Fully funded PhD position, History of science, Ghent University & Università Ca' Foscari, Venice
Job description
The PhD student will work on a specific project under the
supervision of Prof. Dr. Steven Vanden Broecke (Ghent University)
and Prof. Dr. Craig Martin (Università Ca' Foscari, Venezia).
Project abstract: The period 1700-1840 witnessed the
flowering of a new ‘atmospheric tides’ science. The basic
assumption of this science was that Sun and Moon not only generate
significant tidal effects in the earth’s seas, but in its
atmosphere as well. These atmospheric tides (henceforth AT) were
held responsible for important weather changes, as well as for a
variety of health issues in the human body (e.g. insanity,
epilepsy, epidemics), thus rendering the latter predictable and
manageable. Interestingly, AT science's practitioners, audiences
and critics all saw considerable continuities between the
‘pseudo-science’ of astrology and the new science on the
conceptual, methodological, social, and cultural levels. So far,
research on the history of AT science has been limited, and has
generally focused on the English case - undeservedly so, for AT
science was both a pan-European phenomenon and offers a unique
opportunity to clarify important aspects of the emergence of
modern scientific culture. More specifically, AT science offers a
privileged view on the precise way in which official science
appropriated and transformed 'pseudo-science' for its own purposes
in the Enlightenment. Focusing on AT science in France and Italy
in the period 1750-1830, this project seeks to generate a more
refined understanding of the apparent 'death' of astrology in the
18th century, and to further explore its appropriation and
transformation into the 19th century.
Practical modalities:
This position, fully funded (100%) by the Flemish Council for
Scientific Research (FWO-V), provides a competitive PhD
scholarship (ca. 2000 EUR/month net, 2+2 years), benefits, and
research funds.
The primary workplace will be at UGent, a top-100 institution
worldwide, offers a dynamic and international academic environment
where PhD students are involved in high quality training and
research. The Sarton Centre for the History of Science hosts an
active and engaging group of historians and philosophers of
science, and has particular expertise in early modern European
science. For more information, see: http://www.sarton.ugent.be/
The secondary workplace is the Department of Philosophy and
Cultural Heritage at Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, which
promotes an active research program in early modern philosophy,
history of science, and intellectual history. It is home for the
Center for Renaissance and Early Modern Thought. For more
information, see: https://www.unive.it/pag/
Profile of the candidate
Candidates need to have:
-a master’s degree in the humanities by the starting date of the
scholarship, including, but not limited to, the fields of:
History, Classical Languages, Modern Languages, Literature,
History of Medicine and Science, and History of Philosophy;
-evidence of an active interest in the history of (early modern)
science;
-good writing skills in English;
-good reading skills in either French or Italian, and firm
commitment to acquire skills in the other language during the
first year of research (if necessary);
-a willingness to take up extended research stays of a few months
each (Paris and Venice/Padua).
Starting date of the scholarship: 1 October 2019 at the latest.
How to apply
You are invited to send a CV, a research sample (e.g., a chapter
of your MA dissertation) and a motivation letter in English by 28
February 2019 to Steven Vanden Broecke
(steven.vandenbroecke@ugent.be
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier, if a qualified
candidate is found before the deadline.