Assistant Professor Tenure Track Transition for Hebrew Bible Studies / Old Testament

The position of Assistant Professor Tenure Track Transition is to be occupied as of August 1, 2026, at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Bern.The objective of the professorship is to represent the subject in its entirety in research and teaching focusing on the areas “Material Culture and History of Israel and its Environment” or “(History of) Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Bible”. The new professor will work closely with the Lectureship “Biblical Theology and Its Contemporary Relevance”. If the successful candidate needs to acquire German language skills, the University expects them to be able to teach the course in German within two years of taking up the position.
If the qualification criteria are met and once appropriate evaluations have been made, the conversion from assistant professor TTT to an associate professorship takes place after six years at the latest.

The teaching and research activities of the advertised professorship will initially be carried out in association with the professorship for “Literature and Theology of the Old Testament” (Prof. Dr. Andreas Wagner) and the lectureship for “Biblical Theology and Its Contemporary Relevance” (Dr. Nancy Rahn). If not already the case, candidates are expected to complete a postdoctoral qualification and establish or expand their own research and teaching profile.The tasks of the professorship also include successful acquisition of research funding along with the supervision of bachelor's and master's theses as well as dissertations. International networking and participation in academic self-governance are also part of the job profile.
We are seeking a candidate with an outstanding doctoral degree in Old Testament, Hebrew Bible Studies, or a related field. Furthermore, an excellent command of biblical languages is required; knowledge of ancient Oriental languages is desirable. We are seeking a committed individual who is eager to further develop their teaching and research profile. Applicants with university-level teaching experience or relevant teaching qualifications are particularly welcome.
If you have any questions, you may contact the Chair of the Commission, Prof. Dr. Mathias Wirth (e-mail address:mathias.wirth@unibe.ch); Information on the faculty and institute: Institute of Old Testament Studies.
For your application, please send us a letter of motivation outlining your research profile as well as your motivation for the position you are applying for. In addition, we require your current résumé providing an overview of your academic background and previous work experience. Furthermore, we request a complete list of your publications and the courses you have taught to date, including the results of any evaluations.An important part of your application is a research proposal for the next five years, outlining your planned research activities. If available, you can also include a brief outline of your postdoctoral qualification project. We would also ask you to submit a teaching concept that describes your didactic approaches and your ideas about teaching. If you have already obtained external funding, please provide the relevant details.
Please send your application as a single PDF file by October 15, 2025, to: University of Bern, Dean's Office at the Faculty of Theology, Länggassstrasse 51, 3012 Bern, Switzerland, e-mail: dekanat@theol.unibe.ch.

The University of Bern is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer that values diversity and promotes an inclusive work culture. We are looking for suitable candidates who have the potential and/or skills for transformational leadership and who will help promote a stimulating research culture. Suitable candidates have skills such as teamwork and communication skills and are able to master complex management and conflict situations.The University of Bern is committed to increasing the proportion of women in academic leadership positions and thus strongly encourages female academics to apply. The University of Bern advocates gender diversity. We explicitly welcome applications from people of all genders.
The University of Bern promotes flexible working time models. Applications for job sharing are welcome; such an application must be accompanied by a concept for collaboration (see the guidelines on job sharing for professors at the University of Bern: Link).