The International Gothic Association (IGA) is delighted to invite applications for the role of Secretary to The Allan Lloyd Smith and Justin D. Edwards Memorial Book Prizes. This position provides a unique opportunity for a postgraduate or early-career researcher with a strong interest in Gothic studies to contribute meaningfully to the recognition and celebration of scholarly excellence in our field.

Role Overview

The secretary will assist with the coordination and delivery of the IGA’s Memorial Book Prizes, which are awarded to outstanding publications in Gothic scholarship at the International Gothic Association’s flagship biannual conference. The secretary will administer the nomination, review, and award processes and provide essential support to the Chair of the Prizes, Dr Sara-Patricia Wasson.

The successful applicant will receive a fee of £300.

Key Responsibilities

The secretary will:

• Support the biennial prize cycle, including calls for nominations, processing nominations, and communicating with publishers and nominators to ensure that panelists obtain copies of the nominated works. Additional details are below.
• Support the Chair in developing and testing the nomination form and process (January 2026)
• Process nominations, checking eligibility (e.g. time span of publication and membership status of nominators), emailing confirmations, and assembling and checking a report (Jan-Feb 2026).
• Liaise with publishers and panel members to obtain copies of the works for all panellists, and follow up with publishers pro-actively where books have not yet been received. This work is intensive during March and April, with spikes of activity continuing during May.
• Maintain accurate records and timelines for all prize-related activities.
• Support the Chair’s announcements, publicity, and dissemination of prize results via IGA channels.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of prize procedures and documentation.
• Approximately 5 hours a week average for the five months Jan to May, although those hours will be especially concentrated in mid Jan-mid Feb, and April.

Person Specification

• Postgraduate student or early-career researcher in Gothic studies or a related field (e.g. literature, cultural studies, film, art history).
• A track record of excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Familiarity with Google Sheets and Microsoft Forms.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks with attention to detail.
• Familiarity with academic publishing and scholarly networks in Gothic studies.
• Commitment to promoting inclusivity and excellence in the field.
• Availability during the February- May time span for more intensive stages in the administrative activity, with particular peaks in February, March and April.

Benefits

• Opportunity to gain professional experience in academic administration.
• Enhanced visibility and networking within the international Gothic studies community.
• Contribution to the recognition of scholarly achievement in a vibrant and evolving field.

If you are interested in applying, please send a copy of your CV and a short statement of support to Joseph Crawford at J.Crawford@exeter.ac.uk, CC-ing the International Gothic Association (members@globalgoth.org), by January 19, 2026.