DAAD Fellowship and Tutorship in Modern History

This post offers an exciting opportunity for an early career historian to work in a vibrant and cross-cultural college and university environment. The Oxford History Faculty is the largest in the UK, and its members participate in a rich seminar programme and in global as well as local research collaborations.

The successful applicant is chosen from among those nominated by the DAAD after their competition for the associated Lektorat. No separate application is required for the college position. The post succeeds similar Fellowships held by Dr Christina Benninghaus (2017-2022; newly appointed to a position at Bielefeld University), Dr Sebastian Gehrig (2013-2017; now at the University of Sheffield), Dr Ari Reimann (2008-13; who left to direct a major ERC project based at Cologne University); Dr Alexander Sedlmaier (2003-2007; now Reader at Bangor University); and Dr Jörn Leonhard (1998-2003; now Professor of History at the University of Freiburg im Breisgau).

As the holder of a Career Development post, the postholder will be encouraged to participate in seminars and classes organized by the Oxford Centre for Teaching and Learning, and particularly those courses which would best prepare the postholder for a permanent post, either in Oxford or elsewhere. The Fellowship will not be renewed after the fifth year.

History is a strong subject at Wadham, and our undergraduates are typically lively and stimulating. The College admits about 8 undergraduates a year for the main school of History, and an average of 5 to read a variety of joint schools: Ancient & Modern History; History & Politics; History & English; History & Modern Languages; and History & Economics. The College also admits 2 undergraduates each year to the Final Honour School of History of Art.

Wadham also has a flourishing postgraduate community of students working for Master’s and doctoral degrees in History and the History of Art.

The College has two Tutorial Fellows in History: Dr Jane Garnett, who works mainly on the 19th and 20th centuries, and Dr Matthew Kempshall, a medieval and Renaissance historian. The Fellowship also includes Dr George Southcombe, an early modern historian, and Dr Robert Yee, a Junior Research Fellow in Economic History.

The successful candidate will be someone who has taught 19th/20th-century German and European and/or international and/or transnational history at a university level, who has a research record in the subject appropriate to an internationally distinguished university, and who has the skills and commitment to be successful as a Tutor. In particular, they will be able to teach a range of papers covering topics in the 20th century. They will also have an interest in, and capacity to teach, courses on methodology and historiography. A PhD in History is an essential requirement.

Outline details of the syllabus are available at: https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate-admissions.

The successful candidate must be sufficiently fluent to give lectures, conduct tutorials, and supervise written work in English.

(a) Academic

The Fellow will share with the other Tutors in History responsibility for the academic progress of all Wadham students in the subject. In particular, the Fellow will be required

(i) to give tutorials to undergraduates reading History for 8 hours a week (averaged over three eight-week terms of the academic year); (ii) to undertake the normal duties of a college tutor, which include setting and marking collections (internal termly examinations), assisting with admissions and access work, and organizing the teaching of options by external specialists; (iii) to engage in advanced study or research
subject to the University’s research integrity and ethics policies; (iv) to participate in courses, particularly those enhancing career development, run by the University’s Centre for Teaching and Learning.

(b) Pastoral

The new Fellow will share with the other Tutors in History pastoral responsibility for all undergraduates in the College reading History or one of the joint schools involving History. In addition, the Fellow may be required to act as college advisor to a number of Visiting and Postgraduate students studying History or related subjects.

(c) Administrative

The Fellow will be a member of the Governing Body (subject to appointment as a charity trustee) and of the Tutorial Board, and is required to attend their meetings. In addition, the Fellow will be required to participate in the general administration of the College. This may involve, from time to time, serving on College committees and holding Office within the College and, in conjunction with the College’s Development and Alumni Office, regular contact with alumni.

(d) University Duties

The Fellow will be expected to give 16 hours of University lectures or classes each year. These may be at undergraduate or graduate level. There are opportunities for participation in Master’s courses relating to the Fellow’s research specialism/s.

Stipend

The stipend (including a special pension scheme) will be fixed according to the DAAD regulation, with an additional College contribution (£20,325 p.a. 2023/24).

The Fellow will also be entitled to lunch and dinner free of charge, and to small allowances for entertainment of students (currently £356 p.a.) and to cover research expenditure (currently £2,200 p.a.).

In addition, the Fellow will be entitled to a teaching room in College, and to the use of a computer. Single living accommodation in college-owned premises may be available, with reduction of stipend.

The College provides for maternity, paternity and sick leave on the same basis as the University. Full details are on the website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/staffinfo/academic/.

Conditions

(a) As a Fellow of Wadham College, the successful candidate will be a member of the Governing Body (subject to appointment as a charity trustee), and will hold the Fellowship under the terms of the Statutes and By-laws in force from time to time.

(b) Election to the Fellowship will be for a minimum of two academic years, with the possibility of extension for up to five academic years in total. There is a probationary period of one year; during the Easter vacation of the first year, the Fellow will therefore be expected to provide a report on research, teaching and other activities for the Senior Tutor to communicate to the Academic Policy Committee, and comments will be sought from the other tutors in History.

(c) The College reserves the right to require the Fellow to undertake some of their college duties and other responsibilities for another college.

Full information about the selection process can be found at: https://www2.daad.de/ausland/lehren/daadlektoren/de/16886-freie-lektorate-und-dozenturen/?s=1&projektid=57713552&page=1. You will find the post by clicking on ‘Übersicht über die zu besetzenden Standorte’ in the section ‘Ausschreibungstexte‘.

Candidates for college interviews will be chosen in Bonn, by a selection committee including one of the College’s History tutors.

The College will arrange its interviews as soon as possible after the interviews in Bonn. Travel costs will be met and accommodation will be provided by the college. Candidates will be asked to give a 10-15 minute presentation on a topic in 20th-century history, as if to an undergraduate audience, and to answer questions on their presentation. There will also be a half-hour interview.

For further information about Wadham College please see www.wadham.ox.ac.uk.

For further information about the Oxford Faculty of History please see https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/.

Informal enquiries about the post should be addressed to senior.tutor@wadham.ox.ac.uk.