Research Associate (Syriac)

Job reference: HUM-031731
Salary: £37,694 - £42,254 per annum depending on experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Humanities
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology & Egyptology
Hours Per Week: Full time (1 FTE)
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 05/08/2026
Contract Duration: Fixed term until 31st March 2031 (approx. 54 months depending on start date)
School/Directorate: School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Research Associate (Syriac)

The University of Manchester is seeking a committed and engaged postdoctoral researcher to join the ERC-funded project ‘Gesius’ Commentaries on Galen: Recovering lost works through a mixed-method approach’. You will contribute to reading the Syriac undertext scattered among the five Gesius palimpsests, and edit, translate, and study it in its historical and linguistic context.

You will be responsible for:

• Transcribe the erased Syriac text
• Translate the Syriac materials into English
• Study the historical and linguistic context of the Syriac translations
• Contribute productively to the multidisciplinary approach being taken in this project
• Produce work of suitable quality for publication in peer-reviewed journals

The project is based in Manchester and your physical presence will, for the most part, be required here. There will also be opportunities for research trips to conferences, workshops, and libraries, as well as further professional development.

About You

You will have a PhD or equivalent in hand at the time of application in Syriac Studies or a related area, and you will have an excellent command of Syriac. You will possess good communication skills and the ability and enthusiasm to work as part of a team.

Essential Criteria

• A very good first degree or MA (at least high 2:1, Merit).
• An awarded PhD in Syriac Studies or a related field.
• Excellent command of Syriac.
• Ability to conduct innovative research on Syriac texts and manuscripts in general.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of Classical Greek.
• Knowledge of Arabic.
• Experience with medical, scientific, or philosophical texts in Greek, Syriac, or Arabic.
• Familiarity with codicology and palimpsest studies and the methods used to read erased texts.
• Knowledge of Digital Humanities tools, such as SketchEngine, and corpus linguistics.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

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Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Peter Pormann

Email Address: peter.pormann@manchester.ac.uk 

General enquiries and administrative support

recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

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