ZKS/DU Barker Priory Library Junior Research Fellowship
ZKS/DU Barker Priory Library Junior Research Fellowship
Reference Number: 017902
Post: Assistant Professor (Research): ZKS Barker Priory Library Junior Research Fellowship
Department: Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies
Location: Durham City
Contract Type: Full-time and Fixed term (12 months: 1 Oct 2019 – 30 Sept 2020)
Grade: Grade 7 (£33,199 per annum)
Opening Date: 25 March 2019
Closing Date: 24 April 2019 (12.00 midday)
We expect shortlisting to take place in mid-May and interviews to take place 11 June 2019.
Durham University
Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.
The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.
Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breathtaking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare benefits and the University’s Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.
Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.
The Institute
The Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) is one of the largest, most diverse and dynamic centres of medieval and early modern studies in the world.
Established as a Research Institute in 2010, it brings together over eighty members of permanent academic staff, plus many postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, from all three faculties of the University. Archaeology, English, History and Modern Languages are particularly well represented among its members, but the Institute has a particular brief to encourage and support links across disciplines and inter- and multi- disciplinary research initiatives. As a community of scholars, it aims to inform the shape of medieval and early modern studies by providing a forum and network for contact and exchanging information and ideas.
The Role
The Assistant Professor (Research): ZKS Barker Priory Library Junior Research Fellowship is located in the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. IMEMS is one of the largest, most diverse and dynamic centres of medieval and early modern studies in the world, bringing together over eighty members of permanent academic staff, plus many postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, from all three faculties of the University. Archaeology, English, History and Modern Languages are particularly well-represented among its members, but the Institute has a particular brief to encourage and support links across disciplines and inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives. A generous grant from the Zeno Karl Schindler Foundation and other donors makes it possible to offer this fellowship to conduct research on any aspect of the collections of Durham Priory Library.
Applications are invited for an Assistant Professor (Research) on any aspect of the collections
of Durham Priory Library, including their origin, manufacture, content, decoration, and history of the texts. The successful applicant will be expected to engage actively in the academic life of the Institute and of the Durham Priory Library Recreated Project, which is a collaboration between Durham University and Durham Cathedral. The project is digitizing the 480 volumes of manuscripts and several dozen printed books belonging to the pre-reformation Cathedral Library and dating from the seventh century AD onwards. They will be attached to one of the academic programme’s five core themes and will work under the direct supervision of the academic lead responsible for that particular theme:
- History of the Book
- Community Living: Liturgy, Rules and Well-Being
- Scholastic Learning and Philosophical Enquiry
- Science, Knowledge and the Natural World
- Digital Re-creations
It is anticipated that the successful applicant will develop their own research project under expert supervision and ultimately produce a major individual accredited output (a post-doctora monograph study or significant academic paper / article, for example) by the end of theirFellowship period. They will also make a full contribution to a diverse range of collective academic outputs (from digital presentations of particular manuscripts to workshop and conference presentations and collected volumes of essays) and also outreach / engagement outputs (active websites and blogs, public lectures, video clips etc) for their particular research theme.
The successful candidate will report to Professor Stephen Taylor, as Director of IMEMS.
They may also, if appropriate, be assigned a mentor in their area of research expertise.
Responsibilities
- To prepare and publish high quality outputs, such as papers for submission to peer
- To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences
- To participate in the activities of The Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies
This post is considered to be independent and research and will be focused on research on
the University’s ‘Research Track’ career path, which provides clearly defined opportunities for
progression against defined criteria.
Successful applicants will be in post by 1 October 2019.
The Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in a relevant field of History, Literature, Theology, or other appropriate discipline.
The University provides a working, research and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process. To be eligible for the post, applicants must have been awarded their PhD by the time that they take up the post. Candidates must have capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world class. The essential research criteria for this post can be found in this Job Description.
Research
Candidates must have capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world class.
The essential research criteria for this post are:
ESSENTIAL RESEARCH CRITERIA
GRADE 7
1. Qualifications
A good first degree and a PhD in an appropriate subject (which may be completed or under
2. Outputs
Evidence of high quality outputs, some of wich have the potential to be (or are) world class
3. Personal Research Plan
A personal research plan which supports and enhances the Institute’s research strategy. This will be evidenced in an application mainly by the requested synopsis of the research project to be pursued while holding the fellowship (see below)
The desirable research criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are:
DESIRABLE RESEARCH CRITERIA
GRADE 7
A. Income generation
A good first degree and a PhD in an appropriate subject (which may be completed or under)
B. Research Leadership
Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to and engagement with external events, and/or involvement with international networks or projects.
Experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to contribute to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers
C. Research impact
Experiences, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to evidence research impact beyond the institution
Services, Citizenship and Values
This post is focused on research but candidates may be required to engage actively in thesupport and development of the research environment of the Institute.
Candidates must positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality diversity and inclusion.
The essential services, citizenship and values criteria for this role are:
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, CITIZENSHIP AND VALUES CRITERIA
GRADE 7
1. Collegial Contribution
Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or university committee roles, mentoring activity, engagement with widening participation and membership, involvement with equality and diversity initiatives or engagement with external bodies.
Experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to participate in the collegial/administrative activities of an academic institute notably related to their research and/or the research and research environment of the Institute
2. Communication
Candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums
How to Apply
For informal enquiries please contact Prof. Stephen Taylor (s.j.c.taylor@durham.ac.uk).
All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.
We prefer to receive applications online via the Durham University Vacancies Site.
Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 24 April 2019, (midday).
What to Submit
All applicants are asked to submit:
- A CV and covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above
- A synopsis of the research project you will be undertaking if appointed as the Zeno Karl Schindler/Durham University Priory Library Junior Research Fellow (maximum 2,000 words)
- PDFs of two significant pieces of work which you have been involved with and an explanation of your input. Please note that your work may be read by colleagues from across the Institute
Referees
You should provide details of 3 academic/research referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference (if they are not listed as an academic referee). Please note:
- We shall seek the academic/research references during the application process. Academic/research referees should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s) and a majority should be from a University other than your own. We would ask that you alert your academic/research referees to this application as soon as possible so that we can quickly obtain references. If you do not wish (some or all) of your referees to be approached during the recruitment process; you must clearly indicate this to us at the time of your application.
- We will seek a reference from your current line-manager if we make you an offer of employment (albeit you may have also nominated your line manager as an academic referee). Please clearly indicate which referee is your current line-manager and please let us know if we should only approach them once an offer has been made.
Next Steps
All applications will be considered.
Short-listed candidates will be invited to participate to interview, possibly conducted by Skype. They will be contacted as soon as possible.
More information
Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies: www.dur.ac.uk/imems/
University College: https://www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/
Research Collections in the Durham area: https://www.dur.ac.uk/imems/research/collections/
Informal enquires about research projects may be directed to Professor Stephen Taylor, Director of IMEMS: s.j.c.taylor@durham.ac.uk