Postdoctoral Position 100 %

SNF Consolidator Project “Ageing and Old Age in the 4th–6th Century Roman Empire: Religious, Legal, Social, and Physical Dimensions” (RomAge)

Start date: February 1, 2026, or by agreement
Duration: 3 years
Location: University of Bern (relocation to Bern is required)
Subproject Title
"Theory of Ageing: Shifting Religious and Philosophical Attitudes Towards Old Age"

The RomAge project investigates ageing as a multifaceted socio-cultural phenomenon in Late Antiquity, with particular focus on how the rise of Christianity transformed social norms and perceptions of old age. Inspired by contemporary social gerontology, the project explores ageing as a complex construct encompassing gender, class, and geo-ethnic identity.

RomAge examines how the Christian Church-through its legislation, ethical principles, and institutional influence-reshaped understandings of ageing across various social groups and regions of the Roman Empire.

• Identification and comparative analysis of Greek and Coptic vocabularies concerning aging individuals of varying genders and social classes. Selection of case study materials from Greek and Coptic religious and philosophical literature of the 4th–6th centuries, including philosophical treatises, imperial panegyrics, sermons, hagiographic literature, epistolography, and epigraphic data.
• Study of local Egyptian Christian norms and regulations related to life planning, perceptions of death, inheritance preservation, societal stereotypes, and anticipations surrounding aging. Investigation of the Greek and Coptic monastic regimen for elderly individuals, including descriptions of authoritative aging figures across genders and social classes and local Egyptian commemoration practices.
• Comparative exploration of philosophical and Christian perspectives on the societal standing of elderly individuals based on gender and social class, including values, societal stereotypes, examples of social marginalization, and age-related societal stratification in secular and religious contexts.
• All members of the project will contribute to the project database, collecting, selecting, analyzing, structuring, and regularly uploading data based on the topics and tentative results of their research.
• All members of the project are obliged to actively participate in the collective academic life of the RomAge research team. Team synergy includes participation in academic discussions, mutual support among project members, active involvement in monthly RomAge seminars, and participation in workshops and conferences organized by the project.

• PhD in Classical Philology, History, Religious Studies, Theology, Archaeology (or similar);
• Advanced skills in reading and analyzing Greek, Latin, and Coptic texts and epigraphic data;
• A strong track record of peer-reviewed publications on topics related to the social history of Late Antiquity, Coptic and Greek monasticism, and ecclesiastical history.
• Excellent command of English.

• Opportunity to pursue a doctorate within a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment at the Faculty of Theology, University of Bern.
• Integration into the vibrant academic community of the RomAge project, with regular events, workshops, and collaborative opportunities.

• CV
• Motivation Letter
• Project Contribution Description: A short outline (max. 3 pages, including bibliography if applicable) detailing your proposed contribution to the subproject. This should include: Preliminary sources, Goals and objectives, Methodological approach, Explanation of how this position aligns with your academic and career goals.

Please send your application documents electronically to: Prof. Dr. Anna Usacheva, E-Mail schreiben

Application deadline: October 15, 2025