Postdoctoral Research Associate
The Archaeology Data Service (ADS), based within the Department of Archaeology at the University of York, is seeking an outstanding Postdoctoral Research Associate in Assyriology. The ADS is a world-leading accredited digital repository providing digital data archiving services for UK archaeology and forms part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s research infrastructure.
The successful candidate will join the project “Cuneiform in Translation: Arabic”, led from the ADS by Dr Émilie Pagé-Perron. This project is part of the “Towards Universal Access to Cuneiform Heritage” (TUA-CH) research programme, which is closely linked to the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI)—a crucial research infrastructure curating over 430,000 records of cuneiform artifacts.
The appointed researcher will be at the forefront of opening up access to Sumerian literature, Akkadian classics, and other ancient texts by producing translations into Arabic directly from the original languages.
Key Responsibilities and Role Details:
Prepare critical editions, translations, linguistic annotations, and glossary records for Sumerian and Akkadian texts across different genres, with a focus on literary texts.
Utilize the digital infrastructure of the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI) in close collaboration with the broader TUA-CH project team.
Present ongoing research findings at academic conferences and contribute to scholarly publications.
Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed-term contract.
Job Reference Number: 15239.
Shortlisting Requirements (Pre-Interview Submissions): Applicants who are successfully shortlisted will be requested to provide the following materials prior to the interview date:
An example of research output (e.g., a thesis chapter, journal article, or graduate paper).
A short original translation and commentary for both a Sumerian text and an Akkadian text (can be new work, from prior studies, or an excerpt from a thesis).
Eligibility Criteria
PhD in Assyriology or equivalent professional research experience.
Required expertise/skills
Excellent command of the ancient languages Sumerian and Akkadian.
Excellent knowledge of the Arabic language (C2 level or near-native fluency).
Good working knowledge of the English language (B2 level or higher).
Excellent written and oral communication skills to engage effectively with a wide-ranging audience in Arabic.
Strong competency in working both independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary digital research environments.
Salary details £37,694 to £42,254 per annum
Application Deadline 23rd August 2026