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2024

November:

Ad Astra PhD Studentship – UCD School of Classics
The School of Classics at UCD is pleased to invite applications from outstanding candidates for
an Ad Astra PhD studentship. The student will work under the supervision of Dr Conor Trainor,
Ad Astra Fellow in the School of Classics. The scholarship is open to EU and non-EU
candidates and consists of a full fee waiver, an annual stipend of €22,000, and an annual
allowance of up to €4,000 for research costs. The scholarship may be held for up to four years
full-time, subject to satisfactory performance. The successful applicant must meet the
University’s standard PhD admission requirements and be accepted onto the School of Classics
PhD programme in time to commence in September 2025.
Applications are invited for research on the following project:
This project will consist of a study of a select body of historical-period material from the site of
Knossos, Crete. The successful candidate will have access to previously excavated, unpublished
ceramic assemblages the Early Iron Age, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic and early Roman
historical periods. This material is currently stored at the Knossos Research Centre of the British
School at Athens. The analysis and interpretation of this material will enhance our
understanding of the urban core of Knossos across the historical period, will provide important
chronological benchmarks for the archaeology of Crete, and will contribute to knowledge of
social, economic and political developments on the island. Initial training in the relevant
ceramic sequences at Knossos will be provided by Dr Trainor.
Requirements:
- Strong academic record including a Master’s degree in Classics, Archaeology or a
cognate field.
- A background in Classical archaeology or a related field of ancient history/material
culture.
- Interest in urban development in the Mediterranean during the ancient historical period.
- Experience of archaeological fieldwork and finds processing.
- Experience undertaking and completing independent research.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work as part of a team.
- Proof of English language proficiency, if English is not the applicant’s first language
(this may not be necessary for applicants who already hold a degree from an English-
speaking institution, or have lived/worked in an English-speaking country).

Desirable:
- Experience working with legacy data.
- Experience working with museum/artefact collections.
- Some knowledge of modern Greek.
- Experience working with archaeological ceramics, ideally in Greece/Crete.
Responsibilities:
- Completion and defence of a PhD thesis in Classics, adhering to UCD's academic
standards.
- Production of research outputs and participation in conferences related to the doctoral
research.
- Collaboration with the supervisor, which may include joint research outputs.
- Active participation in seminars, workshops, and events relevant to the project within the
School of Classics, across UCD, and more widely in the field.
- Completion of 30 ECTS within UCD’s structured PhD programme.
- Completion of UCD’s Research Integrity training.
- Involvement in teaching and tutor training activities, as appropriate.
Application:
To apply please send the following materials to Dr Trainor (conor.trainor1@ucd.ie) before the
deadline of FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2025, with ‘Ad Astra PhD Application’ in the email
subject:
- CV.
- Cover letter stating your relevant experience, your suitability for working on the ceramic
assemblages from historical period Knossos, and your career goals (max. 2,000 words).
- A writing sample with bibliography (max. 5,000 words. Any bibliography is excluded
from the word count).
- The names and contact details (including email addresses) of two academic referees. If a
candidate is shortlisted, referees will be requested to submit references by the date of
interview.
- Evidence of English-language proficiency if necessary - see English Language
Requirements for more information.
- Academic transcripts.
Applications will be reviewed by the School’s Research Committee and selected candidates will
be invited for interview over Zoom in March 2025. The successful candidate will then be asked
to apply for admission to UCD via the online application system. Applications must be
submitted in time for a September 2025 start.

Prospective applicants may contact Dr Trainor with project-related queries:
conor.trainor1@ucd.ie. Other general questions about the application process and UCD may be
directed to the Head of School, Dr Jo Day, Joanna.day@ucd.ie

UCD School of Classics:
UCD is Ireland’s largest university and is one of Europe's leading research-intensive institutions.
At UCD, undergraduate education, Master’s and PhD training, research, innovation, and
community engagement form a dynamic spectrum of activity. The School of Classics is a major
centre of Classical studies in Ireland, offering Latin, ancient Greek, and Greek and Roman
Civilisation to degree level. We contribute to the BA (Joint honours), the BA Humanities
(Classics, Art History and Archaeology; Classics, English, History; Languages, Linguistics, and
Cultures), and the BSc programmes, and have a strong cohort of Masters and PhD students.
Faculty have a diverse range of expertise encompassing ancient languages, texts, archaeology,
history and reception of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. The School is home to the UCD
Classical Museum, the largest collection of Classical antiquities on display in Ireland. We also
pride ourselves on our interdisciplinary links across the College of Arts and Humanities and
UCD more widely, with close ties to other schools such as Archaeology, Art History and
Cultural Policy, History, English Drama and Film, as well the Humanities Institute, the Earth
Institute, and the Centre of Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture.
For further information on the School of Classics see: https://www.ucd.ie/classics/
Further information on Graduate Research at UCD can found here:
https://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/researchstudenthub/researchprogrammes/keypointsonresearc
hprogrammes/phdinanutshell/

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

UCD is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, and
everyone is afforded equality of opportunity. To that end the university adheres to a range of
equality, diversity and inclusion policies. We encourage applicants to consult those policies here
https://www.ucd.ie/equality/. We welcome applications from everyone, including those who
identify with any of the protected characteristics that are set out in our Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion policy.

Spring 2024