Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow in Ancient Disease & Pandemics
Salary: starting from £34,610 on Grade E for the Associate role and £43,482 on Grade F for the Fellow role, depending on qualifications and experience.
Contractual hours: 36.5.
Package: generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).
Job details
This Wellcome funded full‑time position is available for four years from 1st September 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter).
Location: Exeter.
Job description
The Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Disease & Pandemics to join the interdisciplinary project "Pustules, Palaeogenetics and Pandemics from Galen to Rhazes: How to do the Early History of Smallpox and Measles" under the supervision of Professor Rebecca Flemming. The team consists of five academics from Classics, Ancient History and the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, two post‑doctoral researchers and two PhD students, who collectively explore changing patterns of feverish pustular diseases and their conceptualisation across Afro‑Eurasia from the second to the tenth centuries CE. The successful applicant will develop interdisciplinary methodologies that combine textual, osteological and palaeogenetic evidence to understand ancient disease and pandemics, collaborate with team members on original research, and contribute to project events and activities.
Responsibilities and qualifications
Postdoctoral Research Associate
* Possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or an equivalent qualification/experience in Archaeology/Bioarchaeology/Archaeological Science/Ancient History or a related field of study.
* Demonstrate sufficient knowledge across related disciplines and of research methods and techniques to work within and across established research programmes.
* Have experience working with bioarchaeological and/or palaeogenetic evidence.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
* Possess a relevant PhD or an equivalent qualification/experience in Archaeology/Bioarchaeology/Archaeological Science/Ancient History or a related field of study.
* Have sufficient specialist knowledge across disciplines to develop and follow research programmes and methodologies.
* Have experience working with bioarchaeological and/or palaeogenetic evidence.
* Have a record of research outputs in high quality publications.
What we can offer you
* Freedom and support to pursue intellectual interests and work creatively across disciplines.
* Supportive teams aligned with university research and teaching goals.
* Access to the Innovation, Impact and Business directorate for external engagement and development.
* Participation in the Exeter Academic initiative to develop careers.
* Staff benefits including sector‑leading maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay) and a fertility treatment policy.
* A beautiful campus set in the heart of Devon.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
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 under‑represented within our working community.
We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service personnel.
Further information
When applying through the portal, you will be asked to upload a CV and a cover letter outlining your research experience and how you meet the job criteria. Please include names and contact details of at least two referees, whom we may contact if you are shortlisted.
Shortlisted candidates will also be asked to submit a writing sample of approximately 7,000‑10,000 words.
Three postdoctoral positions are being advertised simultaneously as part of the same project. Qualified candidates are welcome to apply for more than one position; submit a single application and state which positions you wish to be considered for and how you meet each criteria.
Positions and references:
* Q14531 – Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow in Medieval Arabic Medicine
* Q14532 – Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow in Ancient Disease and Pandemics
* Q14529 – Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow in Ancient Medicine
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Professor Rebecca Flemming at r.flemming@exeter.ac.uk.
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