Call for Applications: Hammer-Purgstall Award 2026
The Research Cluster “Times of Multilingualism, Migration, and Cultural Transformation” at the University of Graz is pleased to invite submissions for the second Hammer-Purgstall Award, established in 2024 to commemorate the 250th birthday of renowned diplomat, orientalist, and translator Joseph Freiherr von Hammer-Purgstall (1774–1856).
Awarded biennially in two categories, one for lifetime achievement and another for an early-career researcher, this distinction honours individuals whose scholarly and/or artistic work engages with linguistic and cultural transfer processes in the regions studied by Hammer-Purgstall, and who illuminate the political, social, and cultural impact of these processes in their historical and regional depth.
Eligibility and Application
The Hammer-Purgstall Award is open to individuals from all disciplines whose work aligns with its aims. The lifetime achievement distinction is awarded by nomination from the initiators and jury, while early-career researchers are invited to apply.
Application requirements (early-career researchers):
- Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages)
- List of five recent publications or creative works relevant to the field
- A two-page manifesto outlining personal experiences, theoretical approaches, and/or practical engagement with multilingualism. It should clearly articulate the candidate’s vision for its role in cultural, academic, or social contexts.
Selection Process
An international jury of academic experts will evaluate all submissions based on originality, scholarly or artistic merit, and the depth with which they address processes of cultural and linguistic exchange.
Prize
The early-career awardee will receive € 5,000.
Submission
Please send your completed application in English as a single .pdf-file to Sevil Celik Tsonev (sevil.celik-tsonev(at)uni-graz.at) by 30 June 2026.
Key Dates
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026
Notification of awardees: 30 September 2026
Award ceremony: 23 November 2026
Contact & Questions
For inquiries, please contact Sevil Celik Tsonev (sevil.celik-tsonev(at)uni-graz.at)
