Postdoctoral Research Associate in Food Studies

The School is one of the largest and most successful Schools of Modern Languages and Cultures in the UK. Over the past two decades, the School has developed a distinctive profile in the transnational and interdisciplinary study of literary and cultural studies, bringing together culture research in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hispanic Studies, Italian, Japanese and Russian Studies.

Research activity of faculty and students extends from the medieval period to the present and embraces a range of theoretical and methodological orientations, covering a wide range of research activities in the School: medieval and early modern studies, the relationship between the sciences and the humanities, gender and sexuality studies, critical and cultural theory, the transnational study of literature, translation, and food studies. Indeed, food studies, understood in its broad sense of an interdisciplinary approach to examine the cultural capital attached to food but also its sensory, material and experiential aspects- captures the intellectual curiosity that underpins the School's collective practice.

The School's forward-thinking research agenda was highlighted in its major conference 'Our Uncommon Ground', held in Durham in 2018, and a further conference 'Where Are We Now? The Location of Modern Languages and Cultures' took place in April 2023. These conferences brought together speakers from across the world to articulate and embrace the values of a discipline equipped to study cultures and their interactions in historical perspective. The School has been awarded the lead of a Horizon Europe Cluster II grant in 2024 to examine the relationship between cultural heritage and foodway, and it is embarking in an exciting project to promote world-class research in the field supported by the School's leadership of research centres and institutes, such as the Centre for Visual Arts and Culture, the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, the Centre for Culture and Ecology, the Institute of Medical Humanities, and the Institute of Advanced Study, which promotes world-class research across the Faculties. Within the School, staff and postgraduates are brought together in interdisciplinary discussions and collaboration through a set of research groups.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate with a PhD in the Humanities or Humanistic Social Sciences by January 2025.

This position is part of RELISH, a 36-month project funded by Horizon Europe Pillar II, Cluster 4 on Cultural Heritage 2024. Led by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University, RELISH (Re-framing European gastronomy Legacy through Innovation, Sustainability and Heritage), working with eleven other European partners, offers a pathway to put into practice culinary recipes and food culture as cultural and digital tools to strengthen EU's common cultural heritage. Through an innovative and systematic approach to the understanding and use of traditional EU recipes via digital and AI-powered technology, it embarks on the production of a visual and verbal food storytelling web platform that aims to mediate social cohesion, reinforce EU cultural heritage transmission at home and abroad through education and public engagement, while addressing sustainable practices in the EU hospitality sector.

In addition to the doctoral degree in the required area, successful candidates should have a clear research agenda concerned with Food Studies, Social Justice, and/or Food Sustainability as well as experience with project management and event planning. Experience in public and/or digital humanities is welcome but not required.

• To assist the faculty Principal Investigator (PI) or Grant-holder in administering the project, acting as internal and external communication lead.
• To work in the Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication (DEC) work package led by DU for the project under the direction of the PI or Grant-holder by generating and coordinating open-access digital content related to the project.
• To participate in the scholarly work of the project by being capable to understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To participate in the scheduled consortium meetings and organised events, supporting the overall project management and DEC work package, and to participate in events to build and sustain scholarly community around RELISH.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder, including reports and documents as part of the programmed deliverables and milestones for the project.
• To edit and proofread documents prepared for submission to the EU as part of RELISH.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals related to tasks programmed for the grant and to conduct individual projects and participate in collaborative projects as part of RELISH under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.

This post is fixed-term for 36 months, for the duration of the RELISH project, from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.