Research Assistant (Sacred Landscape Project) – AR2453NB
School of Divinity

School of Divinity Salary: £27,511 - £30,046 per annum pro rata Start Date: As soon as possible, but no later than 1 February 2021 Fixed Term: 6 months (end date no later than 31 July 2021) Part Time: 0.3 FTE

The School of Divinity proposes to engage a part-time research assistant to contribute to a new research project on the coasts of Fife as religious and spiritual landscapes. The position is fixed term for 6 months, with the end date no later than 31 July 2021.  

The project will investigate the coasts of Fife as sacred landscapes, approaching the topic under two headings, and culminating in a final report which will be the basis for future partnerships, funding, and research:   

The religious history of the coasts includes the nature and history of coastal religious sites and institutions (the cathedral, the priories, the parishes, St Fillan’s Cave, etc), and also how these have shaped the landscape itself (through interventions like the Lade Braes, the paths parishioners walked to church, etc).  Related work has been done for the interior of Fife to establish the Fife Pilgrim Way.   

Coasts are distinguished by their cultural liminality.  In Fife, where fields continue nearly to the water’s edge, they represent meeting places of lives orientated towards agriculture or fishing – often in the shared parish church.  Beyond this, however, coastal villages are more open to the wider world, and can become conduits for new ideas.  It is not by happenstance that Fife and St Andrews were the centre of the early Reformation in Scotland – books, pamphlets, and scholars arrived by sea through the ports of the East Neuk.     

The research will be directed by William Hyland (Lecturer in Church History) and Brendan Wolfe (Honorary Reader in Historical Theology).  It will contribute to the Fife Sustainable Natural and Cultural Coastal Zone project, which is an interdisciplinary initiative involving five of the University’s academic Schools, the Wardlaw Museum, the University’s Music Centre, and local community organisations.   

The project is part-funded by the St Andrews Restarting Interdisciplinary Research Fund (SARIRF), which endeavours to support the restarting of research interrupted by Covid-19.   

The successful candidate will conduct directed research drawing on historical and topographical primary and secondary sources to prepare a report on the coasts of Fife as a sacred landscape, primarily in the Christian tradition, reflecting on the coast as a liminal space in spirituality and history.  The successful candidate will further draw on this report to co-ordinate with the other Coastal Zone researchers include religious history and topography in the Coastal Zone’s outputs, most importantly its online research portal.   

Competitive candidates will be expected to have experience of research in Scottish, Christian, or landscape history and will be able to demonstrate an interest in cultural heritage. It is necessary that candidates be self-motivated, have experience of research at a high level, and have some familiarity with religious history and practice.   

Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Sterling Yates, email:  sterling.yates@st-andrews.ac.uk or to Dorothy Campbell, email: dc225@st-andrews.ac.uk  

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MUST BE MET FOR A COMPLETE APPLICATION:

  Covering letter (max. 1 pages) 
  CV 
  A writing sample, if possible relevant to the project’s aims (to be uploaded as a supporting document)      

Applications are particularly welcome from women, people from the Black, Asian, Minority or Ethnic (BAME) community and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in Academic posts at the University.  

The University is committed to equality for all, demonstrated through our working on diversity awards (ECU Athena SWAN/Race Charters; Carer Positive; LGBT Charter; and Stonewall).  More details can be found at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/diversityawards/.  

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by the UKVI to enable sponsorship of migrant workers.  Further information can be found at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/staff/policy/immigration/.  

Closing Date: 5 January 2021 at 12 noon (UK Time)                                                                       

Please quote ref: AR2453NB   

Further Particulars: AR2453NB FPs.doc


School of Divinity
Salary: £27,511 - £30,046 per annum pro rata 
Start Date: As soon as possible, but no later than 1 February 2021
Fixed Term: 6 months (end date no later than 31 July 2021) 
Part Time: 0.3 FTE                       
Vacancy Description
School of Divinity Salary: £27,511 - £30,046 per annum pro rata Start Date: As soon as possible, but no later than 1 February 2021 Fixed Term: 6 months (end date no later than 31 July 2021) Part Time: 0.3 FTE
 
The School of Divinity proposes to engage a part-time research assistant to contribute to a new research project on the coasts of Fife as religious and spiritual landscapes. The position is fixed term for 6 months, with the end date no later than 31 July 2021.  

The project will investigate the coasts of Fife as sacred landscapes, approaching the topic under two headings, and culminating in a final report which will be the basis for future partnerships, funding, and research:   

The religious history of the coasts includes the nature and history of coastal religious sites and institutions (the cathedral, the priories, the parishes, St Fillan’s Cave, etc), and also how these have shaped the landscape itself (through interventions like the Lade Braes, the paths parishioners walked to church, etc).  Related work has been done for the interior of Fife to establish the Fife Pilgrim Way.   

Coasts are distinguished by their cultural liminality.  In Fife, where fields continue nearly to the water’s edge, they represent meeting places of lives orientated towards agriculture or fishing – often in the shared parish church.  Beyond this, however, coastal villages are more open to the wider world, and can become conduits for new ideas.  It is not by happenstance that Fife and St Andrews were the centre of the early Reformation in Scotland – books, pamphlets, and scholars arrived by sea through the ports of the East Neuk.     

The research will be directed by William Hyland (Lecturer in Church History) and Brendan Wolfe (Honorary Reader in Historical Theology).  It will contribute to the Fife Sustainable Natural and Cultural Coastal Zone project, which is an interdisciplinary initiative involving five of the University’s academic Schools, the Wardlaw Museum, the University’s Music Centre, and local community organisations.   

The project is part-funded by the St Andrews Restarting Interdisciplinary Research Fund (SARIRF), which endeavours to support the restarting of research interrupted by Covid-19.   

The successful candidate will conduct directed research drawing on historical and topographical primary and secondary sources to prepare a report on the coasts of Fife as a sacred landscape, primarily in the Christian tradition, reflecting on the coast as a liminal space in spirituality and history.  The successful candidate will further draw on this report to co-ordinate with the other Coastal Zone researchers include religious history and topography in the Coastal Zone’s outputs, most importantly its online research portal.   

Competitive candidates will be expected to have experience of research in Scottish, Christian, or landscape history and will be able to demonstrate an interest in cultural heritage. It is necessary that candidates be self-motivated, have experience of research at a high level, and have some familiarity with religious history and practice.   

Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Sterling Yates, email:  sterling.yates@st-andrews.ac.uk or to Dorothy Campbell, email: dc225@st-andrews.ac.uk  

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MUST BE MET FOR A COMPLETE APPLICATION:

  Covering letter (max. 1 pages) 
  CV 
  A writing sample, if possible relevant to the project’s aims (to be uploaded as a supporting document)      

Applications are particularly welcome from women, people from the Black, Asian, Minority or Ethnic (BAME) community and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in Academic posts at the University.  

The University is committed to equality for all, demonstrated through our working on diversity awards (ECU Athena SWAN/Race Charters; Carer Positive; LGBT Charter; and Stonewall).  More details can be found at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/diversityawards/.  

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by the UKVI to enable sponsorship of migrant workers.  Further information can be found at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/staff/policy/immigration/.  

Closing Date: 5 January 2021 at 12 noon (UK Time)                                                                       

Please quote ref: AR2453NB   

Further Particulars: AR2453NB FPs.doc


School of Divinity
Salary: £27,511 - £30,046 per annum pro rata 
Start Date: As soon as possible, but no later than 1 February 2021
Fixed Term: 6 months (end date no later than 31 July 2021) 
Part Time: 0.3 FTE