JOB 20.12.2024

Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Curator and Research Fellow positions, Dublin

Library of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Bewerbungsschluss: 10.01.2025

Anna McSweeney, Trinity College Dublin

The Library of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland is delighted to announce two new fixed term posts to work on its Arabic and Islamic manuscript collection within the research collections division:

Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Curator
Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Research Fellow

Details can be found on this webpage, if you search under 'Library' for Curator role and 'Research' for Research fellow role - https://www.tcd.ie/hr/vacancies/
Applications welcome before 10 January 2025 (Curator role) and 13 January 2025 (Research Fellow role).

Job Title : Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Curator Pay Scale : Assistant Librarian 2
Closing Date : 15-Jan-2025 12:00 Contact Email : oliviam@tcd.ie

About Trinity
Trinity is Ireland’s leading university and is ranked 87th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025). Founded in 1592, the University is steeped in history with a reputation for excellence in education, research, and innovation, which has been inspiring generations of thinkers for over 400 years.
Post Summary
Applications are invited for the post of Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Curator within the Research Collections Division, at the Library of Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. This is a unique, new position within the Library, working on our collection of approximately 80 manuscript items. As project lead, the post-holder will work with colleagues in conservation and digitisation to open up this collection for broader scholarly research and public engagement. In collaboration with the Project Research Fellow, they will update and enhance the existing (inadequate) catalogue entries for this collection, undertake research into provenance, identify related items / collections in other public institutions internationally, facilitate translation and transcription activities to increase accessibility, and implement an associated programme of public engagement.
The Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Curator will be expected to engage with academic experts within Trinity (including in the departments of History of Art & Architecture and Near & Middle Eastern Studies) and beyond, library and museum curators with similar equivalent holdings, and the wider expert community to develop a best practice approach to this collection.
The Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Curator will report to the Head of Research Collections and work closely with the curatorial team of Assistant Librarians in Manuscripts & Archives.
Post status: Specific Purpose Contract
The specific purpose of this contract is to lead the 'Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts Project,' focusing on the conservation and digitisation of the collection to support broader scholarly research and public engagement. Your responsibilities include updating and enhancing catalogue entries, conducting provenance research, identifying related items in other institutions, facilitating translation and transcription activities to improve accessibility, and implementing a programme of public engagement. The research project is externally funded by philanthropic donors. Employment is not offered on an indefinite duration basis, as it is expected that your expertise and associated activities will be completed within a finite period.
Hours of Post: 35 hours per week
The hours of this post are 9.00am - 5.00pm (Monday –Friday) with one hour for lunch each day. It currently does not attract flexitime; however, a flexible working day can be arranged by agreement with the line manager.
Salary: This appointment will be made on the Assistant Librarian 2 Salary Scale (€45,242 - €62,304 per annum) at a point in line with current Government pay policy. monthly/weekly payscales. (tcd.ie)
How to apply:
In order to assist the selection process, applicants should submit a Curriculum Vitae and a Cover Letter (1x A4 page) that specifically addresses the criteria outlined in the job description.
Applicants should clearly address their experience and how they obtained their knowledge in their application.
Applicants who do not address the application requirements in their cover letter will not be considered at the short list stage. Applications must be submitted by the closing date specified through eRecruitment. Any Applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.
Informal enquiries about this post should be made Laura Shanahan, Head of Research Collections, laura.shanahan@tcd.ie
Application queries about this post, please email the Recruitment Partner at E:recruit@tcd.ie and include the Competition ID number in the subject heading.
At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those who have been displaced due to war.

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s premier University. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and we hold an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and in the Higher Education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.

JOB - RESEARCH FELLOW
Job Specification

Trinity is Ireland’s leading university and is ranked 87th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025). Founded in 1592, the University is steeped in history with a reputation for excellence in education, research, and innovation, which has been inspiring generations of thinkers for over 400 years. Trinity College Dublin - an introduction
Post Summary
The purpose of this role is to provide transliteration and English translation within a selection of the (approximately 80) Arabic and Islamic manuscripts in the collections of the Library of Trinity College Dublin. Working with the Project Manuscripts Curator, the Project Research Fellow will examine the manuscripts, complete translations and transcriptions of key chapters, and provide research-based descriptions of the physical features of the manuscripts to enhance descriptive catalogue entries for this collection (for both the archival catalogue and digital collections repository). They will also assist the Project Manuscripts Curator in the examination of provenance information.
The Project Research Fellow will be expected to engage with academics within Trinity (particularly in the relevant departments of History of Art & Architecture and Near & Middle Eastern Studies) and beyond; library and museum curators with similar equivalent holdings; and the wider expert community, to establish a fuller understanding of this part of the university library collection in order to facilitate access and identify future research opportunities in this area.
Application Procedure
Applicants should submit in one document: a cover letter setting out your motivation for applying for the role and how your skills meet the requirements set out in this document AND a full Curriculum Vitae to include the names and contact details of 2 referees (including email addresses), to:
Email: Laura Shanahan at Laura.Shanahan@tcd.ie
Deadline: 12 noon (CET) 15 January 2025
At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those who have been displaced due to war.

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s premier University. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and we hold an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and in the Higher Education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.

Quellennachweis:
JOB: Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts Curator and Research Fellow positions, Dublin. In: ArtHist.net, 20.12.2024. Letzter Zugriff 06.01.2025. <https://arthist.net/archive/43605>.

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