Job vacancy: Part-time ERC Research Assistant (2-4 years) at Ghent University (Belgium)
The Department of Literary Studies at Ghent University (Belgium) is seeking a well-qualified Database Coordinator as part of the European Research Council Consolidator Grant project Novel Echoes. Ancient novelistic receptions and concepts of fiction in late antique and medieval secular narrative from East to West (for an abstract, see www.novelsaints.ugent.be/projects). Its Principal Investigator is Prof Dr Koen De Temmerman, who specializes in ancient fiction and its persistence in later periods.
The successful applicant will start employment on 1st January 2020 or as early as possible after that. In order to be eligible, candidates must have obtained their MA degree at the time of application or demonstrate convincingly that they will have that degree in hand by the start of their Research Assistant post. Applicants with an MA or PhD on the subject of the ancient novel are particularly encouraged to apply.
Within the ERC project, subprojects will be assigned to individual team members. For the current vacancy, this subproject is situated in the following area:
DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL ECHOES DATABASE
This online database will unite two sets of data: it will chart for the first time all novelistic influences in late antique and early medieval secular narrative (4th-12th centuries); and it will include and make available all testimonia of ancient novels in late antique and early medieval authors (4th-12th centuries).
The research assistant will both have good IT-skills to play a crucial role in the development of a database and s/he will intellectually support the research of the other team members (PI, postdocs, PhD researchers). This assistant will also actively participate with the PI in publications.
For this position, we offer:
1. a contract for two years of half-time employment as Research Assistant, followed by a renewal for another two years upon positive evaluation (a shorter contract with a higher percentage of employment can be negotiated);
2. an internationally competitive salary that depends on seniority and corresponds to the salary scales for researchers as established by the Flemish government;
3. office space in the University and a solid and engaging academic working environment with a strong international profile. The successful candidate will be able to interact with scholars and students affiliated with various departments and research institutes at Ghent University, such as the Department of Literary Studies (https://www.letterkunde.ugent.be/), the Department of History (http://www.ugent.be/lw/geschiedenis/en), the Department of Oriental Studies (http://www.neareast.ugent.be/), the Ghent Institute for Classical Studies (http://www.giks.ugent.be), the Henri Pirenne Institute for Medieval Studies (http://www.pirenne.ugent.be), the Ghent Centre for the Study of Christian Traditions (http://www.csct.ugent.be), and the Group of Early Modern Studies (https://gemsugent.wordpress.com).
For this position, we expect that the successful applicant
1. will contribute to the strong research tradition of the Department and the University by developing an online database according to the latest research findings;
2. will come and live in Belgium, work closely together with the other team members and the project’s international advisory board, and contribute to a pleasant and stimulating atmosphere;
3. will contribute to the scholarly activities of the research group (e.g. by organizing events in collaboration with the Principal Investigator and/or other members of the team, etc.).
How to apply?
(a) Applications should include
1. a cover letter;
2. a full curriculum vitae (including accurate information on grades and study results, e.g. official results lists if available);
3. a brief autobiographical statement (no more than one page) highlighting why the applicant is interested in this position and what added value they expect to bring;
4. the applicant’s MA dissertation (and possibly other relevant writing samples such as papers or a BA dissertation).
Applications should be sent by email to the Research Coordinator, Dr Evelien Bracke (evelien.bracke@ugent.be).
(b) In addition, we kindly ask candidates to arrange for two letters of reference to be sent directly to evelien.bracke@ugent.be by the referees.
Deadline: applications (both a and b) should arrive no later than 1st September 2019.
Please address any queries to the Principal Investigator (koen.detemmerman@ugent.be).
Ghent is an attractive medieval town, with a strong economic base and lively cultural scene. Just 30 minutes by train from Brussels, two hours from Paris and Amsterdam and two and a half hours from London, it is ideally situated at the heart of European intellectual life.