Assistant Professor in Islamic Art (ca. 1500-ca. 1700) of the Safavid and/or Mughal Empires

The Department of History of Art at the University of Cambridge seeks to appoint a permanent Assistant Professor in Islamic Art (ca. 1500-ca.1700) of the Safavid and/or Mughal Empires. The Department welcomes applications from specialists in all mediums of art, including painting and the book arts, metalwork, ceramics, sculpture, and architecture. The successful candidate will be expected to take up appointment on or close to 1 October 2025.

We are seeking an individual with a record of high-level research achievement commensurate with their career stage and who has the potential to become a key contributor to the Department's teaching and research activities. Candidates will have the ability or potential to undertake collaborative research and to secure external research funding.

The successful applicant will have a unique opportunity to help shape the Department's future. The postholder will contribute significantly to the new MPhil in the Global History of Art and Architecture, launching in 2026-27. To support this programme, the Department is recruiting for permanent posts in Late Imperial Chinese Art and African and Caribbean Modern and Contemporary Art. The successful applicant will be required to teach and examine undergraduates, and to supervise and examine postgraduate work for the MPhil and PhD. It is anticipated that there will be opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the University, including at the Fitzwilliam Museum (in which Islamic art is well represented) and the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

Candidates will hold undergraduate and doctoral degrees in history of art, South Asian or Middle Eastern studies, or a related discipline, with a specialism in the field advertised. FHEA accreditation and experience of curriculum development is desirable.

In order for applications to be considered, applicants must upload:

• A covering letter, explaining the reasons for your application and how your knowledge, skills and experience match the requirements of the role you are applying for;
• A teaching statement, outlining your experience, interests, and approach to teaching;
• A research statement, outlining your plans for research, scholarship, and grant capture over the next 5 years;
• If available, two recently-published research articles or book chapters;
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV), to include full details of educational qualifications and academic experience, and a list of publications;
• Three references from referees familiar with your work. Applicants should ask their referees to send their references to references@csah.cam.ac.uk by the closing date.

The closing date for applications is midnight (BST) on Sunday 29 June 2025 and interviews are expected to take place in September 2025, subject to change.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to the Head of the Department of History of Art, Professor Alexander Marr hod-hoart@aha.cam.ac.uk. Enquiries about the application process may be made to the HR team in the School of Arts and Humanities sahhr@admin.cam.ac.uk.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Please quote reference GD45974 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds for this vacancy, as people from these backgrounds are currently underrepresented at this level in our Faculty.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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