Working at Durham University A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other. As one of the UK's leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it's also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community. Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. You can find out more about Our Purpose and Values here. We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page The Role and Department The Bridging Fellowship The Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies seeks to appoint a talented researcher and scholar to the role of Bridging Fellow in the Inventing Futures research programme. The Bridging Fellow will benefit from tailored support to strengthen their skills, will be provided with a range of academic opportunities, and will benefit from protected time to foster different aspects of their careers. We welcome applications from those with research interests in the broad field of early modern Italian studies. The Institute and the School The School of Modern Languages and Cultures The School of Modern Languages and Cultures (MLAC) is a leading centre of teaching and research in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hispanic, Italian, Japanese and Russian Studies. Its community of academics, teachers, and support staff aims to foster a world-class student experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Our staff are engaged in research and teaching in language, literature, cultural history, cinema and visual culture, and translation studies. The School and its departments figure regularly in the top five in national league tables. The School is ranked in the top 60 language departments globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. The Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies The Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) represents one of the largest and most diverse concentrations of medieval and early modern studies worldwide. It is also the academic hub for Durham's UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of Durham's flagship interdisciplinary University Research Institutes, it supports world-leading work on the global past from Late Antiquity to the late eighteenth century and across the disciplinary spectrum. To this end, it hosts research projects, houses an imprint, provides courses in advanced study and skills, and offers a range of public programmes. It sponsors cutting-edge research on the World Heritage Site and promotes public engagement with the World Heritage Site and its partners all over the world. Inventing Futures The Institute's new flagship programme of research, Inventing Futures (IFs), emphasizes future-oriented consequences of the Institute's past-oriented study. Each of its constituent research projects addresses a particular global challenge related to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). It uses the rich array of medieval and early modern resources at Durham - and beyond - to yield new responses to that challenge. Led by three Barker Senior Research Fellows (SRFs), working with colleagues from other institutions, this new wave of future-oriented research will offer a crucial yet frequently overlooked historical and cultural set of perspectives and tools. It will also provide funded opportunities for PhD students and early career researchers to work alongside academic leaders. The Role The Bridging Fellow will be appointed to the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies as well as the School of Modern Languages and Cultures. Day-to-day, the Bridging Fellow will be based in one of the three Inventing Futures projects mentioned above or they will connect two or more of these projects, depending on their research specialism. They will also engage proactively with research opportunities and activity across IMEMS. Durham Bridging Fellowships provide an intensive career development opportunity for recently completed PhD graduates to publish findings from their doctoral research, expand their skills and networks, and prepare their next major research projects. Bridging Fellowships are so-named because they are intended to constitute a bridge between doctoral research and future careers. Durham Bridging Fellows are expected to contribute to a flourishing research culture by participating in regular meetings, workshops and other events. This may encompass collaborating in methodological innovation with interdisciplinary and cross-sector partners, and the design and delivery of pilot and proof-of-concept studies. In this case, the IFs Bridging Fellow will be supported to produce outputs from existing research, as well as to collaborate with other researchers on the Inventing Futures research programme and IMEMS. Regular participation (in-person as well as virtual) in activities, as agreed with the Line Manager, is essential. The role offers an exciting opportunity to make an important contribution to the development of research and methodological innovation in IMEMS, while allowing you excellent opportunities to develop your career in an exciting and progressive institution. The Bridging Fellow Applicants must demonstrate research excellence relevant to the field of early modern Italian Studies, with the ability to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. The University provides a working, research and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process. Eligibility: At the time of application, candidates must have submitted their PhD and can be under examination or up to 18 months post-viva. At the start of the appointment, all candidates must have completed their viva (or examination process, where vivas are not held). Key responsibilities: To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals or edited volume, and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Senior Research Fellows (SRFs) who lead the Inventing Futures programme. To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences. To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals. To work with the SRFs and other colleagues in the research programme, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio. To conduct pilot individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the SRFs, where these are essential to the development of further research plans. To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the SRFs and offering creative or innovative solutions. To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration. To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects. To contribute to enhancing the quality of the research culture in IMEMS and wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity. Any other specific responsibilities This post is fixed term for twelve months; funding is available from the Inventing Futures programme for this fixed period only. The successful applicant will, ideally, be in post by 1 October 2026. Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: You'll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year. We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance. We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16. Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community. You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas. Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups. If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application. The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. Essential Criteria: Qualifications 1. A good first degree in the humanities with an Italian Studies component. 2. A PhD in the humanities with a strong early modern Italian Studies component. The PhD must have been submitted at the point of application but may still be under examination. At the point of application, candidates must not be more than 18 months post-viva. Experience 3.Experience in conducting high quality academic research relevant to early modern Italian Studies. 4. Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals. 5. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community. Skills 6. Demonstrable ability to develop plans for innovative research in alignment with Inventing Futures' aims and structure. 7. Methods - experiences, skills, and/or achievements which demonstrate the potential to engage in early modern interdisciplinary research. 8. Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team. 9. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines. 10. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Desirable Criteria: Experience Interdisciplinary collaboration - experience, skills and/or achievements in working across disciplines and/or sectors. Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics. Contact Information For further enquiries please email Valeriia Kasatkina at ifs.imems@durham.ac.uk Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application: If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with abrief description of the problem you're experiencing toe.recruitment@durham.ac.uk University contact for general queries about the recruitment process: e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk How to Apply To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview. We are conscious that the preparation of detailed research plans places considerable burdens on early career researchers and for this reason have adopted a two-stage process as outlined below. Submitting your application We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. What to Submit All applicants are asked to submit by 2nd June 2026 a CV of no more than 2 pages, and a covering letter of no more than 2 pages which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or demonstrating the potential to meet) the criteria set out above. The letter should also clearly explain how working within your chosen IFs project(s) and IMEMS more generally will support your future research plans. Next Steps Long-listed candidates will be informed by 9th June 2026. Long-listed candidates will be asked to submit a 1500-word research proposal covering: (a) plans for publishing/disseminating existing research (e.g. writing monograph proposal, preparing journal articles, preparing non-conventional outputs) (b) a more detailed plan for future research development (c) goals for career development during the Fellowship (including any specific plans for academic exchange, training needs, networking and other development opportunities). These proposals will be used to short-list candidates who will then be invited to an online interview. In the event that you are unable to attend the interview on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.