Research

The School of Religions and Theology is a centre of research in biblical studies, Jewish studies, Christian theology, and ethics. Our research activity includes four collaborative research programmes; the staging of lectures and seminars by international scholars; a regular Senior Research Seminar at which members of staff, colleagues in other departments, and visitors to Trinity present their work; regular Postgraduate Research Seminars at which research students meet to discuss each others' work; and, of course, the research projects of individual staff members of the School.

Below you may find further information about our four collaborative research programmes (The Centre for Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies, The Herzog Centre for Jewish and Near Eastern Religion and Culture, "Religion, Ethics, and Globalisation", and "Religion and Political Liberalism"),our Postgraduate module on Research Ethics, and about our Postgraduate Research Seminars.

Research Programmes

• Centre for Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies
  The Centre for Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies seminar is part of a new research development between the School and the School of Classics. Beginning as a succesful three-year joint research proposal within the framework of the Government funded Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) scheme some eight years ago, the Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies programme had its funding renewed for a further five year period. This funding has considerably supported the Centre's focus on the cultural interchange between the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds that forms the very basis of western civilization. It uses its resources to support postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and to facilitate academic association by bringing international experts to Dublin and by enabling its members to travel abroad for conferences, library research, and fieldwork.
• Herzog Centre for Jewish and Near Eastern Religion and Culture
  The Herzog Centre for Jewish and Near Eastern Religion and Culture serves as the framework for the development of Jewish Studies in the School, in Trinity College, and in Ireland. The centre hosts a widerange of public lectures and conferences, has funded postgraduate and postdoctoral fellowships, and continues to play vital role in the promotion of a unique educational opportunity in Ireland; to study Judaism and Christianity in a non-denominational, Arts Humanities environment.
• "Religion, Ethics, and Globalisation"
  Members of the School collaborate with colleagues in the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE) in a research project on "Interreligious Ethics and the Cultural Dynamics of Globalisation " under the auspices of Trinity College's Institute for International Integration Studies. To date the project's funds have been used to host the following international experts: Professor Max Stackhouse (Princeton University), Professor John Kelsay (Florida State University), Professor Ian Linden (School of Oriental and African Studies, London); and Prof. Hans Joas (Max Weber-Kolleg, Erfurt, Germany/University of Chicago).
• "Religion and Political Liberalism"
  The School and the ISE also collaborate with the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds, England in running a project on "Religion and Political Liberalism" (Colloquium details, Microsoft Word document, 49k). This found initial expression in an international colloquium on "Religious Voices in Public Places", which was held in Leeds in June 2003 (forthcoming from Oxford University Press). A subsequent colloquium on "The Christian Foundations of Liberal Society" was held at TCD in June 2006.

Research Ethics

As the coordinating institution for two new postgraduate generic skills modules financed by the Strategic Innovation Fund, Trinity College has requested that the School of Religions and Theology, along with the Irish School of Ecumenics, develop the major part of an inter-institutional course on Research Ethics across the disciplines. This module in Research Ethics is aimed at Graduate Students registered for a Post-Graduate Research degree at TCD, UCC or NUIG. It will run in 2008 from May 14th-15th and from June 10th -12th at TCD. Information and registration forms.

Further queries regarding information and registration for 2008 can be directed to Dr. Cathriona Russell.

Information on the programme can be acquired from Prof. Maureen Junker-Kenny of the School of Religions & Theology.

 

Postgraduate Research Seminars

The School of Religions and Theology supports two Postgraduate Research Seminars, one in Biblical Studies and the other in Theology & Ethics. Research students are encouraged and expected to participate in at least one of them.

Held weekly during term-time, the postgraduate seminars involve relevant members of staff as well as relevant research students. Their purposes are several: to provide research students with a basic intellectual community; to offer them opportunities to learn how to present their work in public and to have it discussed; and to help expand their academic reach. The form that these seminars take varies. Sometimes, they comprise a discussion of a chosen text; sometimes, the presentation of a student's work; and sometimes, attending a lecture by a visiting scholar. The programmes of the two Postgraduate Research Seminars incorporate that of the Senior Research Seminars, which research students are also expected to attend.

Government of Ireland Post-Doctoral Fellowships

We welcome enquiries from qualified candidates who would like to explore the possibility of applying for a Government of Ireland Post-Doctoral Fellowships in the Humanities and Social Sciences in association with the School.

Contact: jwelch@tcd.ie | Last updated: Sep 19 2011 | Back to top