January 2025)

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships

Early Career Fellowships aim to provide career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers, but who have a proven record of research. The expectation is that Fellows should undertake a significant piece of publishable work during their tenure, and that the Fellowships should lead to a more permanent academic position. Draft applications should be submitted to jewish.studies@ucl.ac.uk; for an application form, please email the same address.

Grant currently closed. Next deadline likely Autumn 2025.

Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship

The objective of Postdoctoral Fellowships is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. Postdoctoral Fellowships help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors. Marie Curie offer both European and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Next call will open in April 2025.

For any queries about the above please contact jewish.studies@ucl.ac.uk