Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Plague Pandemics in the Caucasus, c.1346-1700

Applications are invited for an ERC Synergy/UKRI-funded position of a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Stirling. The role holder will examine the history of the Second Plague Pandemic in the Caucasus (broadly defined, including eastern Anatolia). On the basis of original sources, published and unpublished, the research fellow will reconstruct the spatio-temporal contours of recurrent plague waves in the region, their origins, natural environment, spread and impact on local communities, as well as the latter’s response.

The advertised position is offered as part of the project “SYNERGY PLAGUE: Reconstructing the environmental and societal drivers of plague outbreaks in Eurasia between 1300 and 1900” (www.synergy-plague.org). The project is part of a much larger ERC Synergy project, involving an international interdisciplinary team, led by four PIs: Slavin, Stenseth, Büntgen and Sebbane. The main objective of the project is to improve our understanding about the ecologies and spread mechanisms of plague during the Second Pandemic, all over Eurasia and North Africa. The project is strongly interdisciplinary in character, involving a team of epidemiological modelling (Stenseth), palaeo-climatology (Büntgen), plague biology (Sebanne) and history (Slavin). The project aims to produce various outputs, from co-authored journal articles to a research monograph.

Description of duties

• Plan and manage their own research activity, as discussed with and approved by the Project Leader (Prof. Slavin), and meet objectives and deadlines in collaboration with the project’s Project Lead.
• Liaise with and report to the Project Leader regularly, at least once per month, about the project.
• Liaise with the other project leaders (PIs).
• Attend regular project and editorial meetings as required (via TEAMS and occasionally in person).
• Travel to relevant libraries, manuscript repositories and archives in the Caucasus and Europe, to conduct research (involving digitisation of sources) and attend workshops and conferences.

Essential Criteria

• The candidates must, by the time of appointment, have completed a PhD (or equivalent) in one of the following disciplines: Armenian history, Caucasian history, or another related discipline.

• Experience with late-medieval/early modern sources from the Caucasus (especially Armenia), including work with unpublished manuscripts.
• Experience in preparing research findings for publication or presentation at conferences.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.
• Excellent knowledge of at least Classical and modern Armenian; however, a preference will be given to a candidate with additional languages, including Classical Georgian, Middle/early modern Persian, and Ottoman Turkish.

• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work independently.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to prioritise workload.
• Proven ability to interact effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Evidence of enthusiasm in engaging in activities addressing and/or involving non-academic publics.

For further information, including a full description of duties, essential criteria and details on how to apply, please see Vacancy details | University of Stirling.

£38,249 to £45,413 per annum (Grade 7)