The University of Oxford is seeking to appoint a postdoctoral researcher from 1 October 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter to work on the project ‘The Cult of Saints: a christendom-wide study of its origins, spread and development’, directed by Dr Bryan Ward-Perkins and funded by a €2.3 million ERC Advanced Grant (2014-18). The project, based in Oxford, Reading and Warsaw, will investigate the origins and development of the cult of Christian saints, gathering all the evidence that is available on the cult, from its origins until around AD 700, across all the languages of early Christianity that have left evidence from this period (Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Georgian, Greek and Latin).
The project will employ six postdoctoral researchers in producing a series of monographs and a freely-available searchable database of the evidence for the cult of saints, with English translations of texts and full reference to relevant scholarly work.
The first appointee will have responsibility for collecting and researching all the relevant source material in Coptic, including the evidence from the papyri. The appointee will work directly under the supervision of Dr Arietta Papaconstantinou, and will also be expected to produce a sole-authored monograph on a subject pertaining to the cult of the saints in Egypt. The appointee will be required to represent the project and deliver papers at team workshops, external workshops, conferences, public events, and other meetings. The successful candidate will hold a doctorate in a relevant field, have excellent knowledge of Coptic and the historical context of late-antique Christianity, and an effective working knowledge of the necessary modern scholarly languages. Knowledge of relevant ancient languages beyond Coptic (in particular the capacity to work with Greek papyri), experience of working with hagiographical material and experience of working with databases would be desirable.
The second appointee will have responsibility for collecting and researching all the relevant material in Armenian and Georgian. Given the exceptional character of the relationship between the Georgian and Armenian Churches in the period up to 700, where several centuries of communion are followed by a separation, the project is seeking to employ a candidate with knowledge of both Armenian and Georgian, and their related scholarly fields. The appointee will work under the supervision of Theo M van Lint, Calouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies, and will also be expected to produce a sole-authored monograph on a major aspect of the cult of saints, focused on the Armenian and Georgian evidence. The appointee will be required to represent the project and deliver papers at team workshops, external workshops, conferences, public events, and other meetings. The successful candidate will hold a doctorate in a relevant field, have excellent knowledge of Classical Armenian and Old Georgian, and the historical context of late-antique Christianity, and an effective working knowledge of the necessary modern scholarly languages, including Armenian and Georgian. Knowledge of relevant ancient languages beyond Armenian and Georgian, experience of working with hagiographical material and experience of working with databases would be desirable.
Only applications received before 12 noon UK time on Friday 27 June 2014 can be considered. Interviews are expected to be held on Tuesday 15 July. You will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your application.
Formore informations see: link.