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Alexander von Humboldt Professorship 2027

Daniel Jütte

The historian Daniel Jütte is known for his original work in the Urban Humanities, a discipline at the intersection of the humanities, urban studies and the study of the built environment. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – KIT wants to set up an Urban Humanities Lab with him to drive interdisciplinary urban research.

  • Nominating university: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – KIT
Portrait von Daniel Jütte
Saturn-ähnliches Dekortationsbild

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Urban Humanities

To the historian Daniel Jütte everyday objects have social functions that facilitate a fresh understanding of known historical phenomena. He has, for example, investigated how doors and thresholds or the architectural use of glass have shaped western thinking about security and privacy or transparency. Who is allowed in, who may look inside, who has to stay out, who controls access? In this way, Jütte turns objects and practices into the point of departure for major historical questions: How does power arise? Who is allowed to possess knowledge? 

Daniel Jütte’s research focuses on early modern Europe, the history of culture and science, as well as Jewish history. His many publications have opened up new perspectives on urban history and the history of Jewish-Christian relations as well as at the interface of conceptual history and materiality. He helped to establish the Urban Humanities Initiative at New York University that brings together teachers, students, political decision-makers and the engaged public. It aims to promote dialogue and support interdisciplinary research on urban life, society, politics and culture at local, national and global level. 

Various aspects of the challenges facing future urban planning are already being addressed at KIT. Under the leadership of Daniel Jütte as Humboldt Professor the aim is to establish the Urban Humanities Lab (UHL) where ideas, methods and approaches deriving from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences will coalesce in a productive way. The UHL is also designed to be a hub for the faculties of humanities and social sciences, architecture, civil and mechanical engineering where Jütte’s expertise in the history of material culture, particularly with regard to building materials and modes of transport, will play a major role. 

 

Brief bio

After receiving his doctorate from Heidelberg University, Daniel Jütte moved to Harvard University in Cambridge, United States, in 2011 and, in 2016, to New York University where he has been a full professor since 2023. He has been awarded fellowships by the Harvard Society of Fellows, the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, the American Academy in Berlin and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. In 2024, he won the Dan David Prize, the world’s largest history award.

Daniel Jütte has been selected for a Humboldt Professorship and is currently conducting appointment negotiations with the German university that nominated him for the award. If the negotiations end successfully, the award will be granted in 2027.