Digital Natives? About the Challenges of Crafting a Dual-Focused Postdoctoral Research Proposal in Jewish Studies and Digital Humanities

• In Event: Digital Innovations and the State of the Field

Abstract

This presentation explores the challenges and strategies involved in composing a high-quality postdoctoral research proposal that integrates both traditional Jewish Studies and emerging Digital Humanities (DH) methodologies. As a millennial scholar at the intersection of generational digital nativism and the nascent incorporation of DH into academia, I embody the transitional phase of scholars today. This phase is characterized by a robust grounding in traditional humanities, gained through doctoral research and formal education, alongside a growing engagement with DH—a field scarcely touched upon during earlier academic training.

My postdoctoral research proposal examines the evolution of genre in Hebrew narrative literature from the 12th to the 16th century, using a dual-lensed approach. It aligns rigorous textual analysis with advanced DH techniques such as topic modeling and network analysis, aiming to uncover underlying literary patterns across a corpus of Ashkenazi manuscripts. This approach both advances the field of Jewish Studies and demonstrates the potential of DH tools to transform traditional literary scholarship.

The integration of DH tools into my study plan not only underscores the growing relevance of digital methodologies in humanities research but also highlights the challenges inherent in learning and applying these technologies. My experiences reflect a common journey among emerging scholars, underscoring the importance of mentorship and collaboration with experienced academics in overcoming these hurdles. This conference, and similar gatherings focused on Digital Humanities, play a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of knowledge and techniques that will shape the future of our field, supporting scholars like myself in navigating these transformative times.

Author

• Annabelle Fuchs, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich