Assistant Professor in Renaissance Italian Literature and Culture [Temporary Cover]

Location: Central Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge is seeking to appoint a full-time temporary Assistant Professor of Renaissance Italian Literature and Culture from 1 September 2026, for two years until 31 August 2028. The Section will provide career development and mentoring for the successful candidate and is strongly committed to equality, diversity and inclusiveness. 

The Assistant Professor will be expected to contribute to the teaching and examining of the literature and culture of Renaissance Italy at undergraduate and postgraduate level. They will collaborate in the teaching of the period in the Italian Section and more broadly across the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics; they will build teaching and research partnerships with other Faculties in Cambridge, as appropriate to their teaching and research specialism. A track record of teaching and/or research in related interdisciplinary fields, including in visual culture is highly desirable. The role includes a contribution to the administration of the Italian Section's activities and those of the Faculty more broadly. We welcome applicants with a record of excellence in research, commensurate with their career stage, and a strong trajectory. 

Candidates will have relevant teaching experience, have successfully completed a PhD in a relevant field by the start date for the post and be able to demonstrate active, collegial engagement in research, teaching and outreach in Italian and Renaissance Studies and in Modern and Medieval Languages more widely. An excellent command of both Italian and English is essential. 

For your application to be considered please ensure that you upload the following documents to your online application:

• A Covering letter
• Your Curriculum Vitae, including a full list of publications and the names of three referees who are familiar with your work
• A sample of written work, research or scholarship and directly related to the field of the post, in English or Italian. This can be work that is published or work in progress, and it should be a single piece of work (as opposed to two shorter pieces). The maximum length is 8,000 words, including footnotes. You may redact parts of the sample if it is a longer piece, but the selection committee will stop reading at 8,000 words.

References will be requested for selected candidates in early May 2026. Candidates should ensure that referees are able and willing to act at this point before naming them in their application.

The closing date for applications is midnight (GMT) on Thursday 23 April 2026. It is expected that interviews will take place in the week commencing 18 May 2026, subject to change.

Temporary cover: This post is fixed-term until 31 August 2028 or the return of the post holder, whichever is the earlier.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above. 

Prospective candidates are welcome to seek more information beyond the Further Particulars by contacting Professor Robert Gordon, Director of Italian, at rscg1@cam.ac.uk. For questions about the application process, please contact the School HR team on MMLLPersonnel@admin.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference GM49140 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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