The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin
Max Planck Research Group Art and Knowledge in Pre-Modern Europe; Director: Prof. Dr. Sven Dupré

in collaboration with

the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Amsterdam
Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage programme; contact: drs. Suzanne Maarschalkerweerd, programme manager C&R)

announces
 
     one fellowship for three months
     between January 1 and December 31, 2015.


 
The tenure of the fellowship is to be divided between the two institutes: the first and third months will be spent at the MPIWG, the second month at the UvA (“Ateliergebouw”). The fellow will be offered research facilities at both institutions.
 
Outstanding junior and senior scholars (including those on sabbatical leave from their home institutions) are invited to apply. Candidates should hold a doctorate or should be engaged with research in the history of science and technology, in the history of art and art technology, in conservation and restoration or in a related field at the time of application and show evidence of scholarly promise in the form of publications and other achievements.
 
Research proposals should address the history of knowledge and art and culture up to the eighteenth century, and may concern any geographical area within Europe, and any object of the visual and decorative arts. Projects related to ongoing projects, esp. ‘early modern materials and art technologies’ at the Max Planck Research Group Art and Knowledge in Pre-Modern Europe will receive preference. The proposal should make clear how the project would benefit from the resources and contribute to the research culture of the programme Conservation and Restoration of Cultural heritage from the University of Amsterdam. Visiting fellows are expected to take part in the scientific life of the Institute, to advance their own research project, and to actively contribute to the relevant project of the Max Planck Research Group Art and Knowledge in Pre-Modern Europe.
 
The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science is an international and interdisciplinary research institute (http://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/en/index.html). The colloquium language is English; it is expected that candidates will be able to present their own work and discuss that of others fluently in that language. Fellowships are endowed with a monthly stipend of 1.365 € (predoctoral fellows), between 2.100 € and 2.500 € (postdoctoral fellows from abroad) or between 1.468 € and 1.621 € (postdoctoral fellows from Germany), whereas senior scholars receive an honorary commensurate with experience. The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science covers also the round trip travel costs from the fellow’s home institution and a round trip Berlin-Amsterdam.
 
The University of Amsterdam traces its roots back to 1632, when the Golden Age school Athenaeum Illustre was established to train students in trade and philosophy.
Today, with some 30,000 students, 5,000 staff and a budget of more than 600 million euros, it is one of the largest comprehensive universities in Europe. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted at seven faculties including Humanities. Over time, the UvA has risen to international prominence as a research university, gaining an excellent reputation in both fundamental and socially relevant research. The UvA's thriving doctoral programmes provide an excellent foundation for engaging in high-quality teaching and research. The UvA seeks to offer an inspiring international academic environment in which both staff and students can develop their talents optimally.
 
The result of a merger between the Faculties of Arts, Philosophy and Theology in 1997, the Faculty of Humanities not only houses an assortment of established and respected disciplines, including Art History, History and  Archaeology but also such pioneering research fields as Conservation and Restoration. One of the important components of the humanities is ‘culture’. Aligning with the existing research of the Faculty, the academic orientation on ‘culture’ can be enclosed in an historical and an analytical approach.
The UvA is the only Dutch university offering the study programme Conservation and Restoration (consisting of eight specialisations). The restoration of objects and research remain core aspects of the programme, which takes five years to complete. The eight specialisations each have their own atelier where objects are worked on under supervision. Researchers from the Cultural Heritage Agency and conservators of the Rijksmuseum work together with UvA students and lecturers in the Ateliergebouw, a building with laboratories and studio’s. The Ateliergebouw is also the home of the Dutch centre of expertise of conservation research and art technology in the Netherlands (under construction). Conservation and Restoration is a relatively new academic discipline. Research in conservation must be relevant to the  restoration process, with a fair amount of collaboration taking place with art historians and scientists. The research results of lecturers and students are actively disseminated at (inter)national congresses, symposiums and lectures.
 
The UvA will offer a workplace as well as access to all facilities. The Visiting Fellow will be based in the Ateliergebouw and be expected to participate to the research culture of the centre. S/he will be expected to contribute a research seminar and to provide some guest lectures for the students of the programme during the period of the fellowship.
 
Candidates of all nationalities are encouraged to apply; applications from women are especially welcome. The Max Planck Society is committed to promoting handicapped individuals and encourages them to apply.
 
Candidates are requested to submit a curriculum vitae (including list of publications), a research proposal on a topic related to the project (750 words maximum), one sample of writing (i.e. article or book chapter), and names and addresses of two referees (including email) who have already been contacted by the applicant to assure their willingness to submit letters of recommendation if requested, under:
 
https://s-lotus.gwdg.de/mpg/mbwg/uvadupre_2014_04.nsf/application
 
by August 4, 2014.
 
A committee with representatives from the Max Planck Institute and the UvA will assess the applications. Successful candidates will be notified before September 15.
 
For questions concerning the Max Planck Research Group on Art and Knowledge in Pre-Modern Europe, please see http://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/en/research/projects/MRGdupre or contact Sven Dupré (mailto:[log in to unmask]); for administrative questions concerning
the position and the Institute, please contact Claudia Paaß ([log in to unmask]), Head of Administration, or Jochen Schneider ([log in to unmask]), Research Coordinator.
 
For enquiries concerning the C&R’s component of the fellowship, please contact drs. Suzanne Maarschalkerweerd, programme manager C&R, FGw, University of Amsterdam ([log in to unmask]).
 
For more information about the UvA and its resources, visit the website (http://www.uva.nl/home).