Location: The Stephen A Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG
Contract type: Fixed Term (54 months) from 1 January 2027 until 30 June 2031
Hours: Part Time
About the role
The Faculty of English Language and Literature invites applications for two Postdoctoral Research Assistants to support ‘James Murray and the Correspondence Networks of the Oxford English Dictionary, 1879–1915’, a project led by Dr Stephen Turton and funded by a Starting Grant from the European Research Council. Both posts are part-time (80%) and will run for 54 months (four and a half years). The starting salary is £39,424 (pro-rata) per annum, with annual incremental progression. The two successful candidates will work closely with each other and with Dr Turton throughout the period of employment.
Applicants should indicate in a cover letter whether they are applying for the post of Research Assistant 1 or Research Assistant 2, based on the responsibilities and criteria outlined in the job description.
The project aims to transform the study of English lexicography and allied research fields by creating a research platform based on the letters of James A. H. Murray. From 1879 to 1915, Murray was the chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the foremost historical dictionary of the English language. The letters sent to and by Murray provided him and his colleagues with vital information on words and texts from scholars, authors, and volunteers spread across six continents. Despite the letters’ immense literary, linguistic, and historical value, they have never been systematically edited and published beyond a small pilot edition co-created by Stephen Turton and Charlotte Brewer www.MurrayScriptorium.org.
This project will digitize the largest collection of Murray’s editorial letters, held by Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries.
About you
You will have a PhD/DPhil in English, Linguistics, or a related field, together with experience in handling and transcribing archival materials. You will also have excellent communicative and organizational skills, with an aptitude for collaborative and interdisciplinary work.
The duties and skills required are described in further detail in the job description.
Committed to equality and valuing diversity
£39,424 per annum (pro rata): Grade 7
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant: James Murray and the Correspondence Networks of the Oxford English Dictionary, 1879–1915 employer: University of Oxford
The Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment where finance professionals can thrive. With a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, along with generous benefits such as 38 days of annual leave and a robust family leave scheme, employees are supported in both their professional and personal lives. This role not only provides the opportunity to influence strategic financial decisions within a world-renowned department but also fosters continuous growth and development in a vibrant academic community.
