Postdoctoral in Late Medieval Monastic Networks in Denmark and Germany

The Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position in European monastic history. The position is fully funded by the research project When Danes Prayed in German financed by the Danish Research Council (2023–2025).

The position is for 24 months beginning on 1 October 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

When Danes Prayed in German examines the combined use of the Danish and Low German languages in devotional manuscripts produced and/or used in Denmark. As an interdisciplinary research project, it integrates manuscripts studies, historical sociolinguistics, natural language processing and medieval European monastic history.

Further information about the project can be seen here: https://nors.ku.dk/english/research/projects/when-danes-prayed-in-german/

Job content 
The project When Danes Prayed in German is divided into three work packages. The selected postdoc will collaborate with the PI on Work Package 2, Movement of Text and Artefact. This work package examines the connections between Danish and Northern German monastic environments and centers of book production.

The postdoc’s independent research activities will contribute to the overall aim of the project by examining the historical context and environment in which devotional texts and manuscripts transferred from Northern Germany to Denmark. Research investigations may include but are not limited to network analysis, social history, church and monastic history, history of religious devotion among women, or veneration of saints.

Qualification Requirements
In order to be considered for the position, applicants must have research qualifications at least corresponding to what can be achieved as part of a successfully completed PhD within a relevant field, for example medieval or church history. The successful candidate has experience investigating primary source materials.

Prior knowledge of medieval Danish and Low German are not required; the successful candidate may also have a knowledge of related languages such as modern Danish or other modern or medieval Nordic language, German, Dutch, etc.

For further details about the qualification requirements for postdocs, please refer to the job structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2013: https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/files/job-structure-for-academic-staff-at-universities-2013.pdf

For further information about the position, please contact PI Seán D. Vrieland, e-mail: sean.vrieland@hum.ku.dk.

Application
The application must be submittet in Adobe PDF or Word format.

Please click on the “Apply now” button at the bottom of this page.

The application must be written in English and include the following enclosures:

• Application letter/cover letter (max 1 page).
• Curriculum vitae (with applicant’s email & telephone number).
• Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, master’s degree diploma etc.).
• Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with *.
• Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of how the applicant will contribute to the deliverables in the project description.
• Documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination, if any
• Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of three publications for assessment. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and listed from 1 to 3.

In the application form there are only 3 links to upload CV, cover letter and diplomas Please upload the rest of the required documents under “Other documents”.

Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly stipulated. The Faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.

Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English can be expected to be assessed.

Appointment procedure
After the application deadline, the Head of Department selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the appointment committee.  All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Dean subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.

Further information about the application procedure is available from HR South and City Campuses (HR), e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-1420/23-2I.

Salary and conditions of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Depending on the candidate’s seniority the salary range would start at app. DKK 31.500, (app. EUR 4,220) + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) have further agreed on a protocol that makes it possible for international researchers employed by the University to achieve a pension exemption, whereby the pension contribution will be paid out as salary. For more information about the different pension schemes, please read more here: https://ism.ku.dk/salary-tax-pension/pension/

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH here : http://ism.ku.dk, http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm and https://www.workindenmark.dk/

UCPH wishes to encourage everyone interested in this post to apply, regardless of personal background.

The closing date for applications is 21 May 2023 23:59 [*CEST/CET]

Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.

Position website: Postdoctoral position in Late Medieval Monastic Networks in Denmark and Germany (ku.dk)