Postdoctoral Research Associate in Papyrology (Coptic Papyri)

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Papyrology (Coptic Papyri) to support the work of Dr Chiara Meccariello in the Department of Classics, Ancient History, Religion and Theology. The post is available on a fixed-term basis for two years from 1 October 2025.

The successful applicant will join the research team of the project Education in Graeco-Roman Egypt: An Intercultural Approach (EduGRE), directed by Dr Chiara Meccariello and funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant. The project will comprehensively collate and analyse all school artefacts from Graeco-Roman Egypt, including Egyptian, Greek and Latin material, to set Graeco-Roman education in its specific Egyptian context and explore the interplay of cultural traditions in educational practices as well as the connection between education and evolving political and religious landscapes.

The postholder will collaborate with the other team members on the creation of an online platform which will house born-digital editions of papyri and related material in Greek, Latin, Demotic and Coptic, as well as images and 3D reconstructions of relevant artefacts. The postholder will be responsible for the Coptic material. As well as populating the platform with editions of papyri, ostraca and tablets, the postholder will also produce original research on ancient education based on this material, with particular focus on the development of new contexts and methods of education in late antiquity. The postholder will also be expected to co-organise and take part in project-related events and activities.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or be nearing completion) or an equivalent qualification/experience in Egyptology, Classics, Ancient History or a related field of study. They will be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in Papyrology and associated methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will have linguistic proficiency in Coptic and experience working with a range of ancient sources, including papyri and related materials.

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

For further information please contact Dr Chiara Meccariello at [email protected].

Please note that three postdoctoral positions in Papyrology, each with a different specialism, are being advertised simultaneously as part of the same project. Qualified candidates are welcome to apply for more than one position. In this case, it will suffice to submit a single application, provided the applicant clearly states in the cover letter which positions they wish to be considered for and how they meet the criteria for each.