HPS / HSTM PhD opportunities at Leeds

 The Centre for History and Philosophy of Science at Leeds is part of the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science, which in a position to nominate up to 7 candidates for PhD studentships (entry 2017-18) in theWhite Rose College of Arts and Humanities (WRoCAH), a Doctoral Training Partnership of the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York.
We are looking for strong candidates in any of a wide range of areas of the history and philosophy of science, technology and medicine (details below). The Centre offers:
- Mobility funding to pay for you to visit in order to discuss your plans
- Sustained experience of involving partner organisations, such as the Thackray Medical Museum and Leeds Museums and Galleries, in PhD projects, a feature that is particularly welcomed by WRoCAH
- Access to the Brotherton Library Special Collections, whose outstanding resources for the history of STM have been enhanced recently by a substantial grant from the Wellcome Trust
- A unique resource in our own Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, which has rich collections across the University to support postgraduate research
Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Postgraduate Research Open Day on Wednesday November 30th 2016.
Supervisors and topics/areas
History of science, technology and medicine
History and philosophy of psychiatric classification, diagnosis or treatment
History and philosophy of the neurosciences
Materiality and medicine, especially the role of museums and objects in the teaching and research of bodily and mental health
Any area of history of technology for the period 1850-1930, especially concerning telecommunications, gender, electric lighting, patenting and hearing loss
Any aspect of biology, psychology and/or anthropology considered historically or philosophically
History of water and waste in nineteenth century Leeds (in collaboration with Leeds Industrial Museum)
History of dengue fever in British India: tropical disease and imperial medical practices
Prosthetics and joint replacement: the history of the Oxford Knee (in collaboration with Thackray Medical Museum)
Pathological specimens in twentieth century medical education (drawing on collections of our own Museum of HSTM)
Science, technology, and medicine in periodicals and newspapers, esp. 1750-1850
Scientific and medical authorship, reading, and publishing, esp. 1750-1850
Scientific and medical education and textbooks, esp. 1750-1850
Science and religion, esp. in relation to public attitudes
The risks of childbirth in historical perspective (the management of birth and/or development of the concept of risk)
Gender and power in early modern England (for specific themes consult my book Ritual and Conflict)
The impact of Morgagni’s De Sedibus among late-18th-century London medics
The history and theory of advertising, including the application to advertising of Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric
Philosophy of science
Philosophy of quantum mechanics
Realism, especially structural realism
Metaphysics of science
Inter-relationships between philosophy of art and philosophy of science
Scientific realism and anti-realism
Nature of scientific explanation and understanding and explanatory reasoning in science (inference to the best explanation)
Metaphysics of science (e.g. laws of nature; reduction and emergence)
Philosophy of quantum mechanics (e.g. epistemological issues)
To apply, you should:
- First, discuss your research proposal with a potential PhD supervisor
- Then apply to the University of Leeds for PhD admission (your prospective supervisor will advise you on the procedure)
- Apply for a WRoCAH studentship – deadline February 1st 2017

A note on procedures: WRoCAH is able to offer over 50 AHRC studentships per year to candidates with a place for doctoral study at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield or York. Applicants may only apply for funding at one of Leeds, Sheffield or York. The studentship application form and details of how to apply are available here.