Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
- Department: Centre for Ius Commune
- Research Field: Juridical sciences; History » History of law
- Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
- Positions: Postdoc Positions
- Application Deadline: 30 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw)
- Country: Poland
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours Per Week: 40
- Offer Starting Date: 1 Dec 2026
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC
Offer Description
Postdoctoral Position in the Research Project PetrIUS: Petrification of ius commune through printed paratexts. Full-time position, temporary contract with the first contract for 6 months, 36 months in total
The responsibilities of this position will include in general:
- Researching the printed legal paratexts.
- Collecting and analyzing literature dedicated to printed paratexts.
- Contributing to the preparation of scholarly articles.
- Presenting research findings at conferences and academic seminars.
- Organizing seminars focused on the themes of the project.
- Cooperation within a research team (required work performance at the place of employment).
In particular, Postdoc 2 will implement WP2 and WP3 together with Postdoc 3 under the supervision of principal investigator:
WP2 Investigation of paratexts origins and variants.
WP3 Research on paratexts forming part of the printed corpora iuris.
WP2 Investigation of paratexts origins and variants. The first hypotheses on the origin of different paratexts will be formulated on the basis of the comparative reading of various printed works (editions of sources, commentaries, treatises, etc.), and only afterward will they need verification based on the examination of the manuscripts. This ‘backward’ direction will be complemented with the comparative analysis of the printed variants of paratexts. It is justified to avoid time-consuming research dedicated to the manuscripts. As PetrIUS focuses on the printed paratexts, this direction of research is justified to verify the claims about the original authors and sources of paratextual material. It will not be our goal to trace the history of every single paratext, and the focus of PetrIUS lies not on the manuscript transmission of paratexts. We will instead provide enough case studies to make justified claims about the history of particular types of paratexts. The variants of paratexts will be examined from the late medieval manuscripts, through incunabula, and up to ‘classical’ editions of corpora iuris and beyond. The investigation of handwritten material will be necessary to prove direct links between various types of printed paratexts and the original sources from which they might have been 4 excerpted. The tasks which will contribute to this WP are as follows:
- providing samples of variants of paratexts in the printed source editions together with their assumed original authors;
- preparing the draft list of the late medieval works from which the paratexts were excerpted;
- verification of consistency between the paratexts added to the source editions and their original sources in print;
- the latter will serve to prepare the list of works that should be investigated in manuscripts in order to prove the initial attribution of origins of certain types and variants of paratexts;
- study of manuscripts in search of the passages that were later incorporated in the printed corpora iuris as paratexts;
- comparative analysis of the found passages and printed paratexts to determine the possible sources used by the early modern editors and to trace the development of variants of paratexts;
- contribution to the database IVS Commune coordinated by Maria Alessandra Panzanelli Fratoni with the information about the paratextual strata of the editions of the corpora iuris;
- exemplification of these processes by a handful of case studies.
WP3 Research on paratexts forming part of the printed corpora iuris. The key action of this WP is to unfold and describe the methods applied by printers and editors in preparing the apparatuses to the editions of legal books and the factors that influenced the success of respective editions. A series of tasks will provide a variety of data on the paratexts as a phenomenon within the development of early modern book production:
- overview of the literature dedicated to the marginalia in the printed early modern books in search for some useful conceptualizations, methodological guidelines, and other inspirations;
- tracing the references to paratexts (in the narrow meaning applied in this proposal) in other paratextual materials (in the broad meaning: title pages, forewords, indexes, colophons, etc.);
- study on the evolution of page layout and the presence of paratexts in the printed legal books;
- research on the impact of paratexts on the market of printed legal books (to map out the success of particular editions of corpora iuris);
- comparison of the development of new printing techniques with the development of paratexts (to what extent the latter has been made possible by the former);
- discussion over the relations between early modern ars excerpendi and legal paratexts;
- detailed analysis of the publishing agenda of the most important printers and publishers of corpora iuris in order to determine the factors that had influenced the publishers’ choices concerning paratexts;
- collation of all clues illuminating the relations between printers and editors (i.a., the duration of the cooperation between them, the presentation of editors in the printed volumes they have edited, and the relevance of editorial work in their curricula);
- listing and analysis of the handwritten additions to the source editions related to paratexts;
- research on the impact of paratexts on the market of the printed legal books and the contribution of paratext to legal communication and the ‘visual turn’ of the early modern period;
- exemplification of these processes by a handful of case studies.
