Assistant Professor in Medieval Literary Studies
Job description
Working at Durham University
As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career while enjoying a high-quality work/life balance. 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.
Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page.
A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following Total Rewards – Grade 7 and Grade 8.
The Department
The Department of English Studies comprises c.700 undergraduates and around 120 postgraduates (MA and PhD), plus over 60 academic staff including research fellows and around 10 administrative staff.
It is one of the leading English departments in the UK, with an outstanding research culture and excellent students. It is consistently ranked in the top five English departments in a range of university guides (3rd in the Complete University Guide 2023); in the NSS Durham English students typically record around 90% satisfaction with their studies, reflecting the Department’s commitment to research-lead and small group teaching, its wide-ranging and innovative curriculum and the quality of its teaching. The Department made a substantial return to REF 2021, in which 90% of the Department’s research was judged to be of ‘internationally excellent quality’ or ‘world-leading’. 75% of its research environment was scored as ‘world-leading’, a measure of the resources that support its own and the wider scholarly community, and its global contribution to the discipline of English. It was ranked 38th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. It is part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities which was ranked 32nd in QS World University Rankings 2023.
Members of staff pursue a notably wide range of research interests across the historical, geographical and conceptual spectrum of the discipline, including creative writing. It is one of few departments that teaches and researches across the historical range from early medieval (including Old English, Old Norse, Old French and Medieval Latin) to the present and across anglophone writing from around the globe. As well as being strongly committed to historical literary studies, the department plays a leading role in interdisciplinary research and transformative humanities. The Department has significant clusters of research excellence in medieval and early modern studies; eighteenth and nineteenth century literature and culture; modernism, post-war and contemporary literature; world literatures; literary theory; creative writing; medical humanities; and textual editing.
The Department has played a leading role in the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies since its inception. The Institute is one of the largest and most diverse international concentrations of medieval and early modern studies and has an ambitious strategy for research, impact and dissemination. Its research programme includes major projects on heritage, history of the book and medieval science, and it has an active and vibrant postgraduate and early career community. Digital Humanities is an area of strategic importance to the Department and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Colleagues in the Department currently offer several digital-based undergraduate modules and contribute to the Masters in Data Science. There is also considerable potential for engagement with interdisciplinary teaching and research. The Department plays a leading role in the Institute for Medical Humanities which encourages interdisciplinary research with a long historical perspective, including research related to cognitive studies, phenomenology and the history of medicine and science. The Department is also home to the Centre for Poetry and Poetics. Members of the Department contribute to a number of the University’s other interdisciplinary research groups, including the Centre for Visual Arts and Culture, the Centre for Culture and Ecology, the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies, the Centre for Modern Conflicts and Cultures, and the University’s pan-Faculty Institute of Advanced Study. The Department is a partner in the AHRC Northern Bridge partnership for doctoral training. It is actively committed to EDI initiatives and In 2020 was awarded an Athena Swan Bronze charter.
The Department of English Studies seeks to appoint a talented individual to the role of Assistant Professor. We welcome applications from those with research and teaching interests in the broad field of medieval literary studies and we are particularly eager to hear from applicants with a focus on earlier medieval literature and language.
This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching while allowing you unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, please visit our Department pages at www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/english-studies/
Assistant Professors at Durham
Assistant Professors on the Education and Research track are encouraged to focus on research and teaching but also to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, support their department and wider discipline, and contribute to the wider student experience.
Academic colleagues are supported to publish high-quality research in their area of interest with a focus on quality in high-impact outputs including monographs, essays in edited volumes, and book chapters, rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activities, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor.
Durham University is also committed to ensuring excellent teaching quality, stimulating learning environments, and innovative curricula for all of our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and to develop innovative teaching.
We are confident that our recruitment process allows us to attract and select the best international talent to Durham. We, therefore, offer a reduced probation period of 1 year for our Assistant Professors and thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance, your position will be confirmed as permanent
Assistant Professor in Medieval Literary Studies
Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of medieval literary studies, with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. The University aims to provides a working and teaching environment that 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.
The successful candidate will have appropriate teaching experience and research interests in medieval literature and/or languages and culture. They will be expected to contribute to the teaching of medieval literary studies across the medieval period including Old English and/or Old Norse, and to be able to teach beyond the medieval period. We are particularly eager to hear from applicants who have the capacity to contribute to our emerging Digital Literary Studies group. Although this may not be the sole research focus, applicants should demonstrate an interest in any aspect of digital approaches to understanding medieval literature, languages and culture, including but not limited to, digital editing, the relationship between ‘the digital’ and manuscript studies and book history, data visualisation and web development.
Key responsibilities:
- To pursue research that is high quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- To develop clear plans for the pursuit of national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement;
- To play an active role in relevant teaching and research supervision, and contribute to ongoing curriculum development;
- To contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity;
- To assist, as appropriate, in the Department’s work of impact and engagement with non-academic bodies.
- To demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative work, citizenship and values of the Department;
- To deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials at all undergraduate levels and taught MA level, as well as engaging in related activity such as assessment;
- To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department;
- To contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and inclusive postgraduate culture.
- To carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department.
Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion
Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.
As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.
We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including disabled people, women, and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
We are committed to equality: if for any reason you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of research outputs, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. We also understand that the Covid-19 pandemic will have had differential impacts on different people and welcome information on this if you wish to share it. The selection committee will recognise that this may have reduced the quantity of your research accordingly
The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role
Person Specification
Candidates applying for a grade 7 post will have completed or be concluding their PhD and, while they may have limited direct experience of the requirements for the post, they should outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the essential criteria.
