PhD positions in Classical Literature
University of Groningen
PhD positions in Classical Literature (2.0 FTE) (V23.0279)
The University of Groningen, founded in 1614, is a large international research university in the North of the Netherlands. Our staff create and share knowledge through outstanding research and education. The Faculty of Arts, which includes the Classics department (https://www.rug.nl/(...)nse-taal-en-cultuur/<https://www.rug.nl/let/onze-faculteit/organisatie/vakgebieden/griekse-en-latijnse-taal-en-cultuur/>), is located in the historic heart of the city of Groningen.
Applications are invited for two fully funded, four-year PhD positions in Classical Literature within the research project Roman Making and its Meanings: Representations of Manual Creation in the Literature and Art of Imperial Rome (Acronym: FACERE), financed by the European Research Council (ERC) and led by Dr Bettina Reitz-Joosse (https://www.rug.nl/(...)/b.l.reitz-joosse/cv<https://www.rug.nl/staff/b.l.reitz-joosse/cv>). Both PhD projects relate to processes of manufacture, ‘making’, in Roman literature. How did Greek and Latin authors of the Roman empire represent processes of making in their texts? Each of the projects approaches this question from a particular angle. In their cover letter and research statement, applicants must clearly state a preference for one of the two projects, but will automatically be considered for both positions.
In the first PhD project, ‘Sustainable Processes of Making in Roman Literature’, the chosen candidate will analyse depictions of manual production in the literature of the Roman empire (i.e. spinning, weaving, woodworking, stone carving, or glassblowing) from an ecocritical perspective. Questions that may be addressed in this project include: is there such a thing as ‘sustainable making’ in Roman thought? How do authors portray the interaction of humans and the environment in processes of making? What metaphors do they employ and how can we interpret them? How do they depict the distribution of agency between human maker, tool, and material? What ethical considerations do different authors connect with particular materials, or particular forms of making? The selected candidate will be able to design their own project around one or more of these questions, and may choose to focus on particular approaches, authors, or themes.
The second PhD project, ‘Making and the Senses in Roman Literature’, focuses on the multisensory nature of processes of making. Makers use their sensory awareness – their perception of how something looks, sounds, feels, or smells – to guide them during the process of manufacture. For observers, too, making is a multisensory experience: they feel the heat of a furnace, hear the noises of weaving, or smell the smell of paint. The dissertation will examine how Roman literature captures, refracts and interprets the sensory side of making in ancient Rome. Questions that may be addressed include: When and how are sensory experiences of making evoked in Roman texts? What images or metaphors are used to convey them? How do narrative descriptions of making depict or create embodied experiences? Are there particular aesthetic or moral dimensions to the narration of smell, sound, or touch? The selected candidate will be able to design their own project around one or more of these questions and may choose to focus on particular approaches, authors, or themes.
The two PhD candidates will write individual dissertations, but also work as part of a team which will also include the principal investigator, a post-doctoral researcher, and two research assistants. Together, the team will work towards a new understanding of the ethics and aesthetics of making in the Roman world. The positions offer the opportunity to be part of an inspiring international university environment, to gain valuable research and teaching experience, and to collaborate with the other team members in the organisation of workshops and public engagement activities.
For any queries regarding the project or the position, and if you would like to read the project proposal, please feel free to get in touch with the project’s PI, Dr Bettina Reitz-Joosse, email address: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!<mailto:Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!>
Qualifications
• Research Master’s or master’s degree in Latin and/or Ancient Greek literature or a related field
• very good reading knowledge of Latin and Greek
• excellent oral and written command of English
• reading knowledge of relevant modern languages (e.g. German, Italian, French) or ability and willingness to acquire this
• interest in interdisciplinary approaches to the ancient world (particularly the intersections of literature and material culture)
• willingness and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Additional training in classical archaeology, art history or ancient history may be considered an advantage. Since the dissertations will be written in English, no knowledge of Dutch is required. However, the University of Groningen offers language classes to employees who would like to learn the Dutch language.
Organisation
Conditions of employment
We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities::
• a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,247 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance.
The 1.0 FTE appointments are temporary, for a specified period of four years. Each candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After six months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued.
The prospective starting date is 1 October 2023
Affiliation
The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School for the Humanities, affiliated with the Research Institute for the Study of Culture Groningen (ICOG), and based at the Department of Classics. The candidate will also have the opportunity to join relevant courses of the Dutch national graduate school for Classics, OIKOS.
Application
Applications should be in English and contain the following materials:
• cover letter, clearly stating which of the two positions you would primarily like to be considered for, explaining your reasons for applying and your suitability for the position
• curriculum vitae, including the contact details of two academic referees (no letters of recommendation are required at this stage; only the referees of shortlisted candidates will be contacted)
• copies of BA and MA diplomas and transcripts (or list of grades); if the MA has not yet been completed, please provide a signed statement from your thesis supervisor confirming that you are on track to complete the degree by the starting date of the position
• a short research statement of 1 A4 page, in which you set out briefly how you would approach the chosen project and indicate how your previous research experience relates to these plans (NB: a full research proposal is not required)
• writing sample (e.g. a section of the candidate’s thesis or a seminar paper, maximum length of 6,000 words).
Please submit your application as three PDF files (one for the CV, one for the cover letter, and one for all other documents).
You may apply for this position until 25 May 11:59pm / before 26 May 2023 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Please make sure you follow this format over the application system’s prompts regarding attachments.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to take place on 5 July 2023.
