Applications are invited for the post of Research Associate in Medieval German Philology, in the Department of German and Dutch, working with Professor Christopher Young and Dr Mark Chinca. The vacancy has been created in the context of an AHRC-funded project on "Kaiserchronik: Literature and History in the German Middle Ages".

The project

The Kaiserchronik (c.1150) is one of the great monuments of medieval literature. Chronicling the reigns of Roman and German kings and emperors, from the earliest times to the twelfth century, it projects a magnificent historical sweep in which the German-speaking peoples and their rulers feature as actors on the stage of ancient history and heirs to the legacy of Rome as capital of the Christian West. It is the first verse chronicle to have been written in any European vernacular. Yet despite its importance for literary and historical studies alike, it has been surprisingly neglected. This project is intended to yield a complete understanding of the extraordinary cultural resonance of the Kaiserchronik, and offer a transformative reassessment of the place of history-writing in the development of German literature in the Middle Ages.

The project has attracted funding of c.£950,000 from the AHRC. The team is based in Cambridge and assembles experts in the fields of medieval literature, language and history, with special collaborations with the University of Marburg and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Over its lifetime, the project will produce the first-ever complete critical edition of the Kaiserchronik, accompanied by English translation, full introduction and commentary. ¿In addition, the project will research the historical and literary background to the chronicle: the twelfth-century context from which it emerged, and the reasons for its enduring appeal over the following four and a half centuries. The results will be presented through major events in Cambridge, international conferences, and special issues of academic journals.

The role of the Research Associate

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out specified assignments in support of the project. Principally this will involve assisting with the editorial process leading to publication of the critical edition. Specifically this will include checking transcriptions of the manuscripts; collating the manuscript transmission of the text; compiling the critical apparatus for the edition.

Qualifications

Candidates will normally be expected to have completed a Ph.D. in the field of medieval German literature or language by the time of appointment. Essential skills include: near-native competence in German and English, an excellent reading knowledge of Middle High German, previous experience in palaeography, and relevant IT skills or ability to acquire them.

You will be based in a thriving research community in German Studies at Cambridge, with opportunities to participate in German, history and cross-disciplinary seminars throughout the University.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months.

Completed applications, including a form CHRIS/6 (Parts 1 and 3 only, (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/), a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and the names and addresses of two referees who are familiar with your work in the relevant field, should be sent to The Secretary of the Appointments Committee, Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DA [or by e-mail: jobs@mml.cam.ac.uk] by 12:00 noon on Monday 6 January 2014. Referees should write directly to The Secretary of the Appointments Committee by the same date.

Salary for this post will be in the range of £27,854 to £36,298 pa. The appointment will run from 1 October 2014 (or asap thereafter) for 12 months, and is subject to satisfactory completion of a probationary period of 3 months.

Further particulars can be found at http://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/faculty/jobs

You are welcome to seek further information by contacting Professor Christopher Young, e-mail: cjy1000@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference GL02152 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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