Job opportunity: Research assistantship in the Department of Early Irish, Maynooth University (SCRÍBHINN Project)
The Department of Early Irish at Maynooth University is pleased to invite applications for a research assistant position in the project SCRÍBHINN: Scribal Culture in Medieval Irish Schools of Law and Medicine (2025-2026), led by Dr Chantal Kobel.
The central aim of SCRÍBHINN is to advance our understanding of the nature and scope of scribal culture and knowledge exchange intersecting medieval Irish schools of law and medicine, ca. 1350-1650. The vernacular Irish legal and medical manuscripts and their contents at the heart of this project will shed new light on medieval Irish writing practices and scribal training in these professional schools of learning. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, including Celtic Studies, manuscript studies, law and medicine, this project will enhance our comprehension of the manuscript tradition in medieval Irish schools of law and medicine as evidenced through their book production and the circulation of texts, and will seek to place late medieval Irish scribal culture within the broader context of European book history.
The research assistant will work together with the principal investigator, Dr Chantal Kobel, and will be expected to contribute and complete a set of tasks required to advance the project. The tasks will include:
- Conducting literature reviews of relevant scholarship
- Transcribing scribal marginalia from a selection of medieval Irish manuscripts
- Compiling bibliographic records of relevant texts in medieval Irish manuscripts
- Engaging in public outreach activities
- Reporting to the project leader on a regular basis
- Ensuring that project milestones are met in a timely fashion
This is a 1-month (f/t, 40 hours per week) or 2-month (p/t, 20 hours per week), specified purpose position. The place of work is the campus of Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. However, the option of remote work will also be considered. The start-date is negotiable but must be before Friday, 26 September 2025. The remuneration for the assistantship will be on the IUA Salary Scale, RA L1 Pt 1 (€16.55 per hour).
Applicants should satisfy the following criteria:
Essential:
- An honours degree (Bachelor’s and/or Masters) in a relevant discipline
- Recently completed or currently completing a Masters or PhD in Celtic Studies
- Knowledge of Old, Middle and/or Early Modern Irish
- Demonstrable palaeographical skills
- Good administrative, computer, organizational and teamwork skills
- Ability to write well in English
Desirable
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience working with bibliographic reference resources and manuscript catalogues
Please submit the following application material by email to chantal.kobel@mu.ie before midnight on Friday, 30 May 2025:
- Cover letter (max. 2 pages) expressing interest and experience
- CV, which includes the names and contact details of two academic referees
- Writing sample (e.g. an academic essay/article or section of MA dissertation)
The Selection Panel will shortlist candidates for interview, which will take place remotely in June. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by email.