Post-Doctoral Research: University of Cambridge

Interesting:

Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge

Research Associates in History of Social Science and Science Communication

Salary: £27,428–£35,788 pa

We wish to appoint two full-time post-doctoral research associates,

for 4-years from September 2012, to be part of a European Research

Council funded project 'Economics in the Public Sphere: USA, UK,

France, Poland and Brazil since 1945' (ERC Grant:283754). The project

is directed by Dr Tiago Mata and will comprise of a research team of

five members, including one research assistant/administrator and two

doctoral students.

Candidates must have an outstanding record in a field related to the

project (history of social science, communications studies, and

sociology of knowledge) and an excellent knowledge of the economic and

political history of the country case selected. Preferred applicants

will have experience in one or more of the research methods: archival

research, oral history, ethnographic observation, content and textual

analysis of media. Candidates must have completed their doctorate

prior to taking up the appointment.

In addition to pursuing their own original research, post holders are

expected to help maintain a project website, organize and participate

in project seminars and workshops, and provide editorial assistance.

They will be expected to produce at least one research paper a year on

a topic relevant to the project and assist in compiling and editing a

collected volume of papers. All staff will be based in Cambridge.

Project description

The project studies 'economic journalism' as a site for the production

of public economic knowledge. The practices of journalists will be

examined to reveal how they parse competing claims of expertise by

academic economists, other social scientists and by laymen. The

project takes a cross-national approach examining the economic press

the in USA, UK, France, Poland, and Brazil. Cultural standards of

trust, the history and economics of the media, and the history of

economics and social movements will be used to explain the emergence

of distinct national genres of 'economic journalism'. The project

offers an original perspective on how public knowledge of the economy

is an iterative process engaging journalists, academics and laymen and

explores the implications of this knowledge formation for the

possibilities of public support for economic action and policies.

Relevant excerpts from the original ERC proposal can be found at

www.hps.cam.ac.uk/jobs/econpublic.pdf

The application, in hard copy only, should consist of:

- cover letter.

- up-to-date CV, including publications.

- 2 samples of original, written work in a related area (10,000 words).

- 2 references: applicants should ask their referees to post or email

references to the Administrator <hpsjobs@hermes.cam.ac.uk>, to arrive

by the closing date.

- A description of your research plans and how your research will

contribute to the project (max 1,000 words).

- Parts 1 and 3 of the University's CHRIS/6 application form.

Applications should be sent to Reception, Department of History and

Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane,

Cambridge CB2 3RH. Informal enquiries may be made to Tiago Mata

<tjfm2@cam.ac.uk> or the Administrator <th10001@cam.ac.uk>, (01223)

334540.

- Limit of tenure: 4 years, or until 31 August 2016

- Quote reference: JN12891

- Closing date: 1 March 2012

- Interview date: 22 March 2012