On this page you will find general information about me and a more detailed curriculum vitae (CV).

About me

I am a computer scientist, historian, and religious studies scholar, and have been working at the intersection of software engineering and digital humanities for several years. Currently, I work as a Research Software Engineer in the DFG Collaborative Research Center 1475 “Metaphors of Religion” at Ruhr University Bochum, where I develop project-specific software solutions for text-analytical and data science challenges.

My academic background combines a humanities qualification with a degree in computer science—a combination that enables me to conceptualize and implement technical solutions consistently within the framework of humanities research logic. This dual perspective shapes both my scholarly work and my freelance practice.

efore my position in Bochum, I taught courses on Python and Data Science for humanities and cultural studies scholars at the University of Tübingen, training researchers from various disciplines in applied programming. A long-standing focus of my work has also been the development of automated publication workflows for academic online journals. As the lead developer of the Magic Manuscript Maker and as a team member of the journals Entangled Religions (ER) and Philosophy and the Mind Sciences (PhiMiSci), I have gained hands-on experience in the editorial workflows and technical infrastructure of academic publishing.

I regularly publish on topics at the intersection of digital humanities, religious studies, and applied computer science. An overview of my publications and talks can be found on this website.

In addition to my main position, I offer freelance IT services—focusing on projects where technical expertise and humanities insight intersect. My services are tailored to research projects, academic journals, publishers, and cultural institutions.

Curriculum Vitae

Bochum, Germany
Email: kontakt@tjurczyk.com
Website: https://website.tjurczyk.de/
ORCID: 0000-0002-5943-2305

Education

FernUniversität Hagen, since April 2025
MA, Computer Science

  • Focus: Technical Computer Science, AI, Data Analysis
  • Completed courses totaling 60 ECTS credits.
  • Expected graduation: Winter semester 2026/27

FernUniversität Hagen, December 2024
BA, Computer Science (Grade: 1.6)

  • Focus: Data Mining, Software Security, and Software Engineering
  • Certificate in "Applied Computer Science" (60 ECTS, Grade: 1.5)

Ruhr University Bochum, September 2020
PhD: "The Notion of surb in Ancient Armenian Texts from the Fifth Century CE" (summa cum laude)

  • Supervisors: Professor Volkhard Krech and Professor Zara Pogossian

Ruhr University Bochum, March 2014
MA, History, Religious Studies (Grade: 1.0)

  • Focus: Ancient Religions and Religious Studies Theory
  • Thesis: "Differentiation of 'Religion' and 'Politics' in Antiquity: The Example of Judea in the 2nd Century BCE"
  • Supervisors: Professor Volkhard Krech and Professor Linda-Marie Günther

Ruhr University Bochum, March 2011
BA, History, Religious Studies (Grade: 1.0)

  • Focus: Ancient Religions and Religious Studies Theory
  • Thesis: "The Religious Field in 5th Century BCE Athens"
  • Supervisors: Professor Alexander-Kenneth Nagel and Jens Schlamelcher

Work Experience

Ruhr University Bochum, since January 2025
Research Software Engineer, CRC 1475 "Metaphors of Religion" (100%)

  • Computer-assisted analysis of the A01 Tafsir corpus
  • Development of a web application
  • Data analysis

Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Dr. Eberle Center for Digital Competencies, October 2022 to February 2025
Research Associate / LBA (50%)

  • Teaching introductory and advanced courses on Python and data processing

Ruhr University Bochum, April 2023 to December 2025
Editor of Philosophy and the Mind Sciences (Research Associate, 50%)

Ruhr University Bochum, CERES, April 2022 to March 2023
Research Associate, THERE Project

Ruhr University Bochum, CERES, January 2021 to March 2022
Managing Editor of Entangled Religions (Research Associate)

Ruhr University Bochum, CERES, October 2020 to September 2021
Project Lead, Teaching-Learning Project ARELINCO ("Ancient Religions in Contact"), funded by inStudies

Ruhr University Bochum, CERES, October 2014 to March 2023
Research Associate

  • Teaching BA and MA seminars on Greco-Roman religions and digital methods
  • Administration of the Religious Studies program

Publications

See the Publications page

Awards, Funding, and Committees

  • "Student Award" – Recognition for the best MA thesis, Academic Celebration 2014, Ruhr University Bochum
  • Funding "International Realisation Budget" (€7,500), Research School PLUS, Ruhr University Bochum
  • inStudies (RUB), ARELINCO Project – 50% position as research associate, 2020–2021

Engagement and Memberships

  • Board Member, Digital Humanities Network (RUB), since 2022
  • Member, DHd Working Group "Digital Publishing," since 2023
  • Member, CRETA (Center for Reflected Text Analysis), since 2022

IT Skills

General

Linux, Server Administration, Docker, Pandoc, WordPress

Programming and Markup Languages

Python, Go, Java, JavaScript, Svelte, HTML/CSS, Markdown, Git/GitLab

Languages

  • German – Native
  • English – Fluent
  • French – Advanced
  • Italian – Basic