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The School of Slavonic and East European Studies at the University College London is looking for a LECTURER IN THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF CENTRAL EUROPE.
Following the departure of Dr Karin Friedrich in the summer of 2004 to take up a post at the University of Aberdeen, a vacancy has arisen in the area of the Cultural History of Central Europe. By cultural history is understood the study of systems of meanings, the ways by which they are constructed, circulated, shared and challenged, and their relations to the social world (this might include such subjects as ritual and symbol, shared identities and imaginaries, the semantics of material culture and memorialization, although this list is not exclusive). Additionally, the Central European area is understood in a generous sense as encompassing the former territories of the Habsburg Monarchy and Poland-Lithuania, and the German lands. The successful candidate is most likely to have researched and published on the modern period and to have a demonstrated interest in historical theory and method.
Information about and Mission Statement of the SSEES:

The School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) is the leading institution in the United Kingdom for the study of the history, literature, languages, politics, society and economics of Central and Eastern Europe. Following merger with University College London (UCL) in 1999, the School will be moving to new purpose-built premises in the centre of the UCL precinct in 2005.
SSEES currently consists of four departments which are responsible for the delivery of undergraduate and graduate teaching. The work of departments is supported and amplified by Research Centres, including the Centre for the Study of Central Europe, which aim to situate research within an interdisciplinary framework.
The Mission Statement of the SSEES History Department is ‘To maintain the department’s global reputation as a teaching and research institution by providing education of the highest quality to all, by engaging in leading-edge research, and by disseminating knowledge and scholarship to an international audience.’
The Department currently consists of eleven full-time members of staff, with specialisms ranging from the Middle Ages to Contemporary Eastern Europe, and from the Balkans to the Baltic. Altogether 150 full-time undergraduate students are attached to the Department.
The Department has a strong reputation both for innovatory teaching and assessment methods and for the quality of its research and publication. Within the general field of Central European history, Dr Richard Butterwick teaches and researches modern Polish history; Dr Egbert Klautke teaches and researches modern German history; Dr Rebecca Haynes teaches and researches modern Romanian history; and Professor Martyn Rady teaches and researches Habsburg and Hungarian history. The School’s Centre for the Study of Central Europe holds weekly research seminars and publishes its own refereed journal, Central Europe. Cultural history is represented by Dr Wendy Bracewell, who researches discourses of East and West as represented through travel-writing, Dr Susan Morrissey, who researches the history of suicide in Russia, and Dr Sergei Bogatyrev, who researches rituals of rulership in early-modern Russia. Further details of the work of the Department and of its members are available on http://www.ssees.ac.uk/histdep.htm.

Job Specification:
The lecturer will be responsible for carrying out duties in three main areas (teaching, research and administration) and will report on these activities to the Head of the History Department and to the Director of SSEES. The lecturer will be expected:

• To be responsible for the teaching and examining of undergraduate courses in History at both BA and MA levels; to develop new courses at both levels within the broad field of cultural history, historical theory and method, and to contribute to existing provision. In all, staff are normally expected to teach eight or more hours a week in addition to supervising undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and assisting with pastoral care of students.
• To contribute to the research activities of the History Department and the Centre for the Study of Central Europe by engaging in research projects, regularly producing publications of international quality, applying for research grants, and participating in seminars and conferences and their organization at SSEES and in the wider academic community
• To engage in postgraduate research supervision
• To play a full role in the academic administrative work of the Department, School and College

Person Specification:
In order to carry out their duties effectively, the lecturer should have the following skills and experience:

• S/he should also have completed, or be about to complete, a PhD in the field of Central European Cultural History, be able to demonstrate originality and high quality in research and publications, and have the clear potential to maintain a strong research record in terms of publications, award of grants, and participation in international conferences
• S/he must have excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
• S/he will have established teaching skills and be committed to continuous professional development
• S/he will have some previous experience of teaching at university level, ideally within the British university system
• S/he should also have the organizational and teamwork skills necessary to carry out a range of administrative tasks at Department, School and College level
• A working knowledge of the relevant languages of the region

In addition to the above, the lecturer will be expected:

• To follow UCL policies, including "Equal Opportunities," and to maintain an awareness and observation of College regulations
• To participate in the College training programme for new lecturers
• To attend staff meetings and training as required
• To carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, the title of the post and its grading as requested by the Head of the History Department or Director of SSEES

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the postholder.

Informal enquiries:
Additional details of the post may be obtained from Professor Martyn Rady, Head of the History Department (Tel 020 7862 8577; m.rady@ssees.ucl.ac.uk)

Application process:
Application is invited by curriculum vitae, or by completing a UCL application form, together with a full publications list and the contact details of at least two referees. All applicants must return a completed Equal Opportunities Classification form. Applications may be accompanied by copies of articles and/or abstracts to illustrate recent research work and a covering letter addressing the appropriateness of the post to the applicant’s academic profile.
Applications should be addressed to Mrs Maria Widdowson, Assistant Director (Finance and Administration), UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU and may be sent by email to vacancy@ssees.ucl.ac.uk.

Selection process:
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a 20 minutes presentation which will be followed by a brief question and answer session. The talk should be on a topic designed to illustrate to a non-specialist audience some aspect of research in progress. A formal interview will be arranged to take place on the same day as the presentation.

Salary and Starting Date:
The appointment will be made on the Lecturer A scale [in the range £23,643 to £27,116 plus £2,330 London Allowance]. The appointment will commence on 1 September 2005.

Relocation Supplement:
UCL pays a relocation supplement (currently £9000) to newly appointed academics if they have to relocate in order to take up a permanent appointment. In addition, appointees would also be eligible to submit a claim for relocation expenses. Full details of the UCL Relocation Scheme will be made available to the candidate selected for appointment.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION: Friday 8 April 2005