The ERC Advanced grant project AGRELITA “The reception of ancient Greece in pre-modern French literature and illustrations of manuscripts and printed books (1320-1550): how invented memories shaped the identity of European communities”, newly awarded (2021), led by Prof. Catherine Gaullier-Bougassas, is now accepting applications for 3 postdoctoral positions (100 %), starting on 10th October 2024. Find out more information about the project here.

Until now the reception history of ancient Greece in Pre-modern Western Europe has focussed almost exclusively on the transmission of Ancient Greek texts. Yet, well before the revival of Greek teaching, numerous vernacular works, often illustrated, contained elaborate representations of ancient Greece. AGRELITA studies a large corpus of French-language literary works produced from the 1320s to the 1550s in France and Europe, as well as the images offered by their manuscripts and printed books. 

AGRELITA is based at the University of Caen Normandy and is scheduled to conclude on 30th September 2027.

Three postdoctoral positions

Contract duration: 12 months, renewable.

Postdoctoral Role:

The three postdoctoral researchers will analyse the texts and images of AGRELITA’s corpus. They will work with the Principal Investigator, the project manager, associate researchers and guest researchers. 

Main Tasks: 

• The analysis of an already identified corpus of texts from the 14th, 16th and 16th centuries and the identification of new texts that contain representations of ancient Greece (texts available in the form of modern editions or from manuscripts and prints from the 14th – 16th centuries, whether digitised or not) 
• The collection of data and the drafting of notes on the texts, authors, artists, manuscripts, prints, and Greek data present 
• The scientific analysis of textual and visual representations of ancient Greece, of the links between texts and images 
• The production of original scientific articles, which will be published in the collective volumes of AGRELITA and in specialised journals, in French 
• Representing the AGRELITA project at external conferences and study days in France and abroad, and publishing the papers 
• Contributing to an anthology of texts and images (in collaboration with the whole team) 
• Participating in all AGRELITA activities: weekly team meetings in Caen, monthly seminars, workshops, conferences
• Contributing to the scientific organisation of these seminars, study days, colloquia; identifying colleagues to be invited, making contacts
• Contributing to the reception of invited researchers 
• Contributing to the editing of the planned collective volumes (proofreading, correction, formatting of manuscripts sent to publishers) 
• Contributing to the website and the blog 
• Contributing to the reflection on the implementation and development of AGRELITA 

Required Skills 

• PhD in French literature of the Middle Ages and/or the Renaissance, in the history of art of the Middle Ages and/or the Renaissance (manuscripts and illuminations, early prints, paintings and engravings), in ancient literature or in cultural history of the 14th-16th centuries. 
• The candidate must have completed his/her thesis less than three years before the start date of the contract. 
• Excellent analytical skills of texts and images, as well as the relationship between texts and images 
• Excellent command of modern French, both written and spoken 
• Proficiency in scientific writing 
• Good knowledge of Middle French and Renaissance French 
• Palaeographic skills for reading and transcribing manuscript and printed texts (14th-16th C) 
• Knowledge of Latin and some knowledge of Ancient Greek 
• Ability to master a large corpus and to conduct comparative studies  Ability and taste for interdisciplinary studies 
• Experience and/or willingness to work in a team, 
• Rigor, reliability, confidentiality 
• Sense of initiative 
• Proficiency in scientific writing in French and also in English (with possible support for English revision). 
• Ability to maintain a website and blog 

Professional Environment 

Each post-doc will report directly to the Principal Investigator of the AGRELITA project, Prof. Catherine Gaullier-Bougassas. They will also work in a team with the other postdocs and the project manager. 

Working Conditions And Modalities 

• Location: The University of Caen Normandy, research center Craham: Centre Michel de Boüard, UMR 6273, https://www.craham.cnrs.fr/ The post-docs will have an office in the Craham. 
• Employer: University of Caen Normandy 
• Type of contract: fixed-term contract 
• Duration of the contract: 12 mois 
• Working time: 100% 
• Estimated starting date of the contract : 01/10/2024 
• Remuneration: Approximately €2800 gross/month 
• Contact: catherine.gaullier-bougassas@unicaen.fr 

Application Process 

Application file to be sent in digital format (pdf) by 12 May 2024 at the latest to the following address catherine.gaullier-bougassas@unicaen.fr 

The file should include: 

• A Curriculum Vitae (Education, Experience, Publications) 
• A letter of motivation, which explains and presents the interest for the reception of Antiquity 
• A pdf of the thesis and a pdf of the thesis report (if applicable for the thesis report) 
• A proposal for an original article (approximately one page) on an aspect of the reception of Ancient Greece (before Alexander the Great) in pre-modern French literature (texts or/and images).