We are seeking a Postdoctoral research fellow to work as part of the project “Land and Loyalty: the politics of land in the later Roman World (4th-6th c.)” to be part of a team led by Dr Carlos Machado (Classics, St Andrews) and Prof. Sebastian Schmidt-Hofner (Alte Geschichte, Tübingen). The postdoctoral researcher will be based at St Andrews, working in close collaboration with Dr Machado; another Postdoctoral research assistant will be appointed at Tübingen, to work with Prof. Schmidt-Hofner. Candidates are welcome to apply to both positions, but each application should be made separately and only one position will be offered. The position advertised here, at St Andrews, is for 33 months.
This is an excellent opportunity for a dynamic and dedicated researcher working on the late antique period, broadly conceived. The project will study the politics of imperial and royal grants and confiscations of land and rights over it, across the late empire and the polities that succeeded it. The team will produce an online database collecting all surviving evidence for such transactions, as well as a study of this phenomenon over this long geographic and chronological span. The St Andrews team will focus on material related to the western part of the Roman world but will work in close collaboration with the team based in Germany, which will focus on the East.
The Postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for the collection of the material and the preparation of the database, besides producing independent work to analyse this material. They will also help organise international workshops and a conference, as well as helping edit a collective volume deriving from the conference, and also co-authoring a monographic study of the politics of land in the late Roman world. Due to the strong collaborative nature of the project, the researcher will be expected to travel to Tübingen, for short meetings as well as for a period of three months to carry out research and network with German colleagues. The language of the project and of the publications (including the database) will be English.
Candidates should have a PhD in hand (or submitted by the deadline for applications) in ancient history or a related field along with excellent knowledge of Latin and Greek.
Applications must include:
* Letter of application (to include an overview of your plans for future research; a sense of the contribution you can make to the School's research environment; and reflection on your commitment to inclusivity, diversity and social responsibility in your teaching, research/impact, and/or public engagement).
* CV
* Names and contacts of two (2) referees
* Writing sample of no more than 10,000 words of recent academic work. This can be published or unpublished (e.g., a draft article or a chapter from your thesis). If this is part of a longer piece of work, please provide a brief explanation (c. 300 words) of the broader context of the section submitted.
Informal enquiries can be addressed to Dr Carlos Machado carm3@st-andrews.ac.uk
For those interested, the School of Classics will offer two online information sessions, in which you will be able to participate anonymously and ask questions about the post, the project, and the University. These will be held on 9th January 2024, at 8am and at 3pm GMT. To access the sessions please follow the link:
9th January 8am
9th January 3pm
Employees of the University have access to a wide range of staff benefits including:
· Annual leave of 34 days, plus 5 public holidays
· Membership of the USS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
· A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies
· Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services
· Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel
· Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff/children of staff, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme and a range of wellbeing initiatives
Applications are particularly welcome from people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in research post 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 and Race Charters). 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/
Closing Date: 22 January 2024 Interview Date: 19 February 2024
Please quote ref:AR2926SB
Further Particulars: AR2926SB FPs.doc
School of Classics
Salary: £37,099 - £40,521 per annum
Start Date: 1 April 2024 (or earlier if possible)
Duration of Post: Fixed term for 33 months