New Chair in Medieval Studies

Closing Date: 23rd March 2012

This is a major strategic investment by the University to achieve an ambitious improvement in academic performance and enhanced student experience.

Applications are invited for a Chair in Medieval Studies, to be held within the Institute for Medieval Studies [IMS], which is attached to the School of History. This is a new chair, which is intended to foster and develop the interdisciplinary work of the IMS, to enhance its research profile, and to provide academic leadership for the community of medievalists in the University of Leeds. In particular, the new professor would be expected to develop interdisciplinary and cross-School co-operation among all Leeds medievalists, both in teaching and research, to develop large-scale and collaborative research projects, to attract a significant range of external funding, and to maximise, as appropriate, the potential of the Institute's key assets in terms of student education and research. The successful candidate will be returnable to the history subject panel for research assessment exercises

The person appointed will be a major scholar in his / her own right, with an internationally recognised reputation, and who will be expected to play a leading role in enhancing the interdisciplinary teaching of the IMS and in the supervision of research students. However, he / she will also be required to co-ordinate the work of the other senior medievalists (most of whom are attached to particular academic schools rather than primarily to the IMS), to create a more unified and dynamic research environment for Medieval Studies, to enhance existing national and international links, develop research collaboration and networks, increase the extent of external sponsorship, and to enhance the impact of IMS research and the employability of IMS graduates, especially in academia, the heritage industry and the creative economy. The professor will act as Director of the Institute in the first instance and report to the Head of the School of History.

The University of Leeds has a long tradition of excellence in Medieval Studies and currently has high-quality staff who teach and research on the Middle Ages in the Schools of English, Fine Art, History, and Modern Languages and Culture. In addition, the Brotherton Library is one of the finest libraries in the UK for medieval researchers, with outstanding resources in medieval history, languages and literature, and significant collections of rare books and medieval manuscripts. The new professor will be expected to utilise these resources to the full while bringing greater coherence and co-ordination to medieval studies within the university.

For the more information about the University's academic leadership recruitment drive and the further particulars on the Chair in Medieval Studies go to http://www.universityofleedschairs.co.uk/history-medieval-studies.php.

Preliminary enquiries about the post should be directed to our retained consultancy firm, Perrett Laver on +44 (0)20 7340 6200, email IMS-Leeds@perrettlaver.com, or visit www.perrettlaver.com, quoting reference number 0995/7.

This page is owned by Institute for Medieval Studies and was last updated on 2 February, 2012