reference number 01/2026
At the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Erfurt, the following professorship is available as of 1 April 2027:
W2 professorship with advanced tenure track to W3 in Exegesis and Theology of the Old Testament (f/m/x)
Re-founded in 1994 as a reform university, the University of Erfurt considers itself as a research-oriented university that is highly committed to international cooperation as well as innovation in teaching and learning, with a special focus on teacher-training programs. With its strong profile in the humanities, cultural studies as well as social sciences and education, it is a cosmopolitan place for academic debate on key social and cultural challenges.
The Faculty of Catholic Theology stands for theology with an ecumenical, interreligious, and interdisciplinary orientation. Particularly in the context of Central and Eastern Germany, Erfurt theology faces up to the challenges of the secular world and the current transformation processes in a culturally sensitive manner that is compatible with other academic disciplines.
Area of Responsibility
The position holder is responsible for the subject of Exegesis and Theology of the Old Testament in its relevant breadth in research and teaching.
- The professor participates in the teaching of all study programs offered by the Faculty of Catholic Theology, including those for continuous education, and in academic self-governance.
- The professor cooperates in research and teaching with other faculties and institutions of the university, in particular within the university's research focal area of “Religion. Society. Relationship to the World” and/or “Knowledge, Spaces, and Media”.
- The professor actively engages within the framework of the strategy for internationalization of the University of Erfurt.
In addition, the tasks are specified in Section 83 of the Thuringian Higher Education Act (ThürHG).
What we expect
In addition to the general requirements under civil service law,
the employment requirements pursuant to Section 84 ThürHG must be
fulfilled. These include in particular:
- a successfully completed academic study of Catholic theology (“Diplom”, Magister Theologiae, or equivalent degree)
- pedagogical competence
- the special qualification to engage in academic research, which is usually proven by way of a doctorate in Catholic theology
- additional academic achievements in the field of the advertised professorship. These additional academic achievements are demonstrated by a habilitation in Exegesis and Theology of the Old Testament or through equivalent academic achievements, for example in the context of a junior professorship.
Furthermore, the provisions of the concordat between the Holy See and the Free State of Thuringia of 19 November 2002 apply.
In addition, the following are expected:
- well founded knowledge and experience in university education and its didactics, which is documented by certificates for higher education and/or evaluations
- participation in quality control and development of study programs of the faculty
- experience in academic self-governance
- International experience in teaching and/or research as well as necessary skills to initiate new international cooperations for the faculty and the university
- the acquisition of external funding
- ability and willingness to network with the other academic subjects at the University of Erfurt
- ability and willingness to take into account the situation in the secular society in research and teaching and to represent a theology capable of pluralism
- Applicants are expected to have proficiency in German of at least B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
- good knowledge of German at B2 level in spoken and written language use (In addition, the competence level of the successful applicant is expected to be at least C1 after three years.)
What we offer
The University of Erfurt has been audited as a "family-friendly university". It promotes the compatibility of career and family/private life and supports dual-career options. For academic managers, it offers various further training opportunities as well as individual coaching and mentoring as part of academic personnel development (www.uni-erfurt.de/go/akademische-pke). There are also a number of health and prevention programs as part of occupational health management.
Comments/Remarks
The German version of this job advertisement alone shall be legally binding.
Advanced Tenure Track professors are appointed to a fixed term W2 professorship initially for 3 years. The tenure evaluation takes place in the final year of fixed-term employment. If the tenure evaluation is positive, the candidate is appointed to a permanent W3 professorship and thus continues to be employed on a permanent basis.
Further details are regulated by the University of Erfurt's statutes on the appointment of professorships in the tenure track and career track programmes at the University of Erfurt (Tenure and Career Track Statutes) as of 18 June 2024.
The University of Erfurt sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this. The University of Erfurt has successfully completed the "shaping diversity" audit and regulary participates successfully in the female professor programme of the federal and state governments. One of the university's strategic goals is increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching. Qualified female scientists are therefore particularly encouraged to apply. Severely disabled persons and those with equal status are given preference in the case of equal suitability, professional performance, and ability. It should be noted that even in the case of a repeated application or previous employment at the University of Erfurt, explicit reference must be made to the severe disability or equal status in the application, as this information is not automatically taken into account in the present procedure for data protection and organizational reasons.
The University expects the candidate to be willing to relocate to the University or its vicinity. Participation in the interdisciplinary and partly English-language teaching pro-gram including Studium Fundamentale is expected.
Part-time employment is possible in principle. The extent to which a part-time request can be met, particularly with regard to the location and scope of the part-time work, must be examined on a case-by-case basis.
For questions regarding content, please contact The Dean of the Faculty of Catholic Theology Prof. Dr. Notker Baumann (e-mail: dekanat.kthfak@uni-erfurt.de; Phone: +49361 7372500).
Application and Deadline
Please send your complete application (cover letter, scientific career, list of publications and courses, report on research activities to date including third-party funding, research concept, overview of lectures and courses held to date, certificates of academic examinations and appointments, in particular habilitation), quoting the reference number exclusively by e-mail, by 6 March 2026 from publication to
Universität Erfurt • Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät • Dekanat • Dekan Prof. Dr. Notker Baumann • Postfach 90 02 21 • 99105 Erfurt •e-mail: dekanat.kthfak@uni-erfurt.de
Please note that applications in electronic form must not exceed a size of 15 MB for technical reasons.
Data protection
The University of Erfurt uses an e-mail system with transport encryption capabilities. Please send your e-mails with transport encryption, too. If you wish to encrypt the content of your e-mail further, please use the following e-mail address instead of the one provided above: bewerbung@uni-erfurt.de. The certificate containing the public key you need to send an encrypted e-mail to that address is available at https://www.uni-erfurt.de/universitaet/arbeiten-an-der-universitaet/stellenausschreibungen. If you choose not to encrypt your e-mail using the certificate, we cannot guarantee that the content of your e-mail will be encrypted at all.
In sending your application files in electronic form, you agree to having your e-mail scanned for harmful coding, viruses and spam, to the temporary saving of the necessary data of your correspondence and to the conducting of further correspondence via e-mail without further encryption.
By submitting your application, you also agree to the further processing of the submitted personal data within the application process. This agreement can be withdrawn at any point in written or electronic form, without specifying your reasons. Please note that withdrawal of your agreement may lead to your application not being further considered for the position applied for.
The further information on data protection in accordance with Art. 13 EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) can be found in the information sheet ("Privacy Notices for Applicants") on our website under https://www.uni-erfurt.de/universitaet/arbeiten-an-der-universitaet/stellenausschreibungen.
Reimbursement of Expenses
The University of Erfurt will not reimburse any costs related to the application.