Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Early Medieval Manuscript Studies and Germanic Philology

November 1st 2025 – October 31st 2028 – University of Göttingen – Institut für Digital Humanities

The University of Göttingen, a Public Law Foundation, is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Early Medieval Manuscript Studies and Germanic Philology (TV-L E13, full-time, 100%). The position begins November 1, 2025, and is fixed-term until October 31, 2028.

This exciting opportunity is part of the INSULAR project, selected for funding by the European Research Council (ERC AdG 2023) and supported by UKRI. Led by Professor Joanna Story (University of Leicester), the Göttingen-based components are co-directed by Dr. Anna Dorofeeva, with Göttingen serving as the primary workplace.

About the Role

The successful candidate will take a leading role in Work Package 7b, focused on the contextual analysis of Insular manuscripts containing Germanic vernacular glosses (e.g. Old High German, Old Saxon, Old Frisian) written in ink and drypoint. Responsibilities include:

• Analysing and mapping vernacular glosses in manuscripts using Insular script.
• Working with Linked Open Data, IIIF imagery, and AI-based transcription tools (e.g. Transkribus, eScriptorium).
• Contributing to the design and development of the INSULAR database.
• Conducting research trips and presenting findings at national/international events.
• Supporting collaborative efforts across multiple Work Packages and contributing to future funding initiatives.

Candidate Profile

Essential qualifications include:

• PhD in History, Germanic Philology, or related fields with a focus on the early Middle Ages.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written), good knowledge of German, Latin, and at least one medieval Germanic language.
• Experience with medieval manuscript studies and/or palaeography.
• Familiarity with computational linguistics or database work.
• Independent, precise, and team-oriented work ethic.

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of Old Irish.
• Experience with transcription software and digital humanities tools (e.g. Python, R, NLP, GIS).
• Skills in image processing or machine learning.

Interviews will take place around August 25, 2025.
For questions, please contact Dr. Anna Dorofeeva at anna.dorofeeva@uni-goettingen.de or call +49 (0)551 39-26791.

The University of Göttingen values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. Women, individuals with disabilities, and those with caregiving responsibilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Apply online by July 14, 2025 via the official portal: Application Link