The University of St Andrews wishes to make an appointment to the Berry Chair in the School of English. You will be a scholar of international standing in English Studies, understood as the study of Anglophone literature and culture in any time and place. You will have a commitment to expanding the boundaries of the discipline through research activity.
We invite applications from distinguished scholars working on any historical period, region or topic within Anglophone literature and the School especially welcomes approaches to research that are global, transnational, postcolonial, decolonial or focused on indigenous or first-nations literature and culture. The School also recognises the value of reflection on and expansion of the terminology for describing research.
The successful candidate will be expected to have a range of interests which strengthen and complement those within the School and make an outstanding contribution to the field’s advancement through publication and other research outputs. You will be expected to represent the University of St Andrews prominently in the UK and international communities.
The Berry Chair was established in 1897 following a bequest from the Berry family who settled on land in New South Wales, Australia that is now the subject of a successful Native Title claim by the South Coast People. The School is committed to acknowledging and taking account of the colonial history of the bequest.
The University has long-standing collaborations with indigenous scholars, students and communities in Oceania through the Centre for Pacific Studies and the School of English. We have benefited from and are grateful for the guidance of indigenous scholars in reconsiderations of Berry’s legacy and are developing resources and activities, including a prize for indigenous poetry, to support indigenous scholarship and creative work. Further details about the history of the bequest, the Berry Chair and the School’s plans can be found at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/english/news/title-167727-en.php ; we hope that the new Chair will play a leading role in these plans.
To complement the appointment of the Chair, the School has secured funding for a three-year postdoctoral research fellow and a funded (fees and maintenance) research postgraduate scholarship for whom it is hoped the Chair will act as mentor and supervisor respectively. The postdoctoral fellowship and research postgraduate studentship are intended to support research on some aspect of colonial or postcolonial history and literature or decolonising the subject.
Candidates will hold a doctorate in a cognate discipline and will be expected to be capable of teaching the subject to undergraduate and taught postgraduate students from a wide range of backgrounds. The primary criteria for appointment will be evidence of an internationally recognised research record, a clear programme of anticipated research activity for the coming years and a commitment to expanding the boundaries of English Studies.
Informal enquiries about this post may be directed to enghos@st-andrews.ac.uk or Professor Emma Sutton ess2@st-andrews.ac.uk Or Professor Tom Jones tej1@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Applications are particularly welcome from people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, indigenous and first-nations people, and people from the global south, and also from people possessing other protected characteristics that are under-represented in academic posts at the University.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the St Andrews experience. We strive to create a fair and inclusive culture demonstrated through our commitment to diversity awards (Athena Swan, Carer Positive, LGBT Charter, Race Charter). We celebrate diversity by promoting profiles of BAME, LGBTIQ+ staff and supporting networks including the Staff BAME Network; Staff with Disabilities Network; Staff LGBTIQ+ Network; and the Staff Parents & Carers Network. Full details available online: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/
Interviews will be held on 23 August 2023
Please quote ref: AC9645MR
Closing Date: 24 July 2023
Further Particulars: AC9645MR FPs.doc
School of English
Salary: by negotiation
Start: By negotiation, from 1 January 2024