Job description

Two Doctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1017) in Medieval History are available at the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo. The positions will be associated with the ERC Advanced Grant project 101018645 MINiTEXTS “Minuscule Texts: Marginalized Voices in Early Medieval Latin Culture (c. 700–c.1000)”, funded by the European Research Council and led by Professor Ildar Garipzanov (Principal Investigator).

MINiTEXTS seeks to systematically study early medieval Latin minuscule texts (also known as “guest texts” or “microtexts”), i.e. short texts which were added in large numbers, before c. 1000, to flyleaves, margins and other blank spaces of pre-900 Latin manuscripts. MINiTEXTS examines such textual additions as a unique corpus of practical knowledge deeply embedded in the social praxis of early medieval society and aspires to understand the “social logic” of such texts as well as the social, religious, and cultural practices that they signify.

Applicants are invited to submit doctoral proposals that fall within the project’s research program and objectives, and that plan on using a specifically defined group of early medieval minuscule texts (ether typologically or unified by provenance) as their main primary evidence. The following three themes related to MINiTEXTS’ Sub-project 2 (Practical Knowledge & Social Practices) and Sub-project 4 (Christian Rites & Religious Practices) will be prioritized in the selection process:

  • social interactions of Western European monasteries and/or episcopal centers with their broader social networks from c. 700 to c. 1000;
  • the cultural history of early medieval exorcism in Western Europe, with a focus on the period from c. 700 to. c.1000;
  • early medieval minor annals and their unique manuscript settings.

The successful projects will be supervised by Professor Ildar Garipzanov.

More about the position

The person appointed will be part of the Faculty’s organized research training and the Norwegian Graduate School in History. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty with a view to obtaining the degree of PhD. The successful candidate is expected to join the existing research milieu or network and contribute to its development. Read more about the doctoral degree.

The appointment is for a duration of 3 years. All PhD Candidates who submit their doctoral dissertation for assessment with a written recommendation from their supervisor within 3 years or 3 ½ years after the start of their PhD position, will be offered, respectively, a 12 or 6 month Completion Grant.

The expected start date is January 2023.

Qualification requirements

  • A Master’s degree or equivalent in history, classics, theology, or another discipline related to medieval studies. The Master’s degree must have been obtained and the final evaluation must be available by the application deadline.
  • Competence in Latin and Latin paleography is required in order to be able to read relevant textual additions in early medieval manuscripts.
  • The candidate’s research project must be closely connected to the MINiTEXTS project.
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
  • Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Oslo, applicants must, as a minimum, have completed a five-year graduation course (Master’s degree or equivalent), including a Master’s thesis of at least 30 ECTS. In special cases, the Faculty may grant admission on the basis of a one-year Master course following an assessment of the study programme’s scope and quality.

In assessing the applications, emphasis will be placed on:

  • The project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation.
  • The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to complete the project within the time frame and contribute to MINiTEXTS.
  • The applicant’s ability to complete research training.
  • Good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities.

Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.

We offer

How to apply

The application must include:

  • Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
  • Curriculum Vitae (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications)
  • Transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Applicants with education from a foreign university must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system
  • Documentation of language requirements (if applicable)
  • Project description, including a detailed progress plan for the project (3 – 5 pages, see Template for project descriptions)

Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Educational certificates, master theses and the like are not to be submitted with the application, but applicants may be asked to submit such information or works later.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

Professor Ildar Garipzanov, phone number: +47 22841937, e-mail: ildar.garipzanov@iakh.uio.no

HR Adviser Hilde Kristine Sletner, e-mail: h.k.sletner@hf.uio.no

About the University of Oslo 

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Department of archaeology, conservation and history (IAKH) is comprised of three disciplines which in different ways study the past. The department has internationally oriented archaeologists, the only conservation program in Norway and the biggest group of historians in Scandinavia. The department has close to 100 employees, including non-permanent research fellows. The study programs span archaeology from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages, object and paintings conservation, and history from Antiquity to the present age.
 

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