Lecky Professor of [Medieval] History (1913)

Trinity is Ireland’s leading university and is ranked 75th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026). 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 School of Histories and Humanities at Trinity College Dublin is seeking to appoint a medieval historian as Lecky Professor of History, established in 1913. The post is tenable from 1 September 2027, and the successful candidate will undertake scholarly research in continental European history during the period from c. 800 to c. 1350.

The study of medieval history has long been at the forefront of the School’s mission. Medieval history is an area of teaching that is constantly in high demand, from students at all levels. The research profile in medieval history is strong and contributes significantly to the profile of the School of Histories and Humanities.

Post Status: Permanent

Salary: Appointment will be made on the Professorial salary scale line with Public Sector Pay Policy [€147,197 to €186,073 per annum] https://www.tcd.ie/hr/assets/pdf/monthly-academic.pdf

Hours of Work: Hours of work for academic staff are those as prescribed under Public Service Agreements. https://www.tcd.ie/hr/assets/pdf/academic-hours-public-service-agreement.pdf

How to Apply: Applicants should submit the following when applying:

• A cover page including motivation (one page).

• A comprehensive CV, including a full list of publications, research funding and leadership activities

• The names and contact details (email addresses) of three referees

• A research plan (summarising research over the next five years (two pages)).

• A teaching statement (summarising research over the next five years (two pages)).

Please Note:

• Applicants who do not address the application requirements above will not be considered at the shortlist stage.

• Applicants should note that the interview process for this appointment will include the delivery of an in-person presentation at Trinity.

Closing Date: 12 noon (Irish Standard Time), Thursday, 14th January 2027.

Presentations and Interviews will be held in person on the 30th and 31st of March 2027.

Applications will only be accepted by applying online through the Trinity Jobs Portal.

Applications must be made by the date and time specified.

Please allow plenty of time to complete the application process. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. Late Applications will not be accepted.

Please see the Job Description below for this position.

Informal enquiries about this post should be made to the Head of School Professor Graeme Murdock, [email protected]

Application enquiries can be made to recruitment partner Daniel Knowles at [email protected].

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 whom 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.

Lecky Professor of History (1913) Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Post Specification Post Title: Lecky Professor of History (1913) Post Status: Permanent Department / Faculty: Department of History, School of Histories and Humanities,

Location: Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland Reports to: Salary:

Hours of Work: Hours of work for academic staff are those as prescribed under Public Service Agreements. For further information please following link: https://www.tcd.ie/hr/assets/pdf/academic-hours-public-service- agreement.pdf Closing Date: This post is tenable from September 2027. 0302 14 January 2027 at 12 noon (Irish time) Presentations and interviews will take place on 30 and 31 March 2027. 101B Professorial salary scale (€147,197 ­ €186,073). Appointment at a point in line with current Government Pay Policy. https://tcd.ie/hr/assets/pdf/monthlyacademic.pdf Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Head of School, School of Histories and Humanities

0504 Equal Opportunities Policy Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to employment policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or membership of the travelling community. Trinity’s Diversity Statement can be viewed in full at: www.tcd.ie/diversity-inclusion/ diversitystatement Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion The Lecky Professor of History (1913) position in the School of Histories and Humanities provides interested applicants with a rewarding and fulfilling career prospect in senior academia. These opportunities are found within a work environment where equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as equal opportunities and consideration of individual circumstances, are a cornerstone of the ethos and practice of the University’s life and culture. Trinity College Dublin holds an institutional Athena Swan Silver award, recognising its sustained commitment to advancing gender equality and its achievements in creating a more equal and inclusive university. Trinity is committed to supporting the work­life balance of its employees and to creating a family­friendly working environment. The School of Histories and Humanities welcomes applications from all individuals, including those who may have had non­traditional career paths or who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. The post­holder will benefit from a competitive remuneration package that includes pension benefits as well as comprehensive on­boarding and induction supports that recognise and cater to the family and professional needs of the new Professor.

