Postdoctoral researcher in Egyptology

Deadline 15 Mar ’26 Published 12 Feb ’26 Vacancy

Postdoctoral Researcher in Egyptology (fixed term: 2 years, 1.0 fte)

The Faculty of Humanities and NINO at Leiden University invite applications for a full‑time postdoctoral researcher in Egyptology. The Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO) is pleased to offer a two‑year postdoctoral fellowship hosted at Leiden University. This initiative is designed to foster early‑career researchers in the study of the Near East (incl. Egypt). The fellowship comes with full‑time employment at the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University and with access to facilities at NINO (office space, computer, libraries and collections).

The fellow is expected to reside in or near Leiden during the time of appointment and to participate in the intellectual life of the Institute. All applicants, but especially those with interdisciplinary research profiles beyond the Humanities, are encouraged to seek additional affiliation to relevant researchers or research groups in the Netherlands (Leiden or elsewhere).

The fellowship is aimed at candidates of any nationality who completed their doctorate (PhD) within the last four years and who have proven their potential to conduct and publish research at an international level. This year, we invite applications of researchers who work in the field of Egyptology.

During the fellowship, the successful candidate will work on their own research. They will design and teach a graduate course on “Methods and Concepts in Near Eastern Studies”, which is offered at a national level to advanced students from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, including Near Eastern Archaeology and History, Assyriology, Classics, Egyptology, Hittitology and Coptic Studies. In their second year, the fellow will convene an international academic conference on a topic relevant to their own research, taking into consideration the research interests represented at the NINO and/or other institutes and universities in the Netherlands.

A conference budget of € 8,000 is at their disposal. The proceedings of this conference are to be published after peer‑review in one of NINO’s book series.

• Conduct original research on a topic relating to Egyptology;
• Teach a graduate seminar on methods and concepts in Near Eastern Studies;
• Organise an international conference on a topic relevant to their own research;
• Disseminate the results of their research to (non‑)academic parties through appropriate channels.

• A PhD degree in a relevant field of study, completed between January 2022 and February 2026;
• A research and publication record that is commensurate with career stage;
• Commitment to high‑quality research, publication, and dissemination;
• Excellent communication and organisation skills;
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Since its founding in 1575, Leiden University has built an international reputation for excellence in education and research. The Faculty of Humanities is an international centre for the study of languages, cultures, arts, and societies worldwide, in their historical contexts from prehistory to the present. We take culture broadly to include religions, philosophies, and worldviews as well as literature, art, and technology.

We aim to contribute to knowledge, the sustainable well‑being of societies, and the understanding of the cognitive, historical, cultural, artistic, and social aspects of human life. In research and teaching, we focus on “Dynamics of Diversity”, meaning the mobility of people, language, culture, ideas, art, and institutions in a globalising world, and their interconnectivity through the ages. With over 800 staff members, the Faculty of Humanities offers 26 bachelor’s and 27 master’s programmes to more than 7,200 students at locations in the historic city centre of Leiden and in The Hague.

The Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO) is a research centre located at the Faculty of Humanities, as part of the Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS). NINO aims to advance knowledge of the history of the Near East (incl. Egypt), its archaeological remains and its…