Job Description

PhD Scholarship with Graduate Teaching Assistantship,

Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland.


The Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS) seeks to award a PhD scholarship with associated Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) to an outstanding doctoral candidate with clear potential to excel as an academic teacher and researcher. The GTA PhD scholarship is a four-year fixed term position: Students undertake a PhD over four years alongside a 0.25 FTE teaching contract. Remuneration consists of a PhD stipend of 15,585 per annum

plus

a salary of 7,701. In addition, PhD tuition fees will be covered.

Purpose of Role

Under the leadership of the Head of Department, the role-holder will provide teaching support in German, including large and small group teaching, tutorials and assessment activities, alongside a PhD in the following project:

AI and the translation profession in Germany. This project explores the organising landscape of translators in Germany. An increasing number of manifestos have been issued by translators' associations and other groups that bring together members of the profession, expressing caution and scepticism around AI use in translation. Expertise and knowledge about translation technologies and artificial intelligence vary widely among translators and scepticism about these technologies is widespread in the profession. At the same time, the use of technologies in translation is on the rise. This project assesses how translators view recent developments in translation technologies, their application to translation, and influence on the profession. It investigates how translators in Germany voice their views and whether and to what extent they are organized, including their role in producing such manifestos and position statements. Quantitative methods (surveys and questionnaires) will be combined with qualitative data gathering via interviews to address these questions. Large-scale surveys of translators will provide a solid set of data to assess their views, needs and expectations around AI-integrating technologies and current/emerging trends in translation practice. Interviews with representatives of advocacy groups and trade unions will shed light on how the profession's organisation is evolving and explore its aims and future plans. The relationship between these groups of translators will be explored as well as how they inform each other.

The supervisory team for this project will consist of Dr Marion Winters & Prof. Jo Drugan. Candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Winters (

m.winters@hw.ac.uk

) for an informal discussion about their research proposal prior to submitting their application.

Applicants for this project must have German as their first language. Teaching will be agreed with the German section based on the successful applicant's prior experience and interests, and will include linguistic and socio-cultural awareness of contemporary German-speaking societies. Over the period of the award, there may be opportunities to take on teaching in interpreting, translation, and intercultural studies, where appropriate, in discussion with the German section and Head of Department.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Department, the post-holder will:


Undertake a PhD on the topic specified above, maintaining an appropriate rate of progress and engaging in relevant training and other events as required. Develop and deliver teaching in the areas specified above, including delivery to a range of group sizes in both in-person and online environments. Provide flexible, appropriate, and timely support to students using a variety of media. Prepare and mark assessments and provide student feedback as required, and in line with School policies and standards. Contribute to the administrative work of the Department as required. Undertake other duties as required by the Head of Department.
Relevant training will be provided alongside the role. In particular, during the first two years of the contract, the post-holder will be expected to undertake training in teaching and learning as required by the University, as well as the School's PGCert in Research Methods (unless equivalent qualifications are already held).

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Essential

1. An undergraduate degree with a minimum 2:1 classification (or equivalent). 2. A postgraduate Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field. 3. Excellent communication skills. Candidates for whom English is a second language should meet the University's minimum English-language requirements for entry onto the PhD programme. If you have not already studied a degree programme that was taught and examined in the medium of English, the minimum overall IELTS score is 6.5 with no score lower than 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. 4. A viable research proposal for PhD study on the topic listed above. 5. Good general IT skills. 6. Ability to manage own time in order to balance the requirements of teaching and PhD study. 7. Ability to work as part of a teaching team to deliver a high-quality student experience.

Desirable

1. Relevant teaching, research and/or professional experience.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on

Monday 25th August 2025.

Interviews to be held in the week beginning 08 September.


When applying for this role, please submit a single pdf that includes a cover letter that identifies how your skills and experience are a good match for this position, a copy of your PhD research proposal, a copy of your CV, and the names and contact details for two referees.


We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.


Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.


Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .


Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.


Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot-Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.