Mittelalterzentrum / Centre for Medieval Studies
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Three Early Stage Researcher Positions (EU-Wissenschaftler)

Mobility of Ideas and Transmission of Texts.
Vernacular Literature in the Rhineland and the Low Countries (ca. 1300-1550)

Mobility of Ideas and Transmission of Texts (MITT) is an Initial Training Network within the Marie Curie Actions funded by the European Commission under Framework 7. Focusing on the medieval dynamics of intellectual life and literature in the Rhineland and Low Countries, MITT brings together five expert teams to provide substantive and methodological training on latemedieval intellectual history, philosophy, and literature to a collaborative body of early-stage researchers. The partners are the universities of Antwerp (Ruusbroecgenootschap), Freiburg (Centre for Medieval Studies), Lecce (Dipartimento di Filologia classica e Scienze filosofiche), Leiden (Pallas Institute for Cultural Disciplines), and Oxford (Medieval and Modern Language Faculty). For a detailed description visit http://www.hum.leiden.edu/pallas-icd/research/mitt.

MITT offers eleven research positions across Europe, each lasting for a period of three years, to be taken up between March 1st and September 1st, 2010. Candidates will be expected to undertake original research on a specific topic falling within the MITT-project parameters, participate in network conferences and workshops, and generate quality research output towards a doctoral dissertation.
The Centre for Medieval Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg im Breisgau (D), invites applicants for three research projects within the MITT-programme:
- Latin reactions to vernacular religious concepts: comparative analysis of the Latin writings of academic theologians commenting upon or reacting to the vernacular mystical tradition (Work Package number 9)
- At the crossroads of Latin and vernacular theories of the soul: analysis of the interaction of late-medieval academic theories of the soul and ideas on the soul in vernacular writing (Work Package number 11)
- Texts accompanied by texts in late-medieval manuscripts: analysis of the transmission of theological knowledge in Latin and vernacular miscellanies (Work Package number 12)

For a detailed description of the projects, please read the Grant Agreement Annex 1, Description of Work, especially the Work Package Description for numbers 9, 11, and 12, which you will find at http://www.mittelalterzentrum.uni-freiburg.de/forschung/mariecurieitn

Requirements
- Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in the Humanities, in one of the subjects indicated in the relevant Work Package, or a degree at an equivalent level, and should have obtained this degree no more than four years ago. The MA-thesis should be of high quality.
- To qualify as an Early-Stage Researcher under the terms of EC funding, which aims to promote mobility within the research community, applicants may not have obtained their degree in Germany. Moreover, to be eligible for an ESR-position, candidates must not have been a resident in the country of the host institution for a period of more than 12 months in the past three years.
- The applicant should have a good knowledge of German and Latin, as appropriate to the project
- If the research output leads to a doctoral dissertation, this should result in a doctoral degree from Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

Procedure
The selection of candidates will be based on an application, containing (1) a cover letter, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) an exposé of the planned dissertation (two pages), (4) one or two writing samples, and (5) two letters of recommendation. The selection procedure may involve an interview.

Conditions
Successful applicants are appointed for a period of one year. If progress is satisfactory, the appointment will be extended for a further two years. Candidates agree to participate in the research and training activities within MITT as well as in its network activities, as listed in the project description.
EC funding for the ESR-positions provides a comprehensive package, including an annual living allowance, a mobility allowance (to cover the expenses associated with working in a different country), a travel allowance, and a career-exploratory allowance. Candidates will be employed under the terms of Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg im Breisgau. For information on these allowances, see the Grant Agreement Annex 1, which you will find at http://www.mittelalterzentrum.uni-freiburg.de/forschung/mariecurieitn. There you also will find a model of the Contract (Dienstvertrag) that will be signed by successful applicants and Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg im Breisgau.

Information
For further information on the MITT-project and ESR-positions, see the project-website or contact: Prof. Dr. Maarten J.F.M. Hoenen (maarten.hoenen@philosophie.uni-freiburg.de).

Applications should be sent by January 15th, 2010 to: Prof. Dr. Maarten J.F.M. Hoenen, Philosophisches Seminar, Platz der Universität 3, 79085 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.