Candidates applying for a grade 8 post should meet all the essential criteria.
Research
Candidates must have the 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 or that has world-class potential.
Essential Research Criteria – Grade 7
- Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD in English Studies or a related subject (Grade 7 candidates must either have passed their PhD viva or submitted their PhD thesis for examination by the closing date for applications).
- Outputs - experience, skills and/or achievements which demonstrate experience of or the potential to produce high quality outputs that are recognised as world class or that have world-class potential. Candidates are asked to submit two research papers or other outputs with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.
- Personal Research Plan - evidence of a personal research plan. The Research Plan should be a maximum of 3 pages and should outline your research objectives for the next two to five years.
Essential Research Criteria – Grade 8
- Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD in English Studies or a related subject.
- Outputs - evidence of high-quality outputs, some of which is recognised as world-class. Candidates are asked to submit two research papers or other outputs with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.
- Personal Research Plan - evidence of a personal research plan. The Research Plan should be a maximum of 3 pages and should outline your research objectives for the next two to five years.
Education
Candidates must demonstrate the development and delivery of high-quality teaching that contributes to providing a supportive and enabling learning environment and curricula which encourage students to achieve their potential.
Essential Education Criteria – Grade 7
- Quality - Experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrates the ability or the potential to deliver high quality effective and engaging teaching in medieval literary studies, including Old English and/or Old Norse, and capacity to teach beyond that period. (Candidates may choose to provide student evaluation scores and/or peer reviews of teaching).
- Innovation – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate the ability or the potential to contribute to new programme development and innovate in the design and delivery of high quality teaching or assessment of learning including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment.
- Strategic - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate the ability or the potential to engage in the design of excellent teaching programmes which are research informed and led.
Essential Education Criteria – Grade 8
- Quality - evidence of the development and delivery of effective and engaging teaching in medieval literary studies, including Old English and/or Old Norse, and capacity to teach beyond that period. (Candidates may choose to provide student evaluation scores and/or peer reviews of teaching).
- Innovation – evidence of contribution to new programme development and innovation in the design and delivery of high quality teaching or assessment of learning including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment.
- Strategic - evidence of strategic teaching development - engagement in the design of excellent teaching programmes which are research informed and led.
Service, Citizenship and Values
Active engagement in the administrative and citizenship requirements of the Department. Positive contributions to University values and to fostering a respectful environment as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Essential Service, Citizenship and Values criteria – Grade 7
- Citizenship contribution – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to participate in the Citizenship /administrative activities of an academic Department, Faculty or University. (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, Carrying out departmental and interdepartmental activities effectively: Being involved in departmental activities, such as open days, employability events, departmental meetings and committees)
- Leadership - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to engage in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty, University and/or discipline including leadership or responsibilities in an academic context. (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in an academic context).
- 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. (Effective pastoral support of students the beginnings of an external engagement and knowledge exchange profile)
Essential Services, Citizenship and Values criteria – Grade 8
- Citizenship contribution – evidence of participation in the citizenship/administrative activities of an academic Department, Faculty or University. (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, engagement with widening participation, involvement in equality and diversity initiatives and membership or engagement with external bodies).
- Leadership - engagement in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty, University and/or discipline including leadership or responsibilities in an academic context. (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in an academic context).
- 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.
Desirable Criteria – Grade 7
The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are:
- Qualification - candidates to hold or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/fellowship/fellowship) which is the national body that champions teaching excellence (or Equivalent).
- Research Leadership - 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. (Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to external events, engagement with international networks or projects).
- PhD Supervision – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to provide excellent supervision for PhD students.
- Research Impact - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to evidence research impact beyond their institution.
- Income Generation - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to develop successful research projects and quality research grant proposals.
Desirable Criteria – Grade 8
The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are:
- Qualification - candidates to hold or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/fellowship/fellowship) which is the national body that champions teaching excellence (or Equivalent).
- Research Leadership - e.g., contribution to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers. (Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to external events, engagement with international networks or projects).
- PhD Supervision – involvement in the provision of excellent supervision for PhD students.
- Research Impact - demonstrable evidence of the impact of the Candidate’s research beyond their institution.
- Income Generation - evidence of engagement in the development of successful research projects and quality research grant proposals.
Contact Information
Department contact for academic-related enquiries
Enquiries may be directed to the Head of Department, Professor John Nash at [email protected] or to Professor Corinne Saunders at [email protected]
Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application
If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to [email protected].
Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).
University contact for general queries about the recruitment process
How to Apply
We prefer to receive applications online.
Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.
If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on [email protected].
What to Submit
All applicants are asked to submit:
- A CV
- A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
- Personal research plan (max. 3 pages, covering the next 3-5 years).
- Two of your most significant pieces of recent written work (chapters, essays or articles, not a whole book, but you may submit a chapter from a monograph).
- An EDI & values statement – (of no more than 500 words) which outlines work which you have been involved in which demonstrates your commitment to EDI and our values. E.g.,involvement in equality, diversity, and inclusion activities such as mentoring, volunteering, or attending conferences.
Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the hiring Department will use to access your work. The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links. Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall.
Your work should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system. Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 5mb. Please note that your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria;
Please save all application documents with your name and document type as PDF files.
We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.
Referees
You should provide 3 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s). The majority should be from a University other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post).
References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process.
As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.
Next Steps
All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates.
Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in or around late July.
In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.
Applicant Guidance
For further guidance on your application please see HERE