Monthly salary:
a. 7 600 PLN before taxation/monthly
b. Other remuneration components (based on AMU Remuneration Regulations)
• ca 5 017 PLN before taxation/monthly supplementary (project) remuneration for team member (defending a doctoral thesis up to 5 years before the current recruitment)
• ca 6 450 PLN before taxation/monthly supplementary (project) remuneration for an experienced team member
Where to apply
E-mail: karolina.pelka-gawlik@amu.edu.pl
Requirements
Research Field: Juridical sciences
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Research Field: History » History of law
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
The call is open to individuals who meet the requirements specified in Article 113 of the Act of July 20, 2018, Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws 2024, item 1571 as amended), and who also meet the following requirements:
- PhD in the humanities or social sciences (preferably in legal history), obtained no later than before the commencement of employment.
- Interest in the history of law in the late medieval and early modern period, particularly in the history of ius commune and the history of legal book.
- Familiarity with the methods necessary for carrying out the tasks of the postdoctoral position is required (legal history). Knowledge of methods typical of book history, palaeography, and digital humanities will be considered an advantage.
- Experience in conducting research on historical legal sources, confirmed by academic publications.
- Excellent command of English and at least good command of one of the following languages: Italian, German, French, or Spanish as well as at least passive knowledge of Latin (documented through publications based on the analysis of Latinlanguage sources).
- Excellent skills in project management and work organization (both individually and in coordinating others).
- Ability to collaborate effectively within a research team.
- Familiarity with computer programs necessary for academic research.
Specific Requirements
Experience in research and international collaboration are necessary. Contributions to other research projects will be considered a significant advantage. Teaching experience is not required.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Juridical sciences / History » History of law
Additional Information
Benefits
- an atmosphere of respect and cooperation
- supporting employees with disabilities
- flexible working hours
- funding for language learning
- co-financing of training and courses
- additional days off for education
- life insurance
- pension plan
- savings and investment fund
- preferential loans
- additional social benefits
- leisure-time funding
- subsidizing children's vacations
- "13th" salary • healthcare package
Eligibility criteria
- Academic achievements, in particular publications (20%):
5 pts – outstanding
4 pts – very good
3 pts – good
2 pts – average
1 pt – poor
0 pts – no academic achievements - Achievements resulting from conducting scientific research, including participation in research projects, international cooperation, research fellowships, awards and distinctions, teaching achievements, organizational achievements and other (20%):
5 pts – outstanding
4 pts – very good
3 pts – good
2 pts – average
1 pt – poor
0 pts – no achievements - Competence to carry out specific tasks in the research project, assessed e.g. during the interview (60%):
5 pts – excellent
4 pts – very good
3 pts – good
2 pts – average
1 pt – poor
0 pts – no competence
Selection process
- Competition committee begins working no later than 14 days after the deadline for submission of documents.
- Formal evaluation of submitted proposals.
- Call to provide additional or missing documents if necessary.
- Selection of candidates to proceed to the interview stage and provision of additional materials and detailed information regarding the scope of the interview, including the tasks that candidates should prepare before the interview.
- Online interview. The interview with selected candidates will include candidates’ responses to questions related to the postdoctoral position and its responsibilities, a discussion of the source materials provided, and a review of the tasks assigned in advance.
- The committee has the right to request external reviews of candidates' work.
- The chair of the competition committee announces the results and informs the candidates. This information will include justification with a reference to candidates' strengths and weaknesses.
Additional comments
Please include the suffix "Postdoc 2" in the subject line of your email.
Prospects for professional development
The Centre for Ius Commune at Adam Mickiewicz University based at the Faculty of Law and Administration is a dynamic hub for advanced legal history research. Extensive international cooperation and the implementation of both national and international research projects provide excellent conditions for the development of scholarly activity. Regularly organized academic seminars offer opportunities for meaningful and intensive teambased research. A key advantage of working here is the collegial and supportive team environment, set in friendly and stable conditions. Moreover, the Legal History Journal (Czasopismo Prawno-Historyczne), published by the Faculty, serves as an important forum for academic discussion among legal historians. The Department, Faculty, and University also provide support for applying for research funding at both national and international levels.
Website for additional job details: https://bip.amu.edu.pl/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/674480/Postdoc-2-zal-1_26_konkurs-NA-ogloszenie_EN.pdf
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Centre for Ius Commune, Faculty of Law and Administration
Country: Poland
State/Province: Greater Poland Voivodeship
City: Poznań
Postal Code: 61-714
Street: Al. Niepodległości 53
Contact
State/Province: Wielkopolska
City: Poznań
Website: http://www.amu.edu.pl
Street: Wieniawskiego 1
Postal Code: 61-712
E-Mail: klinke@amu.edu.pl
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