Postdoctoral Research Associate in Early Modern History, Material Culture & Heritage

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The English Faculty at a leading university is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for a one-year fixed-term research position. This role focuses on a collaborative project exploring global carpet collections and their cultural significance. The ideal candidate will have a doctorate, a strong research background, and experience in public engagement. The position offers a chance to contribute to innovative scholarship and engage with museum professionals.

Qualifications

• Track record of outstanding research and good publication record.
• Experience of public engagement work is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Pursue independent research within the project framework.
• Build networks with museum professionals and publish articles.

Skills

Research

Public Engagement

Education

Doctorate in a relevant humanities discipline

Job description

Contract type

Fixed-term (12 months) from 1 October 2025 until 30 September 2026

Hours

Full time

About the role

The English Faculty is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate to a one-year fixed-term research post which will support a new collaborative project titled, 'Knotted Histories: Early Modern Global Carpets, Global Exchange and the Public Country House.'

Led by Prof. Nandini Das (Oxford), Dr Francesca Leoni (Ashmolean Museum), Dr Christo Kefalas & Emma Slocombe (National Trust), the project aims to illuminate the latent potential of global carpet collections for rethinking scholarship and heritage sector practice relating to wider histories of production and consumerism, sociability and embodiment, and global networks of exchange. This project will redefine carpet scholarship through a renewed focus on craft makers and manufacture and an examination of structures of cultural meaning across East and South Asia and Europe.

About you

You will pursue your own independent research within this framework, building networks with national and international museum professionals, publishing articles, and will participate in ongoing research and public engagement projects.

You must possess a doctorate in a relevant humanities discipline, have a track record of outstanding research, and have a good publication record. You will ideally have experience of public engagement work.

The duties and skills required are described in further detail in the job description.

Application process

For your online application, you will be required to upload your curriculum vitae and a supporting statement, which outlines your previous research and indicates how you meet the selection criteria for the post. As part of your application you will be asked to provide details of two referees and indicate whether we can contact them now.

For further details, please refer to the How to apply section of the job description.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity we would be interested to hear from you. Please contact Alice Purkiss: [e-mail].

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 6 June 2025. Only applications received before this time can be considered.

Shortlisting is expected to take place the following week and interviews will take place online during the week commencing 16 June 2025.

Please quote Vacancy ID 179690 on all correspondence.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

Contact Person :

Theresa Phillips

Vacancy ID :

179690

Contact Phone :

Closing Date & Time :

06-Jun-2025 12:00

Pay Scale :

STANDARD GRADE 7

Contact Email :

[e-mail]

Salary (£) :

£38,674 to £46,913 per annum