AHRC CDP PhD studentship: The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and its networks of support and influence, 1675-1742
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and its networks of support and influence, 1675-1742
Deadline: 7 May 2018, 17:00
Supervisors: Dr Rebekah Higgitt (Senior Lecturer in
History of Science, School of History, University of Kent) and Dr
Richard Dunn (Senior Curator for the History of Science at the National
Maritime Museum)
The Project
We seek applications from outstanding postgraduate students for this
collaborative doctoral award, starting in September 2017. This project
aims to develop a new approach to the institutional history of the Royal
Observatory, Greenwich. Using the Observatory
as a central hub, it proposes to explore the local, national and
international networks of astronomy, practical mathematics, navigation,
education, print and instrument making that supported its work and
developing reputation. It will focus on the period of
the first two Astronomers Royal, John Flamsteed and Edmond Halley,
aiming to better understand the role, milieu and development of this key
institution in its foundational years. This research will draw on work
on geographies of knowledge, material culture
and book history in order to gain a fuller picture of contexts in which
mathematical and instrumental knowledge was developed and used. The
project will make use of a range of archival sources and object, book
and image collections, especially those of the
NMM. The student will have the opportunity to enhance the Museum’s
cataloguing and interpretation within public programming and displays,
and to feed into the development of plans for the 350th anniversary of
the Royal Observatory (2025-26), which forms part
of the NMM (collectively, with The Queen’s House and Cutty Sark, known
as Royal Museums Greenwich). They will also be able to contribute to Dr
Higgitt’s research project, Metropolitan Science: Places, Objects and
Cultures of Knowledge and Practice in London,
1600-1800, in partnership with the Science Museum.
Studentship information
The standard tuition fees and stipend (maintenance grant) will be
paid by the AHRC to the award holder subject to the eligibility criteria
outlined by them. The AHRC stipend for 2018/19 is £14,777 (full-time,
pro-rata for part-time) plus an additional stipend
of £500 for Collaborative Doctoral Students. The funding is for 3 years
(full time) and there is an opportunity to apply for an additional six
months of funding from the AHRC’s
Student Development Fund,
which can (subject to agreement) be used to support appropriate
training or a placement based on the student’s individual training
needs. The NMM will also provide £1000 per year for
three years (subject to agreement) to support the student’s
research-related expenses such as travel costs.
To apply:
Applicants should have: a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours
degree in an appropriate discipline; a masters degree in an appropriate
discipline, although applicants who do not hold a masters degree will be
considered if they can demonstrate sustained
and relevant experience and meet the criteria outlined in the AHRC
guidelines.
Candidates must meet the AHRC's academic criteria and eligibility criteria:
www.ahrc.ac.uk.
To apply please send the following by email as a single document (Word or PDF) to r.higgitt@kent.ac.uk.
- A cover letter.
- A current CV, including your academic qualifications to date and anticipated results if you are still studying.
- Two letters of academic reference to be included with the rest of your application.
The deadline for applications is 17.00 on Monday 7 May. Shortlisted
applicants will be asked to supply a writing sample on a related topic.
Interviews will likely be held on 3 July.
For further information please contact Rebekah Higgitt
r.higgitt@kent.ac.uk or Richard Dunn RDunn@rmg.co.uk.