The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/<https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/>
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Information
For information you can contact:
* Dr Bettina Reitz-Joosse (for information about the project itself), Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!<mailto:Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!>
* Lisanne Coolen (for practical information regarding the application procedure), Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!<Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!>
Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.
https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000A2XP
PhD positions in Classical Literature (2.0 FTE) (V23.0279)
The University of Groningen, founded in 1614, is a large international research university in the North of the Netherlands. Our staff create and share knowledge through outstanding research and education. The Faculty of Arts, which includes the Classics department (https://www.rug.nl/(...)nse-taal-en-cultuur/<https://www.rug.nl/let/onze-faculteit/organisatie/vakgebieden/griekse-en-latijnse-taal-en-cultuur/>), is located in the historic heart of the city of Groningen.
Applications are invited for two fully funded, four-year PhD positions in Classical Literature within the research project Roman Making and its Meanings: Representations of Manual Creation in the Literature and Art of Imperial Rome (Acronym: FACERE), financed by the European Research Council (ERC) and led by Dr Bettina Reitz-Joosse (https://www.rug.nl/(...)/b.l.reitz-joosse/cv<https://www.rug.nl/staff/b.l.reitz-joosse/cv>). Both PhD projects relate to processes of manufacture, ‘making’, in Roman literature. How did Greek and Latin authors of the Roman empire represent processes of making in their texts? Each of the projects approaches this question from a particular angle. In their cover letter and research statement, applicants must clearly state a preference for one of the two projects, but will automatically be considered for both positions.
In the first PhD project, ‘Sustainable Processes of Making in Roman Literature’, the chosen candidate will analyse depictions of manual production in the literature of the Roman empire (i.e. spinning, weaving, woodworking, stone carving, or glassblowing) from an ecocritical perspective. Questions that may be addressed in this project include: is there such a thing as ‘sustainable making’ in Roman thought? How do authors portray the interaction of humans and the environment in processes of making? What metaphors do they employ and how can we interpret them? How do they depict the distribution of agency between human maker, tool, and material? What ethical considerations do different authors connect with particular materials, or particular forms of making? The selected candidate will be able to design their own project around one or more of these questions, and may choose to focus on particular approaches, authors, or themes.
The second PhD project, ‘Making and the Senses in Roman Literature’, focuses on the multisensory nature of processes of making. Makers use their sensory awareness – their perception of how something looks, sounds, feels, or smells – to guide them during the process of manufacture. For observers, too, making is a multisensory experience: they feel the heat of a furnace, hear the noises of weaving, or smell the smell of paint. The dissertation will examine how Roman literature captures, refracts and interprets the sensory side of making in ancient Rome. Questions that may be addressed include: When and how are sensory experiences of making evoked in Roman texts? What images or metaphors are used to convey them? How do narrative descriptions of making depict or create embodied experiences? Are there particular aesthetic or moral dimensions to the narration of smell, sound, or touch? The selected candidate will be able to design their own project around one or more of these questions and may choose to focus on particular approaches, authors, or themes.
The two PhD candidates will write individual dissertations, but also work as part of a team which will also include the principal investigator, a post-doctoral researcher, and two research assistants. Together, the team will work towards a new understanding of the ethics and aesthetics of making in the Roman world. The positions offer the opportunity to be part of an inspiring international university environment, to gain valuable research and teaching experience, and to collaborate with the other team members in the organisation of workshops and public engagement activities.
For any queries regarding the project or the position, and if you would like to read the project proposal, please feel free to get in touch with the project’s PI, Dr Bettina Reitz-Joosse, email address: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!<mailto:Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!>
Qualifications
• Research Master’s or master’s degree in Latin and/or Ancient Greek literature or a related field
• very good reading knowledge of Latin and Greek
• excellent oral and written command of English
• reading knowledge of relevant modern languages (e.g. German, Italian, French) or ability and willingness to acquire this
• interest in interdisciplinary approaches to the ancient world (particularly the intersections of literature and material culture)
• willingness and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Additional training in classical archaeology, art history or ancient history may be considered an advantage. Since the dissertations will be written in English, no knowledge of Dutch is required. However, the University of Groningen offers language classes to employees who would like to learn the Dutch language.
Organisation
Conditions of employment
We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities::
• a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,247 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance.
The 1.0 FTE appointments are temporary, for a specified period of four years. Each candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After six months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued.
The prospective starting date is 1 October 2023
Affiliation
The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School for the Humanities, affiliated with the Research Institute for the Study of Culture Groningen (ICOG), and based at the Department of Classics. The candidate will also have the opportunity to join relevant courses of the Dutch national graduate school for Classics, OIKOS.
Application
Applications should be in English and contain the following materials:
• cover letter, clearly stating which of the two positions you would primarily like to be considered for, explaining your reasons for applying and your suitability for the position
• curriculum vitae, including the contact details of two academic referees (no letters of recommendation are required at this stage; only the referees of shortlisted candidates will be contacted)
• copies of BA and MA diplomas and transcripts (or list of grades); if the MA has not yet been completed, please provide a signed statement from your thesis supervisor confirming that you are on track to complete the degree by the starting date of the position
• a short research statement of 1 A4 page, in which you set out briefly how you would approach the chosen project and indicate how your previous research experience relates to these plans (NB: a full research proposal is not required)
• writing sample (e.g. a section of the candidate’s thesis or a seminar paper, maximum length of 6,000 words).
Please submit your application as three PDF files (one for the CV, one for the cover letter, and one for all other documents).
You may apply for this position until 25 May 11:59pm / before 26 May 2023 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Please make sure you follow this format over the application system’s prompts regarding attachments.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to take place on 5 July 2023.
The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/<https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/>
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Information
For information you can contact:
* Dr Bettina Reitz-Joosse (for information about the project itself), Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!<mailto:Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!>
* Lisanne Coolen (for practical information regarding the application procedure), Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!<Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!>
Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.
https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000A2XP