Research Associate (Domestic Slavery in Late Antiquity) - 2 Positions Available

Vacancy terms: Full-time, fixed term contract for 15 months, or until 30 September 2026, whichever sooner.

Salary details: Grade 7 - £39,105 to £45,163 per annum, pro rata if part-time

Hours per week: 37.5

About the role

Working as part of a collaborative and innovative research team, you will use your expertise in ancient languages such as Coptic, Syriac, or Middle Persian to analyse a range of historical sources on the subject of ‘Domestic Slavery and Sexual Exploitation in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages’.

With opportunities to present your research at conferences and seminars, you will also collaborate closely with colleagues. Your findings will contribute to major academic outputs, including journal articles, an academic monograph, and a sourcebook, ensuring significant impact on the field of late antique studies.

‘Domestic Slavery and Sexual Exploitation in the Households of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, from Constantine to c. AD 900 / AH 287’ (DoSSE Project) is a large-scale comparative research project that investigates the presence of enslaved people within the home, their sexual use and exploitation by the free, and the wider social implications of this practice in the late Roman Empire and in its early medieval heirs.

https://www.dosseproject.com/
https://x.com/DosseProject
https://dosse-project.bsky.social/

About you

With a PhD in History or a related discipline, with a chronological focus on the early medieval or late ancient period, and with publications in print or forthcoming, you will bring your expertise in one or more ancient languages to the project team.

Vital are excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Experience with historical documents such as papyri or inscriptions, as well as prior involvement in collaborative research projects, will be advantageous.

Additional information

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Erin Thomas Dailey on etd4@leicester.ac.uk

We anticipate that interviews will take place during week commencing 3 March 2025.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload a sample of your research, which might be published work, or a forthcoming publication, or a PhD chapter.

As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying.

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive. 

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Advert closes midnight on: 23 February 2025

Advert information