The British International Research Institutes (BIRI) – British Institute at Ankara (BIAA), British School at Athens (BSA), British Institute for Libyan and North African Studies (BILNAS), British Institute of Eastern Africa (BIEA), British School at Rome (BSR), British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI), British Institute of Persian Studies (BIPS), Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) and Egypt Exploration Society (EES) –  invite applications for postdoctoral research fellowships as part of the project “Ottoman Mobilities and Interactions“. These full-time positions are funded until the end of March 2026, with the potential for this to be extended dependent on a successful internal funding bid application.

Project Overview

The project investigates the dynamics of mobility—of people, ideas, objects, cultural/artistic forms and institutions—across the Ottoman Empire. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches and transregional perspectives, we aim to deepen our understanding of how mobility shaped imperial governance, social transformations, cultural production and cross-border interactions within and beyond Ottoman domains.

We welcome scholars from history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, literary studies and related fields who are committed to innovative research on Ottoman mobilities in their diverse forms. We particularly welcome applications with an interest in the long nineteenth century, with preferred focus on Türkiye, the Middle East/West Asia, Greece, North and East Africa.

Themes to explore can include:

• Pilgrimage, exile and religious journeys
• Circulation of manuscripts, artworks, translations and luxury goods
• Networks of merchants, scholars, writers and artisans
• Forced migrations, slavery and displacement
• Urban and rural mobility patterns
• Transportation and technologies of mobility
• Borderlands, diasporas and inter-imperial relations
• Travel and tourism

Position details

There is an opportunity for each Postdoctoral Fellow to be based in one of the following BIRI: BIAA (Ankara), BSA (Athens), BSR (Rome), BIEA (Nairobi) or CBRL (Amman) and/or to be associated with other BIRI based in the UK: BILNAS, BISI, BIPS or EES. Overall, the research will have the potential to include all the regions encompassed by the BIRI and will set the foundation for future joint research which will be co-designed to include all the BIRI.

The Postdoctoral Fellows will operate concurrently, with guidance from the PI/projector coordinator Dr Peter Cherry (Assistant Director, British Institute at Ankara) and a steering committee.

Each Postdoctoral Fellow will be paid at a rate commensurate with their location.

Outputs

The outputs of the project and contributions of the Postdoctoral Fellows will include:

• A peer-reviewed journal article by each Postdoctoral Fellow aimed at the Journal of the British Academy
• Contributions by each Postdoctoral Fellow to joint BIRI research funding bids on ‘Ottoman Mobilities and Interactions’ centred on the above research objective, working together and with the support of each institute to develop a tighter focus and to connect with the BIRI digital archives project: a strategy aiming to make archives digitally available and accessible through a joint portal shared by all BIRI.
• an ongoing BIRI digital archives project.
• The Postdoctoral Fellow will contribute to organising a hybrid conference held in Ankara at the BIAA on the topic of ‘Ottoman Mobilities and Interactions’.
• The BIRI teams and the Postdoctoral Fellows will also assemble a collection of archival sources, with the potential to contribute to a digital archives project and output aimed at a general audience (StoryMap, virtual exhibition etc.).
• BIAA will host a podcast episode in its series Heritage Türkiye.

Eligibility and Requirements

• A PhD in a related field awarded within the last ten years (degree must be awarded by the time of appointment).
• Demonstrated relevant research experience.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Strong command of one or more relevant languages (e.g. Ottoman Turkish, Turkish, Arabic, Greek, Armenian, Kurdish, Balkan languages, French, Italian).
• Evidence of ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
• A publication record appropriate to career stage.
• Must have the right to work in at least one of the countries covered by the following BIRI (Türkiye, Jordan, Kenya, Italy, Greece, UK).

How to apply:

Applicants should submit the following by 14 July 2025:

• A completed application form (which includes a cover letter and research proposal). Download the application form here.
• Two academic references from two referees provided on the headed paper of the referees’ home institution or within an email which clearly indicates the position and institution of the referee. Note that applicants are responsible for ensuring that their referees submit their references directly

Applications must be submitted by 14 July 2025 to [email protected]

Interviews will be held online on 28 July 2025

For enquiries, please contact Dr Peter Cherry, Assistant Director (Ottoman and Contemporary Turkish Studies) at the British Institute at Ankara at [email protected]

We are committed to fostering an inclusive research environment and encourage applications from scholars of all backgrounds.