2021

The Roman Society is pleased to invite applications for its 2021 Museum & Heritage Summer Placement Scheme.  The placements may be held at the following museums / heritage organisations listed below. Placements at Corbridge and the Great North Museum are subject to coronavirus restrictions being lifted. The other placements will offer digital projects if it is not possible to work onsite.

• Corbridge Roman Site:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/corbridge-roman-town-hadrians-wall/

The successful candidate will work on an aspect of the Hadrian’s Wall Collections with English Heritage.

• Corinium Museum, Cirencester: https://coriniummuseum.org/

The successful candidate will work with the museum’s Roman collection.

• Great North Museum, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne: https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/

The successful candidate will worth Andrew Parkin, Keeper of Archaeology, on the collections and gain an insight into the varied tasks of working in a museum.

• English Heritage: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete three different tasks: 1) historical research on an aspect of Roman history, including life in a Roman city, Roman bathing, and early-modern / modern literary responses to Roman sites; 2) the interpretation of historical material to the public, including the preparation of display panels, family trails and reconstruction drawings; 3) shadowing a historian at project meetings and helping to prepare project documents. The exact programme will be determined by its timing, project requirements, and the interests of the candidate.

• Institute of Classical Studies: http://ics.sas.ac.uk/

This placement offers the opportunity to gain experience in digital classics research. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to implement a small, supervised but independent piece of work related to one of the Institute’s projects, for example: catalogue digital classics resources; compile and visualise a spatial dataset of classical entities or texts. Advanced digital skills are not a requirement, but familiarity with basic tools such as spreadsheets and database tables would be an advantage.

• The Ure Museum, University of Reading: https://collections.reading.ac.uk/ure-museum/

The successful candidate will work on research in the archives and database in order to maximise the usefulness & searchability of the collections & may co-curate an exhibition.

How to Apply

• The dates of the placements may be determined by consultation between the successful candidates and institutions but are usually for 2-3 weeks during the summer vacation.
• All Undergraduate and MA students are eligible to apply.
• Applications from overseas students are welcomed but it would be safer to apply for the digital projects as travel restrictions may still be in place during the summer.
• Bursaries of £300 will be offered as a contribution towards travel or living expenses.
• Candidates should apply by letter setting out their reasons for wishing to undertake a placement and outlining any previous experience.You should also provide the name and email address of a referee.You may specify the Museum or organisation you would prefer to be based at, or submit an open application.
• Queries and letters of application should be addressed to the Secretary, Dr Fiona Haarer, and sent by email by 30 April, 2021 to: office@romansociety.org

Reports

Read reports from previous bursary holders here.