Head of Ancient Studies at Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (1.0 FTE)

Updated: over 2 years ago
Deadline: 05 Nov 2021

Organisation

The Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR) is an inter-university academic research and training institute managed by the University of Groningen. The KNIR mainly focuses on ancient studies/archaeology, art history, and history, but also on the broader domain of the social sciences and humanities and their adjacent disciplines. The KNIR has a total of 14 academic and support staff members, led by a professor-director.

The culture and history of Italy, from Antiquity until today, are central to our teaching and research activities. Particular attention is paid to the city of Rome as an object of study ánd as a centre for scholarly practice, with its unparalleled collections, archives, and depots. In addition to their individual research profiles, the academic staff members also work together at the interfaces of these disciplines. For instance, collaborative research and teaching of the staff revolves around the long and intricate history of the reception of classical Antiquity as a source of inspiration.

The KNIR also lends its facilities to other disciplines in Dutch higher education, in particular to those that maintain a relationship with Italy. The KNIR operates in a strongly international context, and promotes contact between Dutch researchers and the Italian and foreign academic institutes in Rome.

The KNIR is supported from the Netherlands by an Academic Advisory Board, comprising members from the six universities participating in the KNIR as well as members from outside academia.


Job description

As from 1 January 2022, we need a new Head of Ancient Studies.

We are looking for a driven and inspiring colleague for the position of Head of Ancient Studies. Together with the Head of History, Head of Art History, and the academic Director, the candidate will develop the research and training programme of the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR). Research and teaching are closely integrated in mostly small-scale and intensive teaching activities. The candidate must hold a PhD and operate at the level of lecturer-researcher (e.g. assistant professor or associate professor) with plenty of research and teaching experience in the field of classics, ancient history, and/or the culture and archaeology of Rome and Italy.

The Head of Ancient Studies creates a bridge between Dutch and Italian colleagues and institutes, and fosters international collaborations in research and teaching. The candidate should be familiar with the Dutch academic infrastructure concerning the study of antiquity and classics in the broadest sense, and have the right stature to successfully represent the interests of the Dutch academic community abroad.

Tasks:
• conduct and present leading research, thereby strengthening and/or deepening the research profile of the KNIR
• organize academic meetings at the KNIR; initiate activities in collaboration with partner institutions in the Netherlands and in Rome/Italy
• develop attractive courses for students of (mostly) Dutch universities, in Dutch and English. This includes the classic courses at the KNIR lasting 10-15 days, which are structured around excursions, as well as more practical training in small groups, focused on research skills, such as in the new KNIR laboratory for material culture and digital applications
• supervise students (Bachelor, Master and Research Master) and PhD students; advise other researchers at the KNIR
• establish and support Dutch heritage projects in Rome/Italy/the Mediterranean area in research, teaching, and/or outreach activities
• draft and edit institutional publications, such as the KNIR Papers series, and/or digital platforms on the ancient world and archaeology
• initiate and promote contact between Dutch and Italian institutions (universities and research institutes, research projects and consortia, research schools, partner institutions in Rome/Italy, heritage services, museums, and other heritage institutions).


Qualifications

• a PhD in a research area relevant to the position
• a strong research profile, apparent from research projects, collaborations, funding, and international publications focused on the ancient world and/or its reception
• ample teaching experience at the Bachelor, Master, and Research Master level; having obtained the UTQ is a plus
• active knowledge of Dutch, Italian, and English; sufficient skills in other modern foreign languages as well as in Latin is a plus
• organizational and editing experience
• a clear interest in interdisciplinary collaboration in research and teaching
• excellent social and representative skills: you are proactive and independent but also a team-player, with inspiration, enthusiasm and flexibility.


Conditions of employment

Candidates eligible for appointment include those with a running employment contract (either temporary or permanent) at one of the six universities that together comprise the NWIB (Dutch Academic Institutions Abroad): the University of Amsterdam, the University of Groningen, Leiden University, Radboud University, Utrecht University, and VU Amsterdam. Candidates outside these institutions may also be considered, in which case a suitable solution must be found regarding secondment to the KNIR from a Dutch university.

The appointment is initially for a period of three years, after which it is possible to extend the appointment by another three years. The salary for this position is in accordance with the candidate’s current appointment at the deploying university, supplemented in compliance with the allowance regulation established for the KNIR to cover extra costs in accommodation, traveling etc.


Information

For information you can contact:

Dr Tesse D. Stek, Academic Director,   [email protected]

(please do not use the email addresses above for applications)



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