Postdoctoral Research Assistant Inspiring Voices: Poetry, Heritage and Community

The University of Oxford offers a stimulating work environment within an internationally renowned world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic. The Faculty of English is the largest English Department in the UK, and has a very distinguished research record (awarded the top grade in the last two research assessment exercises). We have been ranked top in the QS World Rankings in the subject for the last eight years and our teaching has been graded ‘Excellent’ in every Quality Assurance review.

We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher in Poetry, Heritage and Community. Supporting a joint project with Oxford and English Heritage exploring the role poetry plays in heritage site interpretation and building youth engagement and community opportunities for new  poetry writing and performance, this role combines scholarly research into literary history with public and community engagement with creative writing. The postdoctoral research assistant will work closely with Professor Gerrard and Dr Niala, and with key members of the English Heritage Property Historians team and Youth Engagement team ‘Shout Out Loud’.  Between November-February 2024 the researcher will help lead a general scoping exercise across English Heritage sites culminating in a Literature Index of the poetic associations and histories of English Heritage Sites.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working

About the Role

To conduct research in libraries/archives to identify and codify historic poetic associations of specific English Heritage sites, prepare research publications (e.g. research articles, Literary Index to English Heritage sites), help create and curate blogs, and help create/edit an online anthology of poetry/zine. The post holder will work with a range of partners from English Heritage (e.g. Youth Engagement Team and curatorial teams) and Oxford (researchers, poetry practitioners and students) to develop a poetry outreach programme through workshops and mentoring events. They will also be expected to help the team prepare for a major Poetry in Performance event at the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.

About You

You should have a PhD/D.Phil in a relevant humanities discipline (e.g. literature, history), demonstrable enthusiasm for and understanding of poetic composition, reading and practice, e.g. from scholarly research or from a creative writing context or both, and an aptitude for collaborative, interdisciplinary and public engagement work involving local communities and young people.

Application Process

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the Apply button above.

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 6 September 2024.

Interviews will take place during week commencing 23rd September 2024.

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