SRS Research Fellow, Palaeography Teaching in Scotland Audit

Job Description, Person Specification & Timetable

As a long-established scholarly publishing society, the SRS has an interest in the teaching of palaeography skills. Whilst an unknown number of Higher Education (HE) and Heritage institutions in Scotland, e.g. archives, libraries, museums and other publishing societies, provide training and resources, there is no one format or standard for palaeography tuition. More importantly, good practice in one archive or classroom might not be known to others undertaking palaeography teaching, which reduces the impact of good practice. Indeed, if such palaeography skills and good practice are not consciously supported and encouraged, fewer people will undertake to learn such skills, which means fewer authors will be able to seek publication with a scholarly publishing society.

Job Description: SRS Research Fellow, Palaeography Teaching in Scotland Audit

The SRS Palaeography Teaching in Scotland Audit aims to gain an understanding of the range of teaching of palaeography in Scotland within universities, colleges, institutions and communities, and of the teaching tools and resources available to them, including online and published material.

Key aims

1. Understanding the sector – this discrete audit project is intended to help the SRS understand how critical palaeography skills are taught across Scotland, with select comparisons to elsewhere in the UK.
2. Quality Assurance and Enhancement – a published report and symposium stemming from the project will support best practice in teaching palaeography across the HE and Heritage sectors, both in Scotland and farther afield.
3. Networking – part of the audit project is to raise awareness of the work of the SRS, and to facilitate connections and sharing of practice between colleagues working in relevant fields.

Outputs

It is expected that the researcher will present two interim progress reports, followed by a final report at the conclusion of their work. It is expected the researcher will carry out the research phase in two months, before writing up their findings during the third month.

Two main public outputs are envisaged:

1. A public symposium on the subject, to which the researcher will be expected to contribute a paper based on their findings. The SRS will organise the event, but the researcher will be expected to assist.
2. An article written by the postholder which would develop their findings, and be suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal such as Scottish Archives. The SRS will advise the researcher whilst they are seeking publication.

The project is funded for three months full-time research, although depending on personal circumstances, part-time working or a flexible timescale may be considered and agreed to at the outset. The amount of grant will be £7,000. Payment of the grant will be by instalments following approval of three monthly reports to the SRS, and a final payment on acceptance of the article for publication.

Applicants may be invited to attend an interview, either in person or online depending on circumstances.

Duties

• Research and summarise the palaeography courses or other teaching currently offered in Scotland
• Contact the principal people engaged in the above teaching, in order to learn about their aims, and the scope and methods of their teaching
• Identify common areas between them
• Identify gaps
• Make recommendations for improving delivery of teaching

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

• Knowledge and experience of Scottish Palaeography
• Research experience
• Excellent communication skills, written, oral and digital (preferably Teams or Zoom)
• Competence with relevant digital technologies (email, spreadsheets, word documents, etc.)
• Organisational skills – ability to plan and carry out project work
• Self-starter – ability to work without constant supervision
• Applicant should already hold a university degree
• Access to their own laptop or PC

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of teaching palaeography
• Postgraduate qualification in relevant subject
• Experience of publishing their own original research

To Apply

To apply, send a CV (no more than 2 pages) with contact details for two references (to be contacted post-interview only) and cover letter (a single side A4) laying out why you are interested and how you meet the criteria for the person specification. Please send your application and any queries to Dr Aaron Allen via the ‘Apply’ button above (e: Aaron.Allen@ed.ac.uk), with a subject line reading ‘SRS Research Fellow, Palaeography Teaching in Scotland Audit’. 

The closing date is 5pm on Friday, 8^th May 2026. It is expected that interviews will happen on Saturday 23^rd May, with a suggested start date of 8^th June, though the timeline can be discussed.

The Scottish Record Society (SRS)

The Scottish Record Society is one of Scotland’s oldest historical societies, and is dedicated to publishing calendars, indexes and texts of historical records.

It aims to promote the study of the historical records of Scotland by commissioning and editing works of appropriate significance, and by the publication of approved and contextualised original documents and of calendars and indices of public records and private muniments relating to Scotland of value to historians and genealogists.

https://www.scottishrecordsociety.org.uk/

Scottish registered charity SC032276