marcuenca
16 Jun 2011
Openings for Visiting Researchers at the Science Museum, London Two Short-term Visiting Research Fellowships, 2011-2 This is an exciting opportunity to carry out research on the unparalleled collections of the Science Museum, London. The Science Museum is offering Visiting Research Fellowships for advanced research on its scientific, technological and medical collections. The Science Museum has the largest and most significant collections relating to science, technology and medicine. With over 300,000 objects in its care, the Science Museum has particular strengths in the history of western science, technology and medicine since 1700. This collection is supported by the books, journals and archives which are available in the Science Museum Library. The Science Museum’s research programme has the aim of promoting scholarly research which furthers our understanding of the development of science, technology and medicine. The museum is not constrained by disciplinary boundaries and will welcome applications from scholars across the whole spectrum of academic endeavour. Applicants are at liberty to propose any topic which makes good use of the Science Museum’s collections. While there is not a formal division into senior and junior fellowships, this opportunity is available to both established scholars and newly qualified PhDs. It thus replaces the former Junior Research Fellowship. The stipend will be £1,600 per month for a maximum of three months. This will cover travel, accommodation and subsistence. Travel costs from and to fellow’s home will not be paid separately but up to £500 will be available for attendance at a conference in connection with this fellowship or for fieldtrips to related archives (as such as the Science Museum Library at Wroughton). The successful candidate’s institution has to accept the stipend to cover the Fellow’s leave of absence. The stipend cannot be paid directly to the fellow unless they are registered self-employed. Retired scholars can apply for an expenses-only Fellowship for which there is no stipend but acceptable expenses will be refunded on production of original receipts up to a maximum of £1,600 per month. Successful candidates will also need to supply a character reference from their employer (or former employer in the case of retired scholars). The exact timing of the fellowship will be by arrangement, but will take place between August 2011 and March 2012. Applicants should send the museum their curriculum vitae, which should show their educational background, qualifications and major publications, with a covering letter, which should give the title of the proposed research, a brief explanation of why this research is appropriate for this Fellowship, and the names and addresses of two academic referees. Applicants should also send an outline of the proposed research, not to exceed two pages of A4, with a timetable for its completion and proposals for the dissemination of the research. Applicants should send a copy of their application to their chosen referees before submission, asking their referees to comment on the professional knowledge of the applicant and the contribution the proposed research would make to scholarship. They should tell their referees to send their references to the email address below by Friday 8th July 2011. As there may not be formal interviews, applicants should ensure that they provide all the information needed to make a decision. The deadline for applications is Friday 1st July 2011. They should be sent by email to peter.morris@nmsi.ac.uk. No applications will be accepted by mail. We aim to inform the successful candidates by email by 22nd July 2011. Please ensure you include a current email address with your application. If you have any queries (or need any additional information) please contact Peter Morris at peter.morris@nmsi.ac.uk.