PhD Scholarship “Patient Experiences with the Socialist Healthcare System of Czechoslovakia or Poland or Hungary after 1945”


PhD Scholarship Social History of Medicine/History of Patients
Location: Stuttgart
Institute: Institute for the History of Medicine at the Robert Bosch Foundation
Duration: 01/10/2017 – 30/09/2020
Deadline for Applicants: 15/09/2017

The Robert Bosch Foundation is one of the biggest foundations in Germany that is affiliated with a company. With the Institute of the History of Medicine, the foundation funds the only extramural research institute in this field in Germany. The current main research interests of the institute are the social history of medicine and the history of homeopathy.
The Institute for the History of Medicine at the Robert Bosch Foundation Stuttgart offers a PhD scholarship that should commence by 1st October 2017.

PROJECT
The project offered focuses on the history of patients, and aims to investigate “Patient Experiences with the Socialist Healthcare System of Czechoslovakia OR Poland OR Hungary”.
The proposed research should be narrowed down to one of the three countries (Czechoslovakia or Poland or Hungary) and focus on one to a maximum of two disease(s) of your choice.
Regarding the content, this project should analyse some of the following ‘spaces of medical experience’, such as the doctor’s room, hospital rooms, sanatoriums etc.
Methodologically the aim is to establish an approach that combines methods from social and cultural history as well as the history of medicine that includes primary sources such as patient files and other ego documents.
Original, innovative and interdisciplinary ideas and own suggestions for pursuing this research are very welcome.

APPLICATION
The research proposal (around five pages) should situate the chosen topic into the current historiography, clearly outline hypotheses and research aims, name potential primary sources, and establish a preliminary timeline and work schedule.
Furthermore, the application should include copies of university degrees as well as a CV and a letter of recommendation by one of your university lectures.


LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Due to the topic and primary sources, the applicant is required to have professional proficiency (B2 according to the CEFR) in the language of the chosen country (Czech OR Slovakian OR Polish OR Hungarian).
Furthermore, native of bilingual proficiency in German OR English is essential for this position.
A proof that the candidate can fulfil these language requirements has to be included in the application.

SUPERVISION
The dissertation is usually supervised by the head of the institute or his associate. Additionally, due to the proximity of the dissertation project to the research field of Dr Markus Wahl, thorough and competent support and cooperation is guaranteed for the potential PhD candidate.
He or she will also be part of the international and national conferences or workshops sited at the institute, and will benefit from cooperation with other research institutes. Furthermore, as part of the postgraduate community, the successful candidate will meet regularly with all other PhD candidates at the institute for doctoral colloquia, where they discuss current methods and theories in history.

SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship is awarded for one year in the first instance and may be extended for another two years. The successful candidate will receive EUR 1,200 per month as well as financial support towards health insurance and for research related expenses.
Please send your application and all required documents to the following address until 15 September 2017: