Research Assistant: Social Life of Medieval Canon Law - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

1. Introduction

How does the medieval body of texts known as 'canon law' reflect social and moral ideas? With a combination of AI and an advanced dataset, can we reveal patterns in the transmission and alteration of these ideas over time? Join the SOLEMNE project as a research assistant to explore these questions and more.

2. Job description

The medieval body of texts known as 'canon law' not only regulates strictly religious or ecclesiastical issues but also communicates social and moral ideas about the inner life of society. With an advanced dataset and novel AI techniques, it is possible to chart how such ideas are transmitted, appropriated, altered, and promoted in canonical collections. As a research assistant you will contribute to this study by expanding its data entry and training AI models.

This one-year position is part of the project 'The Social Life of Early Medieval Normative Texts' (SOLEMNE), funded through an ERC Consolidator Grant awarded to Dr Sven Meeder. A fuller description of the project can be found here. The SOLEMNE project aims to describe and contextualise the spread of social norms as articulated through specific combinations of canons in a bottom-up approach starting from the vast corpus of manuscript witnesses of canonical collections in every shape and form (4th-12th centuries). A dynamic dataset forms an essential element of the project, combined with an innovative digital tool that allows for queries of shared content in canonical collections or manuscripts and of levels of affinity based on combinations of authoritative statements.

In close collaboration with the project's postdoctoral researcher, associated data scientists, and development team, you will (i) contribute to the design of the database to store the information regarding original medieval manuscripts preserving individual canons and entire canonical collections, and scholarly editions of these texts, (ii) play a key role in training handwritten text recognition (HTR) models using eScriptorium software as well as AI-driven models for correction and normalisation of the transcription, (iii) populate the database with the data gathered from the original documents and printed reference works, (iv) contribute to the wider communication of the project's results, including materials intended for a general audience, and (v) cooperate closely with all of SOLEMNE’s subprojects.

3. Profile

• You should hold an RMA, MA or MPhil degree in Late Antique, Medieval or Legal History (if the degree has not yet been obtained at the time of application, a statement by your supervisor should confirm that it will be obtained by the time of appointment).
• You possess well-developed research skills, clear descriptive and analytical abilities, and some experience with palaeography and manuscript studies.
• You have an affinity with Digital Humanities and a willingness to acquire or expand your digital skillset. Experience in working with unstructured or structured data (XML, JSON) and in managing databases will be an advantage.
• You must have excellent competence in English, a good command of Latin, and passive knowledge of the relevant modern languages.
• You are an independent thinker.
• You should be willing to work collaboratively in an international research team. 

4. We are

The supervisory team consists of Dr Sven Meeder and Dr Gleb Schmidt, but you will work closely with all current and future team members of the SOLEMNE project. The research is embedded in the Radboud Institute for Culture and History (RICH).

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 1 year.
• Your salary within salary scale 7 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Dr Sven Meeder. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The interviews will take place in the last week of August. You will preferably start your employment on 1 October 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.