Postdoctoral Fellowship ‘Performing the Jewish Archive’, University of Leeds

Fixed-term postdoctoral fellowship (40 months) based at the University of Leeds, School of Music, as part of the £1.8 m international research project “Performing the Jewish Archive” (AHRC Theme ‘Care for the Future’).

About the role

You will join a large international team led by Dr Stephen Muir (Principal Investigator) and Co-Investigators from the Universities of York, Wisconsin-Madison, and Sydney. The project explores unique archival materials relating to Jewish music, theatre, and literature c.1880–1950, working with partner organisations such as The National Archives, British Library, Anne Frank Trust, Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association, Hans Gál Trust, and major Jewish and non-Jewish museums and archives worldwide.

The role is based in Leeds but involves substantial UK and international travel. The project aims to recover, theorise, and re-animate Jewish creative artefacts through scholarly research, public performances, educational projects, and digital resources. Key outputs include five international festivals, an interactive web resource, and policy recommendations to governmental bodies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct archival and ethnographic research (interviews, transcriptions, observations) on Jewish music, theatre, and literature.
• Collaborate with academic and non-academic partners globally.
• Contribute to scholarly conferences, publications, and public performances.
• Assist in organising international festivals and audience engagement activities.
• Develop and test methods for audience response evaluation.
• Support the creation of an online database and ‘co-textual archival user dashboard’.

Requirements

• PhD in Music or a relevant subject area (e.g., Jewish studies, archival studies, Holocaust studies), or equivalent research experience.
• Expertise in Jewish music, theatre, or literature; archival studies; or Holocaust studies.
• Experience with archival and ethnographic research methodologies (desirable).
• Experience organising or participating in public performances (desirable).
• Excellent interpersonal, team-working, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and collaborate across academic and non-academic sectors.

Skills

• Fluency in German, Czech, Polish, Hebrew, or Yiddish (advantageous).
• Experience in conference organisation or public-engagement activities (desirable).

Pay

Salary range: £31,342 to £37,394 per annum. Appointment is likely to be at or below £35,256 due to funding limitations.

Schedule

Fixed-term contract from 30 November 2014 to 29 March 2018.