Postdoctoral position in Fornaldarsaga studies
The Department of Scandinavian Research, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position in Fornaldarsaga studies to be filled by 1 April 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is linked to the research project Stories for all time: The Icelandic Fornaldarsögur, which is funded by the Velux Foundation. The project runs through till the end of February 2015.
The Department of Scandinavian Research specialises in the fields of Early Scandinavian language and literature, manuscript studies, Danish dialectology and socio-linguistics, onomastics and runology. The succesful candidate will be attached to the Arnamagnæan Institute, a section within the Department, whose chief function is to preserve and further the study of the manuscripts in the Arnamagnæan collection, in accordance with the terms of the Arnamagnæan Foundation, established in 1760. The academic staff of the section are responsible for research and instruction in the areas of Old West Norse (Old Icelandic), Old Danish and Old Swedish, as well as Modern Icelandic and Faroese language and literature.
Job contect
The aim of the project is to investigate the transmission of the group of Icelandic sagas known as Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda, mapping their production, dissemination and reception from the middle ages onwards, and to prepare electronic editions of some of the more important and/or interesting manuscripts in which the sagas are preserved, thereby making the texts available to researchers, students and other interested parties (for a fuller description of the project’s aims and methods see www.am-dk.net/fasnl).
A suitable research topic would therefore be a study of one or more Fornaldarsaga manuscripts accompanied by an electronic edition of the text(s). The appropriate theoretical and methodological foundation for such a study would thus be bibliography, material philology and the sociology of texts.
Qualification requirements
Applicants should hold a Ph.D. or the equivalent, or expect to have received such by 31 March 2012, and be able to demonstrate a strong background in Old Norse-Icelandic philology; first-hand experience working with Icelandic manuscripts will be given considerable weight. Good collaborative abilities and team spirit are important. Excellent command of written and spoken English is mandatory. Good command of Danish or another modern Scandinavian language would be an advantage, as would experience of text mark-up using TEI-conformant XML.
Applications should include a proposal of 2-3 pages outlining the overall aims and methodology of the research project as well as a time-plan, including any proposed periods to be spent abroad. A full CV, including references to any relevant publications, should also be included.
For further information about the position please contact the project leader, M. J. Driscoll, (mjd@hum.ku.dk).
The following professional qualifications and personal competences are furthermore required:
• Research qualifications, which will be assessed in relation to the period of active research, the degree of originality and the academic output.
• Academic breadth and depth, rigour, thoroughness and accuracy, as well as academic relevance in relation to the advertisement for the position.
• Documented administrative qualifications
• Participation in networks – national and international
For further details about the qualification requirements for postdocs, please refer to Circular no. 9427 of 13 June 2007 concerning the job structure for academic staff http://www.ubst.dk/lovgivning/personalejura-medarbejdere/ny_stillingsstruktur_eng.pdf/view?searchterm=None
Application
The application must be submitted online in Adobe PDF or Word format.
Please click on the “Apply online” icon at the bottom of the page.
Please note that each field in the application form may only contain a single file of max. 20Mb.
The application must include the following enclosures:
Application letter/cover letter
Appendix 1: CV
Appendix 2: Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.)
Appendix 3: Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with *
Appendix 4: Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of involvement in organising research, establishment of research seminars, symposia and congresses etc.
Appendix 5: Documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination *
Appendix 6: Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of three publications for assessment, of which at least two of the selected works must have been published within the five years immediately preceding the deadline for applications. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and numbered from 1-3.
*This field is compulsory in the application form and related to other position categories. You should only provide a brief description of your teaching experiences. Or you can upload references or recommendations etc.
Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German and French can be expected to be assessed.
All material will be shredded at the end of the appointment procedure.
Appointment procedure
After the application deadline, the Dean will set up an expert assessment committee to evaluate applicants specifically in relation to the advertised position. The applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each candidate will have the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalised.
Please refer to ministerial order no. 284 of 25 April 2008 concerning the appointment of academic staff at universities ministerial order http://www.ku.dk/regel/2/2031.html
Further information about the procedure is available from HR and Personnel Officer Helle Kofoed Schæbel, tel.: +45 35 32 86 75 or e-mail: hellesch@hum.ku.dk.
Salary and conditions of employment
The post will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad, http://ism.ku.dk/taxes.
All applicants are encouraged to apply, irrespective of personal background.
The closing date for applications is 23.59 CET, 29 February 2012.
Please quote reference number 211-0500/12-4550 in your application letter.
Apply online