Peter Bisschop Lectureship in Sanskrit at Edinburgh University Job advertised in The Times Higher , December 3, 2004

With just five UK universities offering courses that include Sanskrit, Peter Bisschop was pleased to be offered a one-year junior research fellowship in Sanskrit at Wolfson College, Oxford, having completed his PhD at Groningen University in northern Holland.

He could not believe his luck, however, when he was then offered a permanent lectureship at Edinburgh University that would dovetail perfectly with his current position.

"The chances of finding a good job in Sanskrit are not so big," Dr Bisschop admitted.

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"And this was precisely the combination of research and teaching in similar areas to mine."

His main teaching duties at Edinburgh will be in Hinduism, although much of this will refer to Sanskrit texts and some students will study the language.

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Although Dr Bisschop has only limited teaching experience from Holland, he is looking forward to his new duties.

"It's good to have a position that is all research, but it gets lonely.

"I have arrived at the point in my career when it is time to transmit knowledge to the next generation," he said.

Dr Bisschop is fond of the northern European climate and is looking forward to moving his family to Edinburgh.

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"I felt confident about the interview and wasn't surprised by the questions," he recalled.

"I felt this is exactly the kind of place I would like to live."

Photograph by Geraint Lewis