Team and calls

Team

Simona Olivieri
Simona Olivieri

simona.olivieri@unive.it
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0154-9156
Principal Investigator

Simona Olivieri is Assistant Professor of Arabic language at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Her research interests include Arabic language and linguistics, historical linguistics, philosophy of language, and digital humanities. In addition, Simona Olivieri does research on research integrity and ombudspersons for good research practice.

Kevin Austin Butts
Kevin Austin Butts

kevinaustin.butts@unive.it
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0033-1929

Kevin Butts is a postdoctoral fellow at Ca' Foscari University of Venice and a researcher in the ALiDiM project. His research interests include Arabic language and linguistics, historical linguistics, and Islamic sciences.

Dmitry Dundua
Dmitry Dundua

dmitry.dundua@unive.it

Dmitry Dundua is a postdoctoral fellow at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and a researcher in the ALiDiM project. His research interests are Greek and Latin linguistic, literary and social history from second to fifth centuries CE and the early reception of Greek science in Arabic and Syriac.

Raffaele Michele Selicato
Raffaele Michele Selicato

raffaelem.selicato@unive.it

Raffaele Michele Selicato is a PhD student at Ca' Foscari University of Venice in the ALiDiM project. His research interests include Arabic language and linguistics, translation, and digital humanities.

Salvatore Simone Termini
Salvatore Simone Termini

salvatoresim.termini@unive.it

Salvatore Simone Termini is a PhD student at Ca' Foscari University of Venice in the ALiDiM project. His research interests include Arabic language and linguistics, philosophy of language and digital humanities.

Giovanni Carrera
Former postdoctoral fellow at Ca' Foscari University of Venice and researcher in the ALiDiM project (1/07/2024 - 30/06/2025).
Research interests: Arabic language and linguistics, philosophy of language, semantic theory, logic and rhetoric in the Islamicate traditions, and digital humanities.

Calls for applications

Current calls

Postdoctoral positions - deadline 29/01/2026

Deadline for applications: January 29, 2026, 13:00 CET
Start date: May 1, 2026
Contract: 2-year postdoctoral position (“contratto di ricerca”)
Funding: annual gross salary: € 35.716,83, plus additional funding for travel and publications
Calls [ITA]

The ALiDiM project investigates the metalinguistic foundations of the Arabic linguistic tradition, focusing on the formative period between the 7th and 8th centuries and the processes that led to the codification of classical Arabic. It examines how early Arabic scholars conceptualized language, established linguistic norms, and developed grammar as a form of intellectual inquiry. By integrating metalinguistic, textual, historical, and digital approaches, the project reconstructs the networks, debates, cultural influences, and epistemologies that shaped early Arabic linguistic thought.
We are seeking two motivated researchers with a solid background in Arabic and/or Islamic studies, proficiency in classical Arabic with experience in classical Arabic texts, and a strong interest in interdisciplinary research on Islamic intellectual history.
As part of the ALiDiM project, you will join an international, collaborative team dedicated to exploring the metalinguistic foundations of the Arabic linguistic tradition and its intellectual context. Our research spans the formative centuries of classical Arabic, investigating the interplay between Islamic scholarly traditions and classical Arabic language studies, the transmission of ideas, and the shaping of linguistic norms.
You will be an integral member of an interdisciplinary group, working closely with the Principal Investigator and fellow researchers. Weekly seminar-style meetings will provide opportunities for discussion and collaboration. The position offers flexibility, including remote work options. The team emphasizes collaboration and mentorship, providing training opportunities for professional development. You will also actively participate in organizing and implementing a variety of academic activities, including seminars, workshops, and conferences. 

Contact: for further information about the scientific aspects of the call, prospective candidates may contact Dr. Simona Olivieri (simona.olivieri@unive.it; alidim@unive.it). For questions related to the application process or other administrative aspects, please refer to the relevant offices indicated in the call and on the university website.

Call - Position 1
Application portal - Position 1

Role and research focus
The successful candidate will contribute to the intellectual history of the early Arabic linguistic tradition by exploring how ideas were transmitted, adapted, and transformed among Arabic scholars and across linguistic and scholarly traditions. The research will focus on the earliest stages of the linguistic tradition (7th-10th centuries), addressing:

  • Networks of transmission and scholarly exchange among early language scholars, including teacher-student lineages, local traditions, and external traditions (Greek and Syriac);
  • Circulation of linguistic and scholarly approaches across intellectual milieus;
  • Biographical and geographical trajectories of early grammarians and their presence in centers of intellectual activity;
  • Engagement with models of analysis and linguistic discourse in early grammatical works.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct historical and textual research on early Arabic scholars, with attention to intellectual and cultural exchange;
  • Analyze biographical, geographical, and prosopographical data to trace scholarly networks;
  • Investigate intersections among Arabic, Greek, and Syriac sources;
  • Collaborate in building a digital corpus mapping the circulation of grammatical ideas and figures;
  • Publish individual and collaborative research within the ALiDiM framework;
  • Participate in weekly project meetings and contribute to workshops, conferences, and outreach activities.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Arabic linguistics, philology, intellectual history, or a related field;
  • Proven experience in historical and textual research;
  • Familiarity with prosopographical and biographical methods;
  • Knowledge of English and Arabic (and ideally Greek or Syriac) is essential;
  • Interest in digital humanities approaches is an asset.

