PhD scholarship at the School of Humanities
The University of Iceland invites applications for a PhD scholarship at the School of Humanities (Institute of Literature and Visual Arts) in connection with the research project ‘Emotion and the Medieval Self in Northern Europe’, funded by RANNÍS, the Icelandic Centre For Research. The post is fixed-term for 3 years starting from the date of the signature of the contract or at the latest on 1 September 2019.
Field of work
This project’s hypothesis is that medieval selfhood, or a sense of self, can be located through textual evidence, more particularly through its representation via emotive performativity in medieval literary texts. The performance of emotion is viewed as both a conventionalised (social and cultural) gesture and as evidence of a perception of selfhood, as instances of emotive performance by definition suggest a presumed self that is capable of experiencing and sustaining emotion. The concept of emotive performativity – the gestural, vocal or metaphorical staging of emotions – thus serves as a theoretical bridge to explore questions of selfhood, interiority and the history of emotion across Northern Europe.
The project combines a linguistic and literary approach to enable a more holistic understanding of textual emotions – as both linguistic and literary phenomena – and of how their staging may generate or mediate a sense of self. The intent is to establish cross-cultural evidence of a medieval sense of selfhood – represented via the performance of emotions – that may be culturally, linguistically or generically contingent.
The project leader is Sif Ríkharðsdóttir, Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Iceland, and the international research team consists of Carolyne Larrington at the University of Oxford, Frank Brandsma at Utrecht University, Þórhallur Eyþórsson at the University of Iceland and Massimiliano Bampi at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
The PhD candidate will collaborate with the research group at the University of Iceland. The tasks of the PhD candidate include undertaking research relevant to the project goals, prepare research publications, present papers at appropriate scholarly conferences and meetings and assist with the administration of the project. The candidate must fulfil requirements made by the University of Iceland for doctoral studies.
Qualification requirements
Applicants must have a Master's degree (equivalent to first grade) in Comparative Literature, medieval studies or Nordic (or Germanic) Studies. Applicants who are able to demonstrate knowledge in emotion studies and/or linguistic knowledge across the research area will be prioritised. Candidates should be able to demonstrate good written and spoken skills in English.
The candidate will be enrolled in the doctoral programme in Comparative Literature at the University of Iceland. The selected candidate must send an application for a PhD studentship at the University of Iceland in collaboration with the chosen supervisor and be accepted before the grant can be awarded formally and a contract can be signed. Applications outside regular deadlines are accepted for this position. Candidates currently enrolled can apply for the grant. The grant period begins upon signature of the contract or at the latest on 1 September 2019. Information on how to apply for the doctoral programme in at the School of Humanities is available here: http://hugvis.hi.is/phd_studies.
Application process
The application should include:
• CV
• Statement of purpose (1 ̶ 2 pages)
• Certificates of Education (BA/BS and MA/MSc degree)
• Two reference letters with contact information
All applications will be answered and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made. Applications may be valid for six months.
Salaries follow the standardised wage agreements between the Association of University Teachers (Félag háskólakennara, www.fh.hi.is) and the Ministry of Finances.
Appointments to positions at the University of Iceland are made in consideration of the Equal Rights Policy of the University of Iceland.
The University of Iceland has a special Language Policy.
Specialized assistance and practical support is offered to all incoming international staff and their families on various issues related to moving to Iceland. More information can be found at the University of Iceland website, International Staff Service.
Further information
For further information please contact Eirkur Smári Sigurðsson, Director of Research, School of Humanities, esmari@hi.is
Application deadline
Application deadline is 15 March 2019 (midnight GMT).
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://english.hi.is/vacancies