Post summary The School of Histories and Humanities at Trinity College Dublin is seeking to appoint a medieval historian as Lecky Professor of History, established in 1913. The post is tenable from 1 September 2027, and the successful candidate will undertake scholarly research in continental European history during the period from c. 800 to c. 1350. The study of medieval history has long been at the forefront of the School’s mission. Medieval history is an area of teaching that is constantly in high demand, from students at all levels. The research profile in medieval history is strong and contributes significantly to the profile of the School of Histories and Humanities. Lecky Professor of History (1913) 0706

Professorship at Trinity College Professorship is the highest academic post within the College. The holder of a Professorship plays a central leadership role in the development of the relevant discipline and represents it at a senior level inside and outside the College. The qualifications for appointment to such a position are as follows; high academic distinction with the capacity to provide leadership in the development of the discipline and in the promotion of teaching and research; capacity to represent effectively the discipline inside and outside the College; capacity to act as head of an academic unit; willingness to participate actively in the overall life of College. The Lecky Professorship of History (1913) This Chair has been held by distinguished medieval historians such as Edmund Curtis, A. J. Otway-Ruthven, James Lydon, Ian S. Robinson, and the current incumbent Ruth Karras. They will engage with the College’s Research Institute for Arts and Humanities and stimulate interest in medieval history in the College community. They will contribute substantively to teaching in the School, including the undergraduate programme in Ancient and Medieval History and Culture and the M.Phil. programme in Medieval Studies. They will provide academic leadership at disciplinary, School, and College levels and be ready to assume a senior administrative role. Standard Duties of the Post: The postholder will: • Contribute fully to, and help to lead, the research culture of the Department of History (especially of medieval history). • Participate fully in the activities of appropriate School research centres. • Contribute to the School’s teaching programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including module co-ordination, delivery of 08 09 The holder of this post will enhance the international profile of the School of Histories and Humanities in medieval history (continental European history from c. 800 to c. 1350). They will be a scholar of the highest international standing, with an outstanding and internationally recognised record of publication. They will be expected to have an active research agenda consistent with the Professorship. They will promote research on an individual and on a collaborative basis and seek significant funding for research projects. They will promote international collaboration and encourage interaction with other disciplines.

Knowledge & Experience (Essential & Desirable) Research (Essential)

Administration (Essential) • Experience of course management and development. • Experience of academic leadership within the discipline and institutions. • Engagement with discipline and outreach activity • The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate significant engagement with outreach activities. Skills & Competencies • Collaborative working style. • The ability to prioritise and organise effectively. • Enthusiasm for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. • The ability to communicate convincingly and confidently at all levels. • The ability to work effectively with administrative staff within the School. • lectures and seminars, marking of essays and examinations, and supervision of undergraduate dissertations, taught postgraduate theses, and research postgraduate theses. • Undertake administrative responsibilities as directed by the Head of School and Head of the History department and, when appropriate, take over a position of senior administrative responsibility in the School or College. • Engage fully in the overall life of College. Person Specification The role-holder will require the following knowledge, skills, and attributes for the successful performance of the role.. Qualifications (Essential and Desirable) • A Ph.D. in History is essential. (Essential). • Acquisition of, or clear potential to acquire, significant external grant income. Teaching (Essential) • Experience of teaching at undergraduate level. • Evidence of a personal commitment to excellence in teaching. • Experience of supervising undergraduate dissertations and postgraduate theses. • Experience of developing new modules and innovation in teaching. Service to the University (Essential) • Commitment to student care. • Commitment to professional development. An outstanding record of research and publications in the field of medieval history (continental European history during the period from c. 800 to c. 1350). • 10 11

