Two-Year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship 2010-12: Science, Medicine and Society in Africa
Two-Year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship 2010-12: Science, Medicine and Society in Africa
The study of the role of science and medicine in contemporary Africa is a growing field. Undoubtedly some of the current attention to this subject has been produced by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but the issues go beyond this to include fundamental questions about the definition and role of science in African societies, the history and role of African science professionals and scientific education, the ethics, popular perceptions and interpretations of medical and scientific research in African communities, and expectations of (and disappointments with) medical provision.
This two-year postdoctoral fellowship will be held jointly at the Centre of African Studies and the Department of History and Philosophy of Science. The Fellow will be housed in the Centre and the post administered from there. He/she will report to the Director and Management Committee. The stated aims of the Mellon Postdoctoral scheme include the fostering of connections between different departments of the University and the encouragement of cross-disciplinary work and teaching. We are therefore looking for an imaginative and critical scholar, able to forge links between areas of study and keen to advance the growing field of the study of science, medicine and society in Africa. The successful candidate will have a PhD in the Social Sciences or Humanities. Likely fields include social anthropology, history, sociology, philosophy, psychology and cultural studies as they relate to the study of science and medicine in Africa.
The Centre of African Studies is an interdisciplinary centre, first established in 1965. A lively group of scholars, drawn from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences contributes to the Centre?s active seminar and conference programme. In recent years the Centre has also strengthened collaborative links with African institutions. The Centre is currently entering a period of change and growth. 2010 sees the launch of a new interdisciplinary M Phil in African Studies, convened by Professor Megan Vaughan, with options taught by academics across the humanities and social sciences. A research cluster on the theme of Science, Medicine and Society in Africa is being built up and there is great potential in the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship for further embedding this theme in work in the Centre, linking it to the new M Phil teaching programme and to the outstanding work already being carried out in the Department of History and Philosophy of
Science. Further information about the Centre of African Studies and its activities can be found at: http://www.african.cam.ac.uk/
The Department of History and Philosophy of Science teaches approx. 120 students in NST Parts IB, II and III, runs a substantial M.Phil. in History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science, Technology and Medicine, together with c. 40 PhD students. It is a world-leading institution in the historical study of networks of natural history, environmental knowledge and the biomedical sciences. It helps support the Darwin Correspondence Project and has hosted a highly successful series of research projects in the history of natural history and scientific travel. Tropical medicine and public health are crucial emerging areas for the Department's concerns. Interests in the so-called laboratory revolution in biomedicine and in the debates on population growth, nutrition and welfare have long characterised the self-definitions of science-based medicine and have been of considerable concern for the historians of medicine within the department. The Department seeks to
expand on its teaching, where there are already courses on ?Science and Empire?, ?History of colonial and tropical medicine? and ?History and politics of global health?. The HPS Department is also principal host to a Wellcome Trust-funded Strategic Award, ?From Generation to Reproduction?, whose research strands offer several possibilities of linkage to research projects hosted by the Centre of Africa Studies. Further information about the Department can be found at: http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/
In addition to carrying out their own research and helping to forge a new research community in Cambridge around the theme, the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow will also be required to organise a joint Centre/HPS research seminar (of between four to eight weeks) and to make a contribution to teaching. The precise nature of the teaching will depend on the Fellow?s interests, but the following are concrete possibilities:
- To develop and teach a module in the new MPhil in African Studies on the theme of Science, Medicine and Society in Africa and to supervise dissertations for the MPhil in African Studies
- To contribute a course of lectures to Natural Sciences Tripos Part II HPS, either in Paper 5 Science and Technology Studies or Paper 8 History of Modern Medicine and to contribute to the supervision of MPhil students in the History, Sociology and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine.
The Fellow would participate fully in the intellectual life of both HPS and the Centre of African Studies, and would be expected to use this unique opportunity to develop new research linking these two institutions.
How to Apply:
The application should be submitted in hard copy only and should be sent to
The Administrator
University of Cambridge
Centre of African Studies
The Mond Building
Free School Lane
Cambridge CB2 3RF
The application should consist of:
i. The University?s coversheet for applications for employment, form PD18 (available at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/forms/pd18), complete parts I and III only.
ii. A full c.v., including details of teaching experience.
iii. A list of publications.
iv. A proposal outlining the research the candidates wishes to undertake in Cambridge and the courses s/he proposes to offer
v. Two samples of recent work.
vi. The names of three referees, who should be asked to send references to Dorian Addison directly. It is the candidate?s responsibility to ensure that these arrive by the closing date. Referees should be asked to comment specifically on the candidate?s ability to undertake this role in the department. We will accept references by email to Dorian Addison, da211@cam.ac.uk
The closing date for this job is 12 March 2010. Short listed candidates will be invited to Cambridge on 21 April 2010 to present seminar papers and for interview. Interviews will be carried out in person where possible, but where this is impractical interview via videoconference link may be offered to applicants.
