28 July 2025

Postdoctoral Researcher (2-year full-time) – Old Norse/Old French Medieval Literature

Job Information
Organisation/Company: New Europe College, Bucharest
Research Field: Literature » Comparative literature
Literature » Medieval literature
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
Country: Romania
Application Deadline 1 September 2025 – 23:59 (UTC)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 40
Offer Starting Date: 1 July 2026

Offer Description
The Romanian team of the international MAPS project, led by Dr. Cătălin Țăranu at New Europe College (NEC), Bucharest, seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher specializing in Old Norse and/or Old French literature for a 2-year position. The successful candidate will be a part of the research project ‘Becoming Axolotl: Empathy, Simulation, and Embodiment in Medieval Narratives’ funded within MAPS (Multilateral Academic Projects) –  an initiative launched by the SNSF and implemented under the second Swiss Contribution, in our case in collaboration with the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) and the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI) (Project No. IZ11Z0_230118).

The postdoc will be working alongside Dr. Cătălin Țăranu, another postdoctoral researcher, two research teams based in Bern and Zagreb, and our international project partners. Situated at the intersection of cognitive literary studies, emotion and affect studies, sensory studies, alternative ontologies, and narratology, this project explores the role of medieval narratives in the simulation of cognitive, emotional, and sensorial experiences of radical others, both human and more-than human (animals, plants, objects, spirits, gods, monsters). Considering a variety of encounters across and beyond medieval Europe (ranging from Iceland to the Middle East, including the Byzantine and Mongol Empires), the three interlinked subprojects explore literature of a variety of genres from the eighth to the fifteenth centuries.

Where to apply

Requirements
Research Field: Literature » Comparative literature/Medieval Literature
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Years of Research Experience: 8-12

Additional Information
catalin0taranu [at] gmail.com

Benefits
Full-time (40h/week), fixed-term contract for two years
Gross yearly salary: 35.496 CHF (equivalent in Romanian lei)

Eligibility criteria
Educational background and/or qualification:

– PhD in Old Norse / Old French / Medieval Literature or similar;
– Track record of publishing and presenting research on medieval literature engaging with any of these approaches: emotion/cognitive/sensory studies, alternative ontologies, iconography, narratology

The candidate must also fit with the requirements listed above.

Selection process
Your application must be sent by email to catalin0taranu [at] gmail.com

and will include:

– Curriculum Vitae (max. 6 pages)
– Cover Letter (max. 2 pages): present your research background, motivation, and fit for the MAPS project.

Deadline: 1 September 2025
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews in early September. Final decision to be confirmed by early October 2025.