Assistant Professor in Yiddish with a focus on library services

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked as one of the world's leading academic institutions. There are approximately 46,000 students and 8,500 employees here in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our endeavor to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of human beings.

Description of the workplace

At the Department of Languages and Literatures, both research and teaching are conducted within the subject of Yiddish. We offer teaching in Yiddish from beginner level up to and including bachelor's level. Additionally, a few introductory literature and culture courses in the subject of Yiddish are offered at both undergraduate and advanced levels. At the department where the subject of Yiddish is located, language teaching in Hebrew, Arabic, Middle Eastern studies, and mother tongue instruction is also conducted.

We offer

Lund University is a government agency, which means you receive special benefits, generous leave, and a favorable occupational pension.

Read more on the university's website about being employed by us https://www.lu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss

Tasks and responsibilities

You will have special responsibility for working with cultural heritage in a broad sense, primarily within Yiddish. Within the framework of your duties, you will:

• Review and analyze existing collections of literature and multimedia related to Yiddish culture and the Yiddish language at Lund University and public libraries; thus literature primarily in the languages Yiddish and Hebrew, but if necessary also other relevant languages (German and Arabic may occur),
• Work with metadata in bibliographic records in and about Yiddish and Hebrew,

• Inventory and identify needs for new acquisitions within Yiddish and Jewish life,
• Support the subject librarians for Yiddish, Hebrew, Judaic studies, and related subjects

• In collaboration with the Director of Studies and teachers in Yiddish, work with Jewish interest organizations with activities regarding Yiddish literature and Yiddish culture and the revitalization of the Yiddish language.

Qualifications

Requirements for the employment are:

• Good ability to read in Yiddish,
• Very good knowledge of Jewish life and cultural heritage,

• Previous experience working with transcription and metadata in bibliographic records,
• A completed master's degree in a field relevant to the employment,

• Good ability to communicate orally and in writing in English.

Meritorious for the employment are:

• Knowledge of Hebrew,
• Knowledge of other languages and alphabets relevant to the tasks, such as German, Ladino, and Arabic.

Other

Special fixed-term employment as project coordinator in Yiddish with a scope of 100 %. The employment extends from 15 October 2026 up to and including 15 December 2026.

How to apply

The position is applied for via the university's recruitment system. The application shall include a personal letter with a motivation as to why you are interested in the position and in what way the position matches your qualifications. The application shall also include a CV, degree certificates or equivalent, as well as anything else you wish to invoke (copies of grades, information for references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

About the Faculties of Humanities and Theology

The Faculties of Humanities and Theology have seven departments and conduct extensive and varied activities in research and education. We have approximately 700 employees and approximately 4,000 full-time students.

About the Department of Languages and Literatures

The Department of Languages and Literatures (SOL) is Sweden's largest institution focusing on languages, linguistics, literary studies, and area studies. SOL offers approximately 500 independent courses which are supplemented by a growing number of degree programs at undergraduate and advanced levels. With its 36 subjects and around 30 doctoral programs, SOL forms a solid unit with breadth and depth in education and research and is characterized by both national and international visibility. SOL is led by a board where the Head of Department is the chair. In addition, there are three deputy heads with special operational responsibilities. SOL has approximately 300 employees and 8,000 students, of whom about a hundred are doctoral students.

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