Postdoctoral Researcher in Comparative Literature

This is an abridged version of the vacancy announcement. To read the full announcement, click on “apply via external website”.
Lund University was founded in 1666 and is regularly ranked as one of the world’s leading higher education institutions. It has around 46,000 students and 8,500 employees in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our pursuit of understanding, explaining and improving our world and people’s circumstances.
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher in comparative literature for the Komplitt research environment at the Centre for Languages and Literature.
We welcome applications for a three-year postdoctoral position based at Komplitt, Forum for Comparative Literature, an interdisciplinary research environment at the Centre for Languages and Literature. Komplitt has been active since 2013 and has long-standing collaborations with higher education institutions in other countries. The environment is led by a steering group representing various literary research disciplines at the Centre for Languages and Literature.
The research project “Censorship, ‘banned books’ and persecuted authors”
The position is linked to an interdisciplinary project on censored and banned literature, freedom of expression and human rights, run by Komplitt in collaboration with the Dawit Isaak Library in Malmö, the GRIDH research infrastructure at the University of Gothenburg, Svenska Pen and the Swedish Institute for Children’s Books. The project’s overall aim is to map and analyse the forms and effects of censorship. It includes, among other things, the development of The Dawit Isaak Database of Censorship.
Duties and areas of responsibility
You will conduct pioneering research on literary censorship in connection with Komplitt’s international network and the above-mentioned collaborative project. You will also take part in planning and organising seminars and academic conferences on censorship, banned books and persecuted authors.
The position is intended as an initial step in your career and as an opportunity for you to further deepen and broaden your research expertise. The position also includes some teaching experience. Teaching, supervision and other teaching-related duties may be included in the position, but may not exceed one fifth of working hours.
What we offer
As a postdoctoral researcher, you will have the opportunity to develop your independence as a researcher with the support of senior colleagues. The position is fixed-term for 3 years and is full-time, in accordance with the Agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral researcher. International employees are offered support with their move to Sweden. Through the International Citizen Hub Lund, you can access support and activities for any accompanying family members.
Qualifications
The assessment will be based primarily on your academic merits and potential as a researcher. Particular emphasis will be placed on academic ability in the subject area.
Requirements for the position:
- a doctoral degree or equivalent foreign qualification in literary studies or a language subject with a specialisation in literary studies. The doctoral degree must have been awarded by the time the appointment decision is made, and you must provide documentation confirming that the degree has been awarded before that time.
- an independently developed project plan describing a research project on literary censorship, freedom of expression and human rights.
- a good ability to develop and conduct high-quality research
- research experience in comparative literature
- documented good collaborative skills
- teaching ability
- documented very good language skills in English and at least two other languages
- you must not previously have been employed as a postdoctoral researcher under the applicable collective agreement (kollektivavtal) for more than one year in the same or a related subject area at Lund University

The following are considered merits for the position:
- a doctoral degree awarded no more than three years before the application deadline. In the event of special circumstances, such as illness, parental leave, trade union duties, service in total defence or work or assignments relevant to the subject area, this period may be deducted from the time elapsed since the doctoral degree was awarded.
- research experience relating to censorship, persecuted authors and banned books
- experience of cross-disciplinary research and developing research methods
- experience of collaboration between academia and other stakeholders
- broad language skills

Terms of employment
The position is fixed-term for 3 years and is full-time, in accordance with the Agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral researcher.
How to apply
Applications must be written in English.
As part of your application, you must attach a project plan describing a research project on literature, censorship and human rights. The project must cover at least three language or cultural areas and include interdisciplinary and/or methodological approaches, for example in relation to specific materials or research infrastructures. The project plan must clearly explain how the project is intended to be carried out and what research outputs it will produce.
Further instructions on how to prepare your application, including your project plan, can be found here: How to apply for a postdoctoral position at the HT Faculties | Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology
In addition to the research plan and doctoral thesis, you may also submit up to 5 publications.
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