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Cross-posted from h-soz-u-kult: http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de
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From: Heiner Fangerau <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 04.09.2008
Subject: Job: 5 PhD positions interdisciplinary research project
Evolution and Classification in the History of
Science, Linguistics and Biology (Univ.
Düsseldorf)
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Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf
Bewerbungsschluss: 05.10.2008
We are seeking to fill five positions in an interdisciplinary research
project Evolution and Classification in the History of Science,
Linguistics and Biology at the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf
(funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
as part of the focus Interaction between natural sciences and the
humanities).
- 1.5 PhD positions in History and Theory of Science / Medicine (1 TV-L
13; 0,5 TV-L 13)
- 2 PhD positions in Comparative Linguistics / Linguistic typology /
Theory of language change (2 * 0.5 TV-L 13)
- 2 PhD positions in Computational Linguistics / Bioinformatics /
Molecular Evolution (2 * 0.5 TV-L 13)
Genome evolution, language evolution and the evolution of knowledge have
much in common. They entail evolving elements genes, words, ideas
that are mostly inherited in a vertical manner from ancestors to
descendents, but sometimes are inherited laterally. The present
transdisciplinary project aims to study the evolutionary dynamics of
science, languages and genomes using methods from the field of molecular
evolution and incorporating network methods. Current applications for
phylogenetic reconstruction operate mostly in the realm of bifurcating
phylogenetic trees, which are used to model acquisition by inheritance
only. However, genes in microbial genomes can also be acquired
laterally, while words can be borrowed between different languages and
knowledge can be transferred across disciplinary or cultural boundaries.
Phylogenetic trees cannot easily be used to model such lateral
transfers, but network approaches can.
The project includes 1) the clarification of evolutionary concepts in
the history of science, biology and linguistics, 2) the development of
methods for coding and modelling lateral transfer in science,
linguistics and biology, and 3) the analysis and characterization of
evolution by lateral acquisition in general. The project is an
interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of history of
medicine, linguistics, and biology.
Applicants should have good English communication and writing skills.
Basic computing skills and aptitude in interdisciplinary research are
required. Payment will be according to German public service pay scale.
The positions are funded by the BMBF for a minimum of two years and
expected to be filled by the end of 2008, but the positions remain open
until filled; reviewing of applications begins immediately.
Applicants should hold (either-or)
A. a doctoral degree in the history of science, medicine or biology
(with an emphasis on the development of scientific theories or on
network studies) or
B. a masters degree or equivalent in Comparative Linguistics (with an
emphasis on historical linguistics, preferred Indo-European and Romance
languages) or
C. a masters degree or equivalent in biology (with emphasis on
Computational Linguistics, Bioinformatics, or Molecular Evolution. Basic
computing skills in PERL/Matlab/C or other scripting language are
required.)
Interested candidates should send a CV and contact information of one
potential referee as a single PDF file to
A. PD Dr. Heiner Fangerau, history of science
([log in to unmask])
B. Prof. Dr. Hans Geisler, comparative linguistics
([log in to unmask])
C. Dr. Tal Dagan, molecular evolution ([log in to unmask]).
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PD Dr. Heiner Fangerau
Institut für Geschichte der Medizin
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
+49 211 8113940
+49 211 8114303
[log in to unmask]
Homepage
<http://www.uniklinik-duesseldorf.de/deutsch/unternehmen/institute/institutfrgeschichtedermedizin/Forschung/Forschungsprojekte/KlassifikationuEvolutionBMBF/page.html>
URL zur Zitation dieses Beitrages
<http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/chancen/type=stellen&id=3076>
_________________________________________________
HUMANITIES - SOZIAL- UND KULTURGESCHICHTE
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Redaktion:
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WWW: http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de
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