Postdoctoral position in Latin and Greek Literature

(4 years, SNSF Project ’CITE’)

The Department of Ancient Civilizations is home to all disciplines within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences concerned with the ancient world (archaeology, history, literature). The Department invites applications for a postdoctoral research position in Latin and Greek Literature in the framework of the SNSF/AHRC-funded research project CITE: Citation, Indirect Transmission, Exegesis. Modes of Reading in Antiquity, which will run jointly in Basel and Cambridge.

The full-time position will commence on 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter and will be available for four years.

Deadline for applications: 19 January 2025.
Starting date: 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.


The project CITE

Formed by two project groups in Basel and Cambridge, and led by specialists in Greek and Latin Literature and Ancient Philosophy (Prof. Cédric Scheidegger Laemmle, Basel; Prof. Richard Hunter and Prof. Gábor Betegh, Cambridge), the cross-disciplinary project CITE is dedicated to the study of the indirect transmission of ancient literature and philosophy, but shifts attention from textual problems to questions of meaning, interpretation and transmission history raised by the citing texts themselves. Comprising six case studies which together capture central forms of ancient reading practice across the full spectrum of literary, philosophical and technical writing, CITE seeks to contribute to our understanding of how ancient theories of reading and interpretation are applied and how they can be situated on a continuum of reading practices across interpretative and linguistic communities and entrenched boundaries of genre, language and discipline.

Your position

The successful candidate will work primarily with Prof. Scheidegger Laemmle and Prof. Hunter to study instances of self-repetition and self-recapitulation across the full spectrum of literary, philosophical and technical writing, with a view to completing a monograph within the project’s lifetime. The researcher will make a significant contribution to the comparative study of the quotational and interpretative practices in Greek and Roman literature which will be a shared focus of all project members. In addition, they will play an important role in mentoring PhD candidates and facilitating exchanges both within the project teams and beyond, not least by contributing to the organisation of workshops and conferences.

Your profile

Candidates are expected to have successfully completed their doctorate in Classics / Latin and/or Greek Literature. Experience in the study of indirect traditions, ancient critical practice and textual transmission is desirable. Candidates should have teaching experience and a strong publication record commensurate with the career stage. They will pursue a wide range of interests in Latin and Greek literature and value interdisciplinary approaches and dialogue with colleagues and students; ability to work collegially within an international team is essential.

We offer you

The Department of Ancient Civilizations offers a stimulating research environment in a friendly and open atmosphere. The post-holder will have an attractive office space with full access to the University’s excellent infrastructure as well as the resources of the University Library and the departmental library, Bibliothek Altertumswissenschaften, a leading research library for the study of the ancient Mediterranean cultures and Graeco-Roman literature. They will profit from regular interchange with the project teams both in Basel and in Cambridge. The Basel Department regularly hosts visiting scholars (e.g. through the Basel Fellowships in Latin Literature) and is a centre of scholarly exchange both nationally and internationally. The successful candidate will be offered an attractive remuneration package (salary, social benefits) in accordance with the guidelines of the University, with access to the University’s rich programme of Continuing Education, Language Teaching and University Sports.