[Job Vacancy] Doctoral Research Scholarships on the ERC–funded project PIETRA

Job Opportunities

National University of Ireland Galway

COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND CELTIC STUDIES
SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURES AND CULTURES

DOCTORAL RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS

Funded PhDs (3 positions available)

Introduction

Three Research-based Doctoral (PhD) Scholarships are available to work on the ERC–funded project PIETRA. The doctoral scholarships, fully funded by the European Research Council, have a start date of September 2022.

Context

PIETRA is the first, large-scale, multilingual study of the translation products and processes that underpin communication in global religion. The project focuses on translation practices in the institution of the Catholic Church and the multilingual communication of religious messages against a background of technological change. It poses key research questions relating to consistency of message in a large multilingual institution across different languages, cultures and communicative formats. PIETRA analyses the translation processes and products of the Catholic Church across three different media (print, web and social media) and in two different time periods to advance understandings of how multilingual dissemination intersects with technological change and institutional ideology. PIETRA combines the latest advances in empirical translation research, data capture and analytics, with sociological and ethnographic investigations to form a model for the analysis of the products and processes of large-scale multilingual dissemination.

The successful candidates will be housed at NUI Galway, within the Moore Institute under the supervision of Prof. Anne O’Connor and a Graduate Research Committee.  The candidates will be part of a team of researchers including post-doctoral researchers and research assistants.

PhD 1: Translation and SOCIAL MEDIA

The PhD student working on this work package will focus on translation in the context of an institutional social media account. The candidate will work on analysing translations into Arabic and must have excellent language skills in this area.

PhD 2: Translation and NEWS WEBSITES

In this work package the PhD student will focus on translational activities in the context of multilingual institutional websites. The research will have a particular focus on multimodality in the communicative and translational processes.

PhD 3: Translation and PRINT HISTORY

The doctoral work in this work package will involve an overview of the production and distribution of religious translations in the nineteenth century, and the tracking of religious translations across languages and cultures. It will involve a particular focus on the area of paratextuality and authority in translation.

The successful candidates may have a disciplinary background in any area of translation studies, languages, or history/book history. The PhD researchers will also demonstrate an interest in the area of religious and/or institutional translation. In their application, candidates are expected to outline how their research record, interests, and skills align with the project.

Studentships are open immediately for application.

General enquires about the PhD positions can be made to Prof. Anne O’Connor at anne.oconnor@nuigalway.ie

Essential Selection Criteria

  • An undergraduate degree (with a first-class -preferred- or 2:1 grade or equivalent) in the area of translation studies, languages, or history/book history
  • Excellent knowledge of at least 2 languages
  • For PhD position 1 (Translation and Social Media) knowledge of Arabic and one of the following languages is essential (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish)

Desirable Selection Criteria

  • Interest/experience in the area of religious studies and translation.
  • Good co-operative skills, and the ability to successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines
  • Experience in linguistic research (corpus based/ethnographic/cultural)
  • Knowledge of translation and culture in local and global perspectives
  • A Masters qualification in a related area

The application will include a cover letter that highlights the candidate’s suitability to meet the essential and desired criteria and their motivation for application, and an updated CV.

Application Process

Applications must include:

  1. a cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest in the post;
  2. a full CV
  3. an indication of which PhD position you wish to apply for

Applications should be sent as a single pdf file to mooreinstitute@nuigalway.ie and must include “PIETRA PhD Studentship” in the subject line.

 Closing date for applications: 20 May 2022, 5pm (GMT)

Selection Process

After shortlisting, interviews will take place virtually in early June 2022.  Candidates will be notified of the outcome in June 2022 with studies to commence in September 2022.  

The awards will be made on the recommendation of the Research Programme’s Assessment Panel.

For more details, visit: https://mooreinstitute.ie/2022/03/11/doctoral-research-scholarships-on-the-erc-funded-project-pietra/