Call - Position 2
Application portal

Role and research focus
The successful candidate will investigate the role of language data in shaping linguistic discourse and the conceptual framework of classical Arabic. This includes analyzing how linguistic examples were selected, interpreted, and argued with, and how these practices influenced the consolidation of grammatical rules, metalinguistic categories, and shared standards of correctness. The research will examine:

  • Selection, interpretation, and organization of language data (poetry, Qurʾānic readings, spoken language, proverbs, grammatical arguments);
  • Use of examples in conceptual argumentation and reasoning about linguistic norms;
  • Circulation and reuse of language data across texts, authors, and regions;
  • Influence of these practices on the formation of linguistic discourse and norms.

Responsibilities

  • Investigate how grammarians selected and interpreted linguistic data to construct norms and shape discourse;
  • Trace text reuse, intertextual patterns, and circulation of examples across authors and works;
  • Adopt digital methods (TEI/XML, structured annotation) to map and visualize language data;
  • Encode relevant elements in TEI/XML for accurate representation of textual and linguistic features;
  • Contribute to building a digital resource documenting language examples and their conceptual significance;
  • Publish research outputs and present findings at conferences and workshops;
  • Participate in project meetings, reading groups, and outreach activities.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Arabic linguistics, philology, or related fields;
  • Strong background in textual analysis and linguistic theory;
  • Familiarity with digital humanities tools (TEI/XML) is highly desirable;
  • Knowledge of English and Arabic is essential;
  • Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment.

Expired calls

The fully funded 3-year PhD position is part of the Asian and African Studies PhD programme and will start on September 1, 2025.

This PhD research will explore the development of classical Arabic linguistic and grammatical studies within the broader framework of Islamic disciplines. The successful candidate will contribute to the work package on external influences on the Arabic linguistic thinking, specifically exploring the interplay between Islamic scholarly traditions and classical Arabic language studies.
We seek candidates with a background in Arabic and/or Islamic studies, proficiency in classical Arabic (preferably with experience in classical Arabic texts), and a strong interest in interdisciplinary research on Islamic intellectual history.
The selected PhD student will be an integral part of our interdisciplinary team, working closely with the Principal Investigator and fellow researchers. Weekly seminar-style meetings will provide opportunities for discussion and collaboration. The position offers flexibility, including remote work options. The team emphasizes collaboration and mentorship, providing training opportunities for professional development. The PhD student will also actively participate in organizing and implementing a variety of academic activities, including seminars, workshops, and conferences. Furthermore, as part of the team, the PhD student will receive training in digital humanities (DH) methods for text annotation, enhancing their research skills and contributing to the project’s interdisciplinary approach. 

The call for applications is available on the university website www.unive.it/web/en/2161#c19441. Deadline for application is May 7, 2025, at 13:00 CEST.

The successful candidates will contribute to the work package on the specialized linguistic lexicon in early Arabic linguistic works. One position will examine its interactions with other Arabic-Islamic disciplines, while the other will explore connections with the Greek tradition. Both positions are scheduled to start February 1, 2025.

  • Position 1: Study on terminology in Arabic-Islamic disciplines
    Their major responsibilities will include investigating the process of formation of linguistic terminology, specifically researching how the fundamental terms used in linguistic and grammatical disciplines were introduced and developed. The selected candidate will engage in analyzing the usage of the specialized terminology in seminal grammatical and lexicographical works accounting for relations with other Arabic-Islamic disciplines. The selected candidate will work in close collaboration with the postdoc investigating the specialized lexicon in the Greek tradition (Position 2).
  • Position 2: Study on terminology in the Greek tradition
    Their major responsibilities will include investigating the linguistic terminology in the Greek classical tradition, researching the specialized linguistic lexicon that might have influenced the Arabic tradition. The selected candidate will work in close collaboration with the postdoc investigating the specialized lexicon in other Arabic-Islamic disciplines (Position 1).

The application deadline is December 20, 2024, 12:00 CET. For full details on the positions, including the application and selection process, please refer to the call for applications published on the Department website www.unive.it/data/29506/#29081801.

The successful candidate will contribute to the work package on the specialized linguistic lexicon in early Arabic linguistic works. Their major responsibilities will include investigating the process of formation of linguistic terminology, specifically researching how the fundamental terms used in linguistic and grammatical disciplines were introduced and then developed. The selected candidate will engage in analyzing the usage of the specialized terminology in seminal works such as the “Kitāb Sībawayhi, al-Ǧumal fī al-Naḥw, and Kitāb al-ʿAyn”. The investigation entails accounting for relations with other Arab-Islamic disciplines as well as neighboring traditions (i.e., Greek, Syriac). 
The call is available on the Department website at www.unive.it/data/29506/#28954598. Deadline for application is September 20, 2024, 12:00 CEST. Further details on the application process and selection criteria are provided there.

The successful candidate will engage with seminal works such as the Kitāb Sībawayhi, the al-Ǧumal fī al-Naḥw, and Kitāb al-ʿAyn, analyzing how Qurʾānic verses are used and presented therein. With their research, the PhD student will contribute to the project’s objective of investigating the way primary sources are presented and used in early Arabic grammatical and lexicographical texts.
The call is available on the PhD Degrees website at www.unive.it/web/en/2161/annual-call#c19441. Deadline for application is May 23, 2024, 13:00 (CEST). Further details on the application process and selection criteria are provided there.

The successful candidate will contribute to the work package on the use of primary sources in early Arabic linguistic works. Their major responsibilities will include examining how linguistic data from the kalām al-ʿarab, “speech of the Arabs”, are presented in these texts, with a specific emphasis on assessing the consistency in their use. Additionally, the candidate will analyze the linguistic data to evaluate their historical accuracy. With their research, the postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the project’s objective of investigating the way primary sources are presented and used in early Arabic grammatical and lexicographical texts.
The call is available on the Department website at www.unive.it/data/29507/#28669303. Deadline for application is May 21, 2024, 12:00 CEST. Further details on the application process and selection criteria are provided there.