History Within: The Phylogenetic Memory of Bones, Organisms, and Molecules
Doctoral and Postdoctoral Positions
Research Center for Social and
Economic History, Department of History, University of Zurich
Deadline for application: July 1,
2009
At the Swiss National Science
Foundation sponsored professorship of Marianne Sommer a doctoral and a postdoctoral position
(100%) are available, beginning February 1, 2010. The professorship is
located at the Department of History of the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
The positions are granted for the duration of four years.
The positions are part of the
project “History Within: The Phylogenetic Memory of
Bones, Organisms, and Molecules” that engages the cultural history of the
historical life sciences. It analyzes the contributions that sciences such as
evolutionary biology, (paleo)anthropology, primatology, and human genetics have
made to cultures of remembrance since the turn to the 20th century.
How do these sciences provide orientation, meaning, and identity through the
popularization and commercialization of origin narratives and historical images?
The project focuses on the reconstruction and
communication of biologically founded history – the scientific theories,
objects, practices, media, genres, and institutions involved –, as well as on
processes of reception, such as the appropriation, translation, and rejection of
scientific history by particular individuals and groups and in different media
and genres. A description of the project can be downloaded at http://www.fsw.uzh.ch/page/mitarbeiter-content.php?subpage=forschung&id=243&typ=L
1) PhD Position (100%)
The successful candidate holds a
master’s degree in the humanities, social or natural sciences, preferably with
competences in the history of science or science studies. Fluency in either
German or English (oral as well as written) is mandatory. Applications should
contain a c.v., including copies of certificates. If a dissertation project
already exists, a short description should be provided.
2) Postdoctoral Position (100%)
The successful candidate holds a
PhD in the humanities or the social sciences, preferably with a focus in the
history of science or technology. Fluency in either German or English (oral as
well as written) is mandatory. Applications should contain a c.v., including
copies of certificates, and a short description of the project, outlining the
subject, method, and aim of the planned work as well as its connections to the
general theme (see above).
Applications should be submitted
no later than July 1, 2009, to: Silvia Rodriguez, Forschungsstelle für Sozial-
und Wirtschaftsgeschichte der Universität Zürich, Rämistrasse 64, 8001 Zürich,
Switzerland.
For administrative questions,
please contact Ms. Rodriguez: [log in to unmask] For questions regarding
content, please contact the project leader, PD Dr. Marianne Sommer:
[log in to unmask]
Zurich, April 28,
2009