The School of English is seeking to appoint a Research Associate to work with Dr Sara Lyons (PI) and Dr Michael Collins (CO-I) following the award of a two-year AHRC Project Grant to investigate how British and American novelists understood and represented intellectual ability between 1880 and 1920, with a particular focus on how novelists responded to the rise of intelligence testing and the associated concepts of I.Q. and meritocracy.

The post-holder will complement their work by using the periodical press to discover how debates about the measurability of intelligence affected the reception of literary texts, the discourses of literary criticism, and understandings of authorial identity in the period.

In the first six months of the project, the postholder will assist the PI and Co-I by surveying the intersections between literary discourses and debates about the nature of intellectual ability in the periodical press.

The successful candidate will have a completed PhD in nineteenth- or early twentieth century British and/or American literature and experience of working with nineteenth- or early twentieth century British and/or American periodicals. Established research interests in the history of science and/or the history of education may be considered an advantage.

The School of English currently has c. 900 full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. Its permanent academic staff of 37 includes an excellent cohort of highly promising and productive early career researchers alongside senior staff with international reputations. English at Kent is based on a commitment to the traditional fields of the discipline, to consolidating the School’s distinctive strengths, and to innovation.

Established in 1965, the University of Kent – the UK’s European university – now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. It has been ranked: 23rd in The Guardian University Guide 2017; 23rd in The Complete University Guide 2017 and 23rd in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2016. Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality

Closing date for applications: 30 April 2017

Interviews are to be held: 18 May 2017

If you require further information regarding the application process please contact Michelle McCartney, Resourcing Adviser on M.McCartney-989@kent.ac.uk.

Please note – applications must be made via the University’s online application system. You will be required to fill in the main details section of the application form as well as upload your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly and explicitly address the requirements of the Person specification and you should provide clear evidence and examples in your application which back-up any assertions you make in relation to each criterion. We recommend a maximum of 4 x A4 sides for this document.

CVs or details sent directly to the department or via email cannot be considered.

To apply, click here.