Informal enquiries may be made to
Professor Megan Vaughan, + 44 (0)1223 334396 or email: mav26@cam.ac.uk
Professor John Forrester, +44 (0)1223 334540 or email: jpf11@cam.ac.uk
The study of the role of science and medicine in contemporary Africa is a growing field. Undoubtedly some of the current attention to this subject has been produced by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but the issues go beyond this to include fundamental questions about the definition and role of science in African societies, the history and role of African science professionals and scientific education, the ethics, popular perceptions and interpretations of medical and scientific research in African communities, and expectations of (and disappointments with) medical provision.
This two-year postdoctoral fellowship will be held jointly at the Centre of African Studies and the Department of History and Philosophy of Science. The Fellow will be housed in the Centre and the post administered from there. He/she will report to the Director and Management Committee. The stated aims of the Mellon Postdoctoral scheme include the fostering of connections between different departments of the University and the encouragement of cross-disciplinary work and teaching. We are therefore looking for an imaginative and critical scholar, able to forge links between areas of study and keen to advance the growing field of the study of science, medicine and society in Africa. The successful candidate will have a PhD in the Social Sciences or Humanities. Likely fields include social anthropology, history, sociology, philosophy, psychology and cultural studies as they relate to the study of science and medicine in Africa.
The Centre of African Studies is an interdisciplinary centre, first established in 1965. A lively group of scholars, drawn from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences contributes to the Centre?s active seminar and conference programme. In recent years the Centre has also strengthened collaborative links with African institutions. The Centre is currently entering a period of change and growth. 2010 sees the launch of a new interdisciplinary M Phil in African Studies, convened by Professor Megan Vaughan, with options taught by academics across the humanities and social sciences. A research cluster on the theme of Science, Medicine and Society in Africa is being built up and there is great potential in the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship for further embedding this theme in work in the Centre, linking it to the new M Phil teaching programme and to the outstanding work already being carried out in the Department of History and Philosophy of
Science. Further information about the Centre of African Studies and its activities can be found at: http://www.african.cam.ac.uk/
The Department of History and Philosophy of Science teaches approx. 120 students in NST Parts IB, II and III, runs a substantial M.Phil. in History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science, Technology and Medicine, together with c. 40 PhD students. It is a world-leading institution in the historical study of networks of natural history, environmental knowledge and the biomedical sciences. It helps support the Darwin Correspondence Project and has hosted a highly successful series of research projects in the history of natural history and scientific travel. Tropical medicine and public health are crucial emerging areas for the Department's concerns. Interests in the so-called laboratory revolution in biomedicine and in the debates on population growth, nutrition and welfare have long characterised the self-definitions of science-based medicine and have been of considerable concern for the historians of medicine within the department. The Department seeks to
expand on its teaching, where there are already courses on ?Science and Empire?, ?History of colonial and tropical medicine? and ?History and politics of global health?. The HPS Department is also principal host to a Wellcome Trust-funded Strategic Award, ?From Generation to Reproduction?, whose research strands offer several possibilities of linkage to research projects hosted by the Centre of Africa Studies. Further information about the Department can be found at: http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/
In addition to carrying out their own research and helping to forge a new research community in Cambridge around the theme, the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow will also be required to organise a joint Centre/HPS research seminar (of between four to eight weeks) and to make a contribution to teaching. The precise nature of the teaching will depend on the Fellow?s interests, but the following are concrete possibilities:
- To develop and teach a module in the new MPhil in African Studies on the theme of Science, Medicine and Society in Africa and to supervise dissertations for the MPhil in African Studies
- To contribute a course of lectures to Natural Sciences Tripos Part II HPS, either in Paper 5 Science and Technology Studies or Paper 8 History of Modern Medicine and to contribute to the supervision of MPhil students in the History, Sociology and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine.
The Fellow would participate fully in the intellectual life of both HPS and the Centre of African Studies, and would be expected to use this unique opportunity to develop new research linking these two institutions.
How to Apply:
The application should be submitted in hard copy only and should be sent to
The Administrator
University of Cambridge
Centre of African Studies
The Mond Building
Free School Lane
Cambridge CB2 3RF
The application should consist of:
i. The University?s coversheet for applications for employment, form PD18 (available at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/forms/pd18), complete parts I and III only.
ii. A full c.v., including details of teaching experience.
iii. A list of publications.
iv. A proposal outlining the research the candidates wishes to undertake in Cambridge and the courses s/he proposes to offer
v. Two samples of recent work.
vi. The names of three referees, who should be asked to send references to Dorian Addison directly. It is the candidate?s responsibility to ensure that these arrive by the closing date. Referees should be asked to comment specifically on the candidate?s ability to undertake this role in the department. We will accept references by email to Dorian Addison, da211@cam.ac.uk
The closing date for this job is 12 March 2010. Short listed candidates will be invited to Cambridge on 21 April 2010 to present seminar papers and for interview. Interviews will be carried out in person where possible, but where this is impractical interview via videoconference link may be offered to applicants.
Informal enquiries may be made to
Professor Megan Vaughan, + 44 (0)1223 334396 or email: mav26@cam.ac.uk
Professor John Forrester, +44 (0)1223 334540 or email: jpf11@cam.ac.uk