Research Associate: Crafting Documents, C.500 - Oxford, United Kingdom - University of Oxford

University of Oxford
University of Oxford
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Oxford, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

About the role


We have an exciting opportunity for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join this innovative project which is co-funded by the AHRC and the DFG.

The project brings together technical analysis of parchment and ink with a palaeographical examination of penmanship to explore, for the first time, how documents were made in the key transitional period between the writing practices of Antiquity and those of the Middle Ages, c.

500 to c. 800.

At its centre is the systematic exploitation of a huge but almost entirely neglected corpus of tiny relic labels, many no more than a few centimetres long, which hitherto have been judged too insignificant for thorough attention.

Treating these minute documents as textual artefacts,

_Crafting Documents_ will shed new light on the poorly understood artisan skills required to manufacture parchment and to prepare ink in this period.

Building on this basis, it seeks to understand how the skills involved in forming letters with a pen were affected by the quality of the writing surface and of the ink.

New understanding of the material constraints and affordances will generate new knowledge of why handwriting evolved in these centuries.

The technical analysis of ink and parchment is being conducted by the Berlin team, while the Oxford team is responsible for the palaeographical analysis, the project website and maintaining the project database.

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Post-Doctoral Research Associate will be a member the project team working independently to carry out discrete research and analysis for the Oxford, AHRC-funded part, of this project


The PDRA will:

  • Undertake the handwriting analysis, including developing standardised descriptors for features of script and using them systematically.
  • Be responsible for the design of the project's dedicated website which will be the public access point for the database.
  • Participate in all project meetings and workshops.
  • Write one article in their own name and one cowritten with PI Smith, both to be appropriate for submission to the next REF.
The job description provides you with more information about the duties for this post.


The post is full-time for a fixed-term of 30 months or until 31st January 2026, whichever is sooner (limited by external funding).

The post is tenable from 1st August 2023.


About you


You will hold a relevant PhD/DPhil, or evidence that a doctorate is close to completion, together with relevant experience and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within established research programmes.

An ability to manage own academic research and associated activities is essential as is previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations.

You will also have excellent communication and IT skills, including familiarity with Excel and/or Access, and a willingness to use more advanced software after appropriate training.

Some experience of using Mosaic or similar content management platform is desirable.

The job description provides you with further details of the essential criteria for this post.


Application Process
You will be asked to upload a CV, including a publication list, and a supporting statement.

The supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience.

This may include experience gained in employment, education, or during career breaks (such as time out to care for dependants).

**Committed to equality and valuing diversity
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