Postdoc Position in Medieval History in the Dissident Networks Project

Closes: 4 December 2023 23:59 (CET – Prague) 

The Dissident Networks Project (DISSINET, https://dissinet.cz/ ) – an ERC Consolidator Grant-funded research initiative based at Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic) – offers a 2.5-year Research Fellowship (from February 2024 – negotiable – to August 2026) for Historians with a Medieval focus. 

The focus of research for the successful candidate will be the Computational Study of Medieval Religious Dissent and Inquisition and will be founded on Medieval Inquisition Records (c. 1230-1520). 

We are looking for candidates with background in History, Medieval Studies, Study of Religions, Medieval Latin Language and Literature or a similar field. They can be either: holders of adoctoral degree or Ph.D. candidates approaching the completion of studies. 

A successful Ph.D. candidate approaching the completion of their studies and applying for a post-doctoral position would be able to negotiate the amount of work time they can initially dedicate to the project (minimum 50% required). 

A successful holder of a doctoral degree applying for a post-doctoral position would be offered a full-time role. 

The successful candidate will develop their own research direction in consultation with the Principal Investigator (Dr. David Zbíral). They will receive hands-on training, building on their core skills as medievalists through the use of computational techniques. The ERC-funded positions thus represent a unique opportunity for building a truly cutting-edge research profile. 

Requirements:

• M.A. or Ph.D. degree in History, Medieval Studies, Medieval Latin Language and Literature or a similar field.
• Latin language.
• Competence in historical research.
• Competence in academic writing.
• Computer-friendly mindset.
• English language (C1 or higher).

We offer: 

• Creative work across disciplines in an exciting frontier-research project.
• Growth in interdisciplinary research.
• Competitive salary.
• Individual research budget for participating in conferences and workshops, choosing books and software to be purchased, etc. (ca. 4,000 € per year).
• Participation in writing high-profile publications in history, social network analysis, and the digital humanities.
• Friendly and informal working environment.

The candidate’s degree does not need to be recent for this position. We are open to those seeking to return to academia or to change their focus within it. Applications from female candidates are particularly encouraged.

Masaryk University  is the second largest university in the Czech Republic, with 10 faculties, more than 6,000 employees and 32,000 students. We are a university with a wide range of research areas in the humanities and natural sciences and a strong international position.

The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University  is one of the four founding faculties of Masaryk University, it has been profiled as a research-oriented faculty generating approximately one fifth of MU’s research volume. Since 2021, the faculty has been the proud holder of the HR Excellence in Research Award  from the European Commission.