Postdoctoral Researcher in Early Modern History

Post-Doctoral Researcher in Early Modern History - School of History and Radical Humanities Laboratory

36 Months Fixed Term, Whole-time Post

Applications are invited for the position of Post-Doctoral Researcher in Early Modern History on the DeepCattle project, a 5-year ERC Consolidator Grant led by Prof Eugene Costello in the School of History and Radical Humanities Laboratory, University College Cork. DeepCattle breaks new ground in global environmental history by investigating the pre-industrial origins of commercial cattle farming. It uncovers how the growth of beef and dairy production in rural areas of Europe fed trade networks and the rise of urban centres over the period, c.1240-1840 AD. At the same time, it reveals the consequences of increasingly market-focused cattle farming for society and biodiversity in rural regions. Its main study areas are in Ireland, Scotland and Sweden, with secondary study areas in the Alps and Hungary. DeepCattle is a highly interdisciplinary project, combining research in historical archives with archaeological and palaeoecological fieldwork.

We are seeking a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Early Modern History to join our interdisciplinary team for 3 years. The successful candidate will work with us to examine changes in farming practices, landholding and trade associated with the commercialisation of cattle farming, with a focus on early modern Scotland and Ireland (c.1450-1700). This is a period in which administrative records about property, production and commerce start to become plentiful for livestock-focused areas of Europe. Many of these records remain under-exploited, however. The Post-Doctoral Researcher will undertake research on manuscript sources from Scotland and Ireland in order to uncover evidence for the growth of commercial cattle droving and dairying in these countries, and understand how this development transformed rural society and the wider economy. Moreover, by joining DeepCattle, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to expand their international network and develop an interdisciplinary profile.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

Project: DeepCattle: The Deep History of Commercial Cattle Farming in Europe, c.1240-1840 AD
For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/ The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

Informal inquiries can be made in confidence to Eugene Costello, Professor, School of History and Radical Humanities Laboratory; Email: ecostello@ucc.ie

For further information on the hiring unit, please see: https://www.ucc.ie/en/history/

University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028. UCC holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives

Salary: €47,273 - €53,925 p.a (IUA PD1 Salary Scale)

Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

We encourage you to reach out to us directly should you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process.

Please note interviews will be conducted either online via Microsoft Teams or in person in the first instance. Candidates may also be required to attend interviews in person if an interview takes place online. Candidates will be notified as appropriate

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to hrresearchqueries@ucc.ie quoting the job-title.

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 20th November 2026.

No late applications will be accepted.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

Contact Person : Prof. Eugene Costello

Contact Email : ecostello@ucc.ie

Job ID : 099913

Contact Number :

Close Date : 20-Nov-2026 12:00