Collaborative Doctoral Partnership PhD:
Applications are invited for an AHRC-funded PhD studentship for research on the Stevenson maps and plans and Scotland’s built infrastructure, c.1800-c.1900. The award, which is made by the Scottish Cultural Heritage Consortium as part of the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Programme, will be managed jointly by the University of Edinburgh (Institute of Geography) and the National Library of Scotland, The studentship, which is full-time and funded for 3.5 years, will begin in October 2017 and will be jointly supervised by Christopher Fleet and Alison Metcalfe (National Library of Scotland) and Professor Charles W. J. Withers (University of Edinburgh). Part-time applications are welcome.
The Studentship:
The PhD project centres on the maps and plans within the archive of the Stevenson civil engineering firm. Robert Stevenson and descendants played a significant role in a range of civil engineering projects across Scotland. The archive reflects that activity. The archive includes in excess of 3,000 maps and plans, supported by correspondence, reports, accounts and other business records, and reflects the broad range of civil engineering endeavours with which the firm was involved (sea-works, harbours, canals, river-courses, railways, and, importantly, lighthouses). These maps and plans have received almost no scholarly attention. Yet they together provide a wonderfully rich opportunity for understanding the geography and history of a fast modernising nation – Scotland in the nineteenth century – and, in some cases, of a Scotland intended but never realised. During the studentship, there will be an opportunity to gain valuable experience working with curatorial staff in creating digital tools for the Stevenson archive and to engage public audiences.
How to Apply:
Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree and a relevant Masters in geography, or history (economic and social), or politics, or other appropriate subject. You will have some experience of relevant research methods (NB: research training is a required element in each year of the studentship). For details on eligibility criteria, including UK residency, applicants should check the AHRC website.
Applicants should submit a summary curriculum vitae (max 2 pages), an example of recent academic writing (e.g., MSc chapter or UG Dissertation) and a short statement (1 page) outlining your qualification for the studentship, and the names and contact details of two academic referees to: Professor Charles W. J. Withers, Institute of Geography, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP (c.w.j.withers@ed.ac.uk) by Friday 19 May 2017. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 31 May 2017. For further information, contact Professor Charles W. J. Withers, Chris Fleet (c.fleet@nls.uk) or Alison Metcalfe (a.metcalfe@nls.uk).
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.nls.uk/media/1472108/ahrc-nls-stevenson-phd-2.pdf