Research assistant (praedoc) (m/f/d)

The research project "The Linguistic (Pre-)History of the Indo-Iranian Frontier," funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the Emmy Noether Program, examines the modern languages of the Indo-Iranian Frontier (present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan). It aims to gain a more comprehensive picture of the region's linguistic history and prehistory through a close integration of field research and empirical-descriptive work with historical-comparative studies. One subproject each focuses on representatives of the Indo-Iranian subbranches Iranian (Yidgha-Munji), Nuristani (Prasun), and Indo-Aryan (Kunar group). Next to descriptive work in the modern languages, historical comparison with earlier-attested stages of Iranian (Old and Middle Iranian) and Indo-Aryan (Old and Middle Indo-Aryan) is another important component of the project.

Job description:

• Doing linguistic fieldwork on Prasun in Pakistan
• Working with archival materials
• Contributing to historical-comparative work as part of the project team (e.g., etymological coding of word lists, constructing databases on historical phonology)
• The third-party funded research project provides an opportunity to do a doctorate: Writing a PhD thesis on a topic related to Prasun language description or the history of the Nuristani group

Requirements:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., linguistics, Indo-European studies, Iranian studies, indology)

Desirable:

• Willingness to conduct linguistic fieldwork under potentially challenging conditions
• Interest in historical linguistics
• Ability to work in a team
• Previous experience with ancient and/or modern Indo-Iranian languages
• Communicative competence in / willingness to acquire basic knowledge of one of the
  regional contact languages (Persian, Pashto, Urdu, Khowar)
• Familiarity with the methods of historical linguistics (comparative method, linguistic reconstruction)
• Previous experience or theoretical familiarity with the methods of linguistic fieldwork
• Competence and experience in intercultural communication
• Experience working with digital databases and other IT skills

Applications should be sent by e-mail, together with significant documents [CV, cover letter,
diplomas (BA, MA)], indicating the reference code, no later than December 1st , 2025 in
PDF format (preferably as one document) to Dr. Jakob Halfmann: iranistik@geschkult.fu-berlin.de or postal to

Freie Universität Berlin
Fachbereich Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften
Ostasien und Vorderer Orient
Institut für Iranistik
Dr. Jakob Halfmann
Fabeckstr. 23-25
14195 Berlin (Dahlem)

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Freie Universität Berlin is an equal opportunity employer.