MHRA Research Fellow

Location: Singleton Campus, Swansea

About The Role

The postholder’s main role will be to work through Swansea with the general editors and appropriate volume editors. They will gain experience in text comparison (manuscripts vs. first editions), the collation and editing of paralipomena, compiling bibliographies, text preparation for publication, cross-referencing, indexing, and searching for references to the relevant work in the Nachlass. They will develop team-working skills in a collaborative research project. The editors’ philosophy is that the volumes are for readers in the first instance (scholars can consult the online materials or visit the Central Library in Zurich). As the unpublished resources are often so extensive in many cases there is an intellectually creative as well as strictly philological element to this work: the objective is not completeness but to produce an edition which enhances readers’ appreciation of the work.

In addition, the postholder will be integrated into the AHRC-DFG funded project ‘Elias Canetti and the British in a European Context: Exile, Reception, Appropriation’ (2024-27), which is led by Sven Hanuschek in Munich and Julian Preece in Swansea and includes a shared postdoc who will be resident in Swansea from 1 October 2025. This concurrent project provides many opportunities, for example, in outreach work through a travelling pop-up exhibition and in conference organization and preparation. The conference in September 2026 will be an excellent opportunity for the postholder to present their work. 

The MHRA research fellow will also have opportunities to contribute to some teaching in the German section, which will be renumerated separately.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh. Applicants for a role where Welsh skills are essential are expected to present their application in Welsh and will be interviewed in Welsh, if shortlisted.

Additional Information

Applications for this role will take the format of a CV submission and cover letter.

The appointment is funded by the Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA), which exists to promote high-quality scholarship in English and the Modern Languages. It does this by publishing journals and monographs and by supporting major research projects. The successful applicant will hold the title ‘MHRA Research Fellow’. Candidates should be aware of the expectation that they will work for the most part at Swanea University, commuting there if need be. Variations can be agreed with the MHRA (for instance where access to archives is key or the successful candidate holds more than one post) but the award is not intended to fund distance working. 

Closing Date: 29 May 2025

Interview Date: 17 June 2025

Informal Enquiries

• Julian Preece j.e.preece@swansea.ac.uk
• Geraldine Lublin g.lublin@swansea.ac.uk

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