Research Officer - Bangor University in Bangor

Job Title: Research Officer

Job Number
BU00192
School/Department
School of Modern Languages
Grade
7
Salary Information
Starting Salary: £30,424 p.a. (Grade 7)
Contract Duration
3 years
Responsible to
PVC
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a Research Officer post to work on a collaborative AHRC-funded project on ‘European Travellers to Wales 1750-2010’ involving Bangor University, the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies and Swansea University. The successful candidate will be employed by Bangor University, as lead institution, but will be based in Aberystwyth at the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a multi-disciplinary team in a research institute which has a strong international reputation.

The post is available as a three years fixed term full time post with a start date of 1 June 2013 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Closing date for applications: Monday, 15 April 2013.

Committed To Equal Opportunities
Overview

The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies
The University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies is located in Aberystwyth, adjacent to the National Library of Wales. It is a dedicated research centre which carries out team-based projects on the languages, literatures, culture and history of Wales and the other Celtic countries. Research fellows have privileged access to the National Library’s unrivalled resources. Its standing as a centre of excellence in the field of Celtic Studies was confirmed by the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, in which 35% of its work was judged to be of world-leading standard (4*) and 45% to be internationally excellent (3*). The centre has benefited hugely from the support of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and is currently running projects in the following areas: the early history of the Celtic languages, medieval Welsh literature, Romanticism in Wales 1750-1900, and the place-names of Wales. The Centre also houses the University of Wales Dictionary Unit. For further information on the work of the Centre see http://www.wales.ac.uk/cawcs
The Project

This project examines the representation of Wales and ‘Welshness’ in texts by European travellers from 1750 to 2010, focusing on key points in the period of Welsh modernisation from the Industrial Revolution to the post-devolution era (i.e. French Revolution; Romanticism; Welsh religious revival, 20th century exile). Using expertise in at least seven languages/cultures, the investigation will centre on texts in French and German as these constitute the majority. Works to be studied include travelogues, travel guides, almanacs, encyclopaedias, private correspondences, diaries, creative works and periodical contributions which have Wales as their focus. This important area of study has been neglected, but is central to our understanding of European intercultural relations, the development of Welsh identity and the establishment of the tourist industry in Wales. Throughout, the following research questions will be addressed and problematised:
1. What view of Wales and ‘Welshness’ emerges, and do the texts share common features?
2. To what extent is Wales subsumed under the ‘Celtic’ label? Is Wales perceived differently from other ‘Celtic’ nations, e.g. Scotland and Ireland?
3. Is Wales sexualised or feminised as the exotic, in particular via parallels between the ‘Celtic’ and the ‘Oriental’?
4. What is the role of English travel writing translated into European languages? To what extent are European perceptions of Wales mediated by English culture?
5. How have European perceptions of Wales developed and changed since 1750?
6. Have European perceptions of Wales influenced the development of Welsh cultural identity?
From the mid-eighteenth century, which saw the emergence of the travel narrative as a popular source of information and entertainment, writing about Wales by Europeans has often been embedded in accounts of travel to ‘England’. The current project will draw these out, and by broadening perspectives outwards to encompass European perceptions, will realign the current debate in scholarship on travel writing which has centred primarily on English travellers to Wales.
Purpose of the Job

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr Heather Williams, Co-investigator, at the Centre, and in close contact with the Principal Investigator, Professor Carol Tully (Bangor University), co-investigator Dr Kathryn Jones (Swansea University), two PhD students based at Bangor and Swansea respectively, and the Bangor University Web Team Manager. A strong advisory panel will include experts on travel literature, modern languages and Welsh studies.
Main Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will work on the following project outputs:
1. The development of a project website and database: to include implementation of the digital element of the project via the development and creation of content for the website and database, in consultation with the Bangor University Web Team Manager; development of educational materials and downloadable resources for schools and the public. (These resources aimed at academics as well as the general public and schools, will be transferred to National Library of Wales at the end of project.) Training will be provided.
2. The preparation and development of materials for the project exhibition: to include liaising with curators at Ceredigion Museum to develop the exhibition which is to be hosted by them to coincide with the project conference in 2015; development of a virtual exhibition for the website in parallel with the physical exhibition.
3. Co-organisation of the project conference on ‘Minority Cultures and Travel’, to be held in the summer of 2015 in Aberystwyth.
4. S/he will have the opportunity to produce high quality research, and will be expected to produce three conference papers/ refereed articles based on archival work. The AHRC grant also includes money for the research officer to undertake research trips to key libraries/ archives in the UK and Europe.
Other Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be able to take full advantage of the resources of the National Library of Wales, gain experience of museum curation, education liaison and database/website development.
Person Specification

The successful candidate will require the following skills, aptitudes, abilities and knowledge in order to perform effectively in the post:

Essential

A PhD or close to completion of in a relevant field
A good first degree in Modern Languages or another relevant discipline.
A strong general interest in travel literature and Welsh historical and cultural contexts.
Near-native knowledge of French and / or German
Experience in literary historiography.
A working knowledge of Microsoft Word / Excel / E-mail and the Internet
A proven ability to produce research of high quality and/or published work
Desirable
The ability to speak, read, write and understand Welsh.
Personal Attributes

Proven project management skills
Demonstrate competency in computer skills including website and database development.
Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work well within a research team.
The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
The ability to prioritise work without compromising standards.
An energetic, resourceful and flexible approach to the requirements of the post.
General
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references

Deadline: 15/04/2013

How to Apply:

https://jobs.bangor.ac.uk/details.php.en?id=QLYFK026203F3VBQB7V68LOTX&nPostingID=600&nPostingTargetID=616&mask=stdext&lg=UK