At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team researching medieval Arabic philosophy and contribute to groundbreaking projects.
- Company: The University of Notre Dame Australia, a modern Catholic university with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a friendly work environment.
- Other info: Engage in exciting collaborations and enhance your academic profile in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the field of Arabic philosophy while developing your research skills.
- Qualifications: PhD in Arabic philosophy or related fields, with strong research and publication potential.
The predicted salary is between 121739 - 121739 $ per year.
3x Full-time opportunities, Fixed term contract for 3 years.
Friendly and collaborative work environment. Rewarding opportunity offering career development. Level B $121,739 + 15.00% superannuation.
About the project: The University of Notre Dame Australia is proud to host the Arabic and Hebrew teams of the European Research Council (ERC) Synergy project, “Logic in Reverse Redux: Illegitimate Argumentative Moves in the Arabic, Byzantine, Hebrew and Latin Medieval Traditions,” (RevLogRedux), which is to run until 30 April 2031. We seek to appoint up to three highly research-active scholars working in medieval Arabic philosophy with a track‑record, or an interest in developing expertise, in researching medieval logical texts and fallacy-theory. In accordance with ERC conditions, all outcomes are to be published Open Access.
About the role: The Arabic Tradition: Rational Sciences (ATRS) team of the ERC project seeks to appoint up to three postdoctoral researchers. Participation in the project will be an opportunity to acquire new textual and philosophical skills, produce a significant research portfolio, develop ties with leading researchers in medieval philosophy, and be part of a major initiative in digital humanities. The ATRS team will engage actively with the other teams working on the Latin, Byzantine, Hebrew and Arabic traditional sciences.
As a guide, appointees will be expected to devote their time as follows:
- 20% transcribing and translating a number of texts, either individually or under guidance from the team leader;
- 20% responding to the initiatives of the Geneva team as they develop AskSten;
- 60% conducting independent research on the historical and cultural context of the texts studied, and analysis of the fallacy-theories developed by Arabic authors, especially as they relate to Aristotle’s Sophistical Refutations.
These research-focused positions will contribute to the University’s strategic research goals through the production of high-impact publications, including ERC-related outputs targeting leading Q1 journals or scholarly monographs. The role will strengthen the research profile of the Centre for the History of Philosophy, particularly in the growing field of Arabic Philosophy, while supporting grant applications, research supervision and mentoring, and engaging in academic, professional, and research administration activities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Contribute to the translation of a corpus of medieval Arabic texts on fallacies, preferably as the sole translator for assigned passages, or, where necessary, as a team member working under the supervision of a primary translator. Each appointee will be expected to translate approximately 150 pages over the three-year project period.
- Undertake the transcription of texts not yet available in electronic format for inclusion in the project’s web-based database.
- Conduct primary research on the historical and cultural context of the texts studied, and analysis of the fallacy-theories developed by Arabic authors, especially as they relate to Aristotle’s Sophistical Refutations.
- Collaborate with the University of Geneva team in integrating materials from four philosophical traditions into AskSten, a multi-layered virtual research environment.
- Contribute to all activities associated with the ERC Synergy Grant, including participating in conferences and workshops in the UK and Europe, help in organising conferences and workshops, translation, independent research on topics related to the texts listed at WEBSITE, and liaison with teams at CNRS, the University of Lille, and the University of Geneva to advance the project’s objectives of collaboration and synergy.
- Post‑docs are expected to participate in person in a fortnightly team seminar through the semester at the Broadway Campus.
Qualifications, skills & experience:
Essential:
- Research-level proficiency in the philosophical language of medieval Arabic.
- Doctoral level training in Arabic philosophy or medieval Islamic intellectual history, with evidence of potential for high-quality research; a strong publication record is highly desirable.
- Proficiency in Arabic text entry, with the ability to read and interpret medieval manuscripts.
Desirable:
- Background in digital humanities.
- Facility in another language in RevLog’s coverage (Latin, classical Greek, Hebrew) or relevant to the study of the Arabic translation movement (Syriac).
Applications closing date: 6 November 2026. Applications will be assessed progressively as they are received. These opportunities are available to candidates with valid Australian working rights and to international applicants seeking employment in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. The University is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive working and learning environment.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Arabic Philosophy in Broadway employer: University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame Australia is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment that prioritises employee growth and development. Located in Chippendale, this role as a Senior Administration Officer within the School of Nursing and Midwifery provides a rewarding opportunity to contribute to a holistic educational philosophy while enjoying generous benefits such as a Fitness Passport and extensive training opportunities.
