Summary: Applications are invited for a PhD researcher to work on the NorseMap Project in the School of English and Digital Humanities under the direction of Professor Tom Birkett.

Background and objectives:

NorseMap is a 5-year project funded by the European Research Council, using citizen science methodologies to gather data on the Viking legacy from across Europe and mapping the evolution of responses to the Viking past over time. The PI and PhD researcher will be working on the ‘Literature & Art’ strand of the project, which will involve gathering data on the representations of the Vikings and Norse mythology in, for example, children’s literature from the English, Scandinavian and German traditions, examining the crossover between literature and art within different national and regional contexts, tracing the evolution of ideas and misconceptions about the Viking past within literary circles, and assessing the impact of literature on other forms of representation in the political, commercial, GLAM and tourism sectors.

To achieve this objective, the project is seeking to recruit a PhD student with training in Old Norse Viking Studies to masters or equivalent level, and with a working knowledge of (or intention to master) either German, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. The PhD researcher will contribute to community collection initiatives in the first six months of the project, and combine this data with traditional source and archival study to investigate the circulation of ideas within and between German and Scandinavian literary and/or artistic communities since the 1800s. The aim will be to identify where and when particular ideas about or representations of the Vikings and Old Norse culture more generally entered the public domain, and to reconstruct networks of exchange and influence in collaboration with the PI, who will be investigating the English-language tradition. There is scope within this broad remit to focus in on a particular subset of artistic or literary material for the thesis.

This doctoral research is fully funded and will give the candidate the opportunity to contribute to a high-profile initiative in the field of Old Norse Viking Studies, as well as to collaborate with established researchers and mentors, to attend and present at conferences, and to co-publish results. The School of English and Digital Humanities is a large and dynamic school with a strong medieval contingent. It hosts several international projects with a digital component, including GENCHRON, CASCADE, and NorseMap, and has a thriving PhD community. The structured PhD allows the candidate to take taught modules for credit, and includes mentoring, training and development opportunities.

Job Specification:

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who is willing to work as part of a team, who is not afraid of reaching out to and engaging with the public, and who shares a passion for the subject and the way that the Vikings have been reinvented in the public domain.

Responsibilities will include:

• Taking responsibility for the collection of data relating to literature and art in Germany and selected areas of Scandinavia;
• Publicising the collection initiative, and reaching out to potential collaborators;
• Creating data sets relating to the circulation of texts and artworks, and interpreting this data using digital tools;
• Conducting archival research on historical representations of the Vikings / Norse mythology in the German and/or Scandinavian artistic traditions;
• Integrating all findings into the wider project archive, and linking datapoints to facilitate a deep map of the reception landscape;
• Linking up data on the contemporary use of the Vikings in literature and art with historical analysis to explain how ideas have evolved over time;
• Identifying particular case studies within the field of literature & art (for example, children’s literature, or public artworks) for intensive investigation and analysis;
• Seeking out opportunities to present at conferences and disseminate the project’s findings;
• Write and publish articles and chapters – some co-authored with co-participants – in top journals in English, and possibly in local and regional languages;
• Assisting team with organisation of project launch, workshops, and final conference;
• Remaining a dedicated member of the project throughout the four-year duration of the PhD;
• Diligently following the project’s ethics and data management protocols.

Funding: The doctorate is fully funded by the European Research Council and includes a salary and payment of UCC’s doctoral fees.

Start date: 01 April 2026

Eligibility criteria

Essential:

• Strong written and verbal command of academic English;
• A BA in a subject relevant to the project;
• Postgraduate training in some aspect of Old Norse Viking Studies;
• Evidence of expertise, dedication and motivation to write and publish top-quality publications in English;
• Motivation to engage with non-academic partners and to collaborate with the public to collect data;
• High level of digital literacy;
• Interest in the reception and legacy of early medieval culture.

Desirable:

• Reading fluency in German or one or more Scandinavian languages
• Experience engaging with non-academic stakeholders, such as local history groups, re-enactors, tourist boards, galleries and museums, artists, Viking metal groups, etc.
• Experience of working with archives and large data sets
• Experience of presenting and disseminating research findings