The School of Histories and Humanities comprises the departments of Classics, History, and History of Art and Architecture. The School received a Bronze Athena Swan Award in 2021 which was renewed in 2025. The School has fostered an extensive network of links and exchanges with the other universities across Europe and beyond. Our new strategic plan sets out our values and vision for the next five years (https://histories-humanities.tcd.ie/ strive.php). With over ninety teaching, research, and administrative staff and over 1,300 students across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the School enjoys an international research profile in a remarkable range of different disciplines and subject areas: archaeology; ancient philosophy; Latin and Greek language and literature; ancient, medieval, and modern history; history of art and architecture; and gender studies. The School hosts eight research centres; Irish Art Research Centre, Medieval History Research Centre, Centre for Early Modern History, Centre for Environmental Humanities, Centre for Modern and Contemporary Irish History, Centre for International History, Centre for Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and the Centre for Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies. As a multidisciplinary School, we collaborate with colleagues across other Schools and institutions, and benefit from collaborating with researchers in other areas and fields. The Department of History In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, Trinity College Dublin is ranked fiftieth in the world for History. The Department of History (https://www.tcd.ie/history/) has a strong international reputation for scholarly research and for its dynamic approach to teaching at all levels. Research covers all periods of Irish history, as well as European history, the history of the Americas, and of East Asia. There are strengths across chronological and geographical boundaries in political, social, intellectual, and environmental history. Colleagues currently in the School with research interests in medieval history include Dr Sparky Booker, Professor Anna Chahoud, Dr Peter Crooks, Dr David Ditchburn, Professor Poul Holm, Dr Catherine Lawless, Dr Francis Ludlow, Dr Anna McSweeny, Professor Rachel Moss, Dr Rebecca Usherwood, Dr Nicole Volmering, and Dr Immo Warntjes. The Medieval History Research Centre (www.tcd.ie/medieval-history/) hosts the annual Friends of Medieval Dublin conference; the biennial James Lydon Lectures in Medieval History and Culture, the biennial Trinity Medieval Ireland Symposium, and the annual TCD-Edward Worth Library Lecture in Medieval Medicine and Science. Major research projects associated with the Centre (www.tcd.ie/medieval-history/ research/) include The Virtual Treasury of Ireland (especially the sub-projects on the Irish Exchequer and the Guild of St Anne), and Manuscript Culture of the Insular World. The History department has a vibrant community of post-doctoral researchers (https://www.tcd.ie/history/staff/ postdoctoral.php). There are currently around fifty registered PhD students in the History department. The Department is proud of its commitment to teaching all levels of students. This extends to the School’s extramural programme, Trinity’s Access Programme, and the School’s Semester Start-up programme. At undergraduate level, students are registered for Single Honors and Joint Honors programmes in History, as well as in programmes in Ancient and Medieval History and Culture and in European Studies. At the taught postgraduate level, the programme in Medieval Studies currently has around thirty students (https://histories-humanities.tcd. ie/postgraduate/mphil/medieval-studies/ index.php). There are further taught Master’s programmes in Early Modern History, Modern Irish History, Environmental History, Public History and Cultural Heritage, International History, and in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. School of Histories and Humanities https://histories-humanities.tcd.ie/ 12 13

Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin Founded in 1592, Trinity College offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across twenty­four Schools in three Faculties. Its Strategic Plan 2025­2030 supports education rooted in academic freedom, enriched by research and diverse perspectives: https://www.tcd.ie/strategy/. Trinity is ranked 75th worldwide in QS 2027, 173rd in Times Higher Education (THE) 2026, and 24th for internationalisation in THE 2026. Its research spans multidisciplinary themes: https://www.tcd.ie/research/ themes/. The Trinity Long Room Hub, the College’s Arts and Humanities Research Institute, supports research and hosts international conferences, lectures and seminars: https://www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub/. The College Library is the largest library in Ireland, with seven million printed volumes, over half a million maps, and extensive electronic and research collections: https://www.tcd.ie/library/. 1514

Application Procedure 1 Applicants should provide the following information when applying for the position of Lecky Professor of History (1913): FURTHER INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS https://www.tcd.ie/hr A Cover Letter indicating motivation (one page). 2 3 A comprehensive CV, including a full list of leadership activities. 4 A research plan (summarising research over the next five years (two pages)). The names and contact details (i.e. address, e-mail) of three referees. 5 6 A teaching statement (summarising teaching experience and approach (two pages)). Applications must be submitted by the closing date specified through eRecruitment. 16 17 Applications will only be accepted by E-Recruitment http://jobs.tcd.ie Informal enquiries about this post should be made by email to: Graeme Murdock (Head of School, School of Histories and Humanities) Email: [email protected] Application enquiries about this post should be made by email to: HR Recruitment Relationship Partner Email: [email protected] Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin is an equal opportunities employer. publications, research funding, and

www.tcd.ie