Two 3-year doctoral studentships

Reminder: the deadline for applications for these awards is 26 May.

The Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at (CHoSTM) at Imperial College London invites applications for a two 3-year doctoral studentships funded by the AHRC to begin in October 2011.

Members of staff of the Centre are highly research active, currently hold a major grant from the Wellcome Trust, and were judged to be the top history department in the United Kingdom in the 2008 RAE. Areas of research strength are history of modern medicine and medical and veterinary science; science and technology in the twentieth century; government and scientific expertise; the military and war; agriculture. Recent alumni of the Centre’s PhD programme hold positions at Birkbeck College, York University, King’s College London, ETH Zürich. For further information about the Centre, visit: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/historyofscience. 

Standard tuition fees and a maintenance grant will be paid by the AHRC for three years. For 2010-11 the maintenance grant for students in London was £15,590. EU candidates are normally eligible for a fees-only award, unless they have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years immediately preceding the date of the award

Eligibility

In line with research council requirements, applicants must meet UK residency criteria or be ordinarily resident in the EU. Applicants should hold a first or upper second class degree, and hold or be studying for an MSc or MA degree in history of science, medicine and/or technology, or in another relevant area of history. An overall MSc/MA grade of 65% or more is required. Applicants should also fulfil Imperial College English language requirements, and be supported by two strong academic references.   Further details concerning eligibility are available via the AHRC website at http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/FundingOpportunities/Documents/GuidetoStudentFunding

Studentship 1: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Trust.

The topic of this award is ‘Veterinary training and veterinary work: A female perspective, 1919-2000.’

This project will use archival material held by the RCVST library, interview transcripts and surveys to describe and analyse the educational and work experiences of successive generations of female British vets, from the 1919 admission of women to the profession, to its late 20th century feminisation. The student will study women’s shifting expectations, experiences, professional networks and career trajectories, and examine how and why certain veterinary activities came to be regarded as suitable (or unsuitable) work for women. In the course of this research, the student will catalogue the personal collections of two prominent female vets, assist in the presentation of historical material on the RCVST website, and carry out public engagement work aimed at raising the profile of the RCVST collections. 

The supervisors are Dr Abigail Woods (Imperial), Ms Clare Boulton (RCVST) and Prof. Pat Thane (Kings College London).

In addition to the sums mentioned above, the student will receive £1000 per annum from the RCVST as a contribution towards research costs.

Applicants should send a copy of their curriculum vitae, the names and addresses of two referees, a sample of their written work, and a statement outlining their academic interests and reasons for applying for this studentship to the main supervisor, Dr Abigail Woods:  a.woods@imperial.ac.uk .

The deadline for applications is 26 May 2011. Interviews will be held at Imperial College on the morning of Weds 8 June, followed by a tour of the RCVST library in the afternoon. For enquiries, please contact Dr Abigail Woods: a.woods@imperial.ac.uk

Studentship 2: Doctoral Award at Imperial College London

For this award, applicants are invited to suggest their own topics of study, within the field of history of science, technology and medicine. They are advised to contact a prospective supervisor to discuss their interests.  For research interests of staff and of recent and current doctoral students, please visit: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/historyofscience/chostmstaff.

Applicants should send a research proposal, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of two referees, sample of written work, and a brief statement of academic interests and reasons for applying for this studentship to the Centre administrator, Liam Watson liam.watson@imperial.ac.uk. The research proposal should be 2-5 pages and should outline the historical questions and problems being addressed and their significance, relevant historiography, and sources so far identified.

The deadline for applications is 26 May 2011. Interviews will be held at Imperial College on 8 June. For enquiries, please contact the head of centre, Dr Andrew Mendelsohn: a.mendelsohn@imperial.ac.uk