ANN: Gerda Henkel Fellowships - Research Tandems on Global Intellectual History
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The Global Intellectual History deals with transnational and especially transcultural linkages of bodies of knowledge. Yet, questions about global interconnections and transfers pose a special challenge to researchers: no one can have all the necessary language skills and competences, possessing at the same time expertise for Europe and China, for Africa and South America, or for Islam and Hinduism.
This is where the programme steps in, by focusing on a collaborative form of scholarly work. Two researchers with complementary expertise on a particular research question are invited to apply with a joint project outline, e.g. a Sinologist and an expert on 18th century Europe, a specialist in Islamic studies and a Renaissance scholar, or an Africanist and an expert on Latin America. In this way, questions will be addressed that will render far-reaching transmissions or interconnections visible.
Working with Gotha's treasure trove of sources should serve as a basis for a collaborative publication or research proposal.
It is a distinctive feature of Gotha that it offers three institutions in one place: (1) one of the largest early modern libraries in Germany, (2) an early modern residential palace with extensive collections of objects and art from all over the world, and (3) a university research centre with expertise in the history of ideas, culture and knowledge.
This enables not only competent guidance in research, but also the combination of different types of sources: written sources such as manuscripts and old prints can be linked with objects from the ducal cabinet of curiosities, the ethnological collection, the Perthes map collection, the painting gallery, the Chinese cabinet, etc. – and all in the collection's original location, and thus in the context of historical practices of collection. This environment can create considerable added value for analysis and far greater significance in findings.
The new fellowship programme aims to create synergies between subject- and language-bound bodies of knowledge and, in particular, to help bring expertise from the global south and so-called minor disciplines into research projects at the research centre. In this way, we can shatter narratives established in early modern research and decenter European perspectives.
We are looking for research tandems consisting of two post-docs who have written their dissertation in two different disciplines and are applying with a joint project.
Fellowships can be awarded for three to a maximum of six months. They can start in autumn 2023. The scholarship amount is 2300 EUR/month. Grants are available for publication costs. A family allowance of 400 EUR is also granted if children are being cared for. In 2021, the University of Erfurt was once again awarded the berufundfamilie / family-friendly university audit certificate and was thus distinguished as being particularly family-friendly. Fellows with children will be assisted with finding childcare options. The Research Centre also offers support in finding accommodation.
The Gerda Henkel Fellows participate in academic life at the Gotha Research Centre and report on their research project in a public colloquium lecture. Residence in Gotha is compulsory for the duration of the scholarship.
The application deadline is 2 July 2023, 23:59. The application documents must be submitted in full and in a PDF file (max. 5 MB) in the above order by e-mail.
Applicants are requested to enclose the following documents with their application:
- a cover letter with details on the desired period,
- a project description (3-5 pages) including a statement why it is necessary to stay in Gotha in order to carry out the project (please indicate the holdings to be consulted); it is recommended that you contact the library before submitting your application,
- a CV for each applicant,
- copies of relevant certificates, in particular the respective doctoral certificates,
- a letter of reference for each applicant from a university teacher confirming the applicant's academic aptitude for the planned project,
- signed consent to the processing of personal data.
The letters of reference must be sent separately to the Research Centre by the deadline by the university teachers whose names are noted in the cover letter.
NOTES ON THE LEGAL BASIS AND DATA PROTECTION
The University of Erfurt's mail system generally works with transport encryption. Please ensure that you also use transport encryption when sending e-mails. If you would also like to encrypt the content of your e-mail, please use the e-mail address bewerbung@uni-erfurt.de instead of the above e-mail address. For this e-mail address, you will find the certificate with the key for sending the encrypted e-mail here. If you do not make use of the option of encryption via certificate, no encryption of the content of your e-mail can be guaranteed.
When submitting your application documents in electronic form, you are deemed to have given your consent to check the e-mail and its attachments for harmful codes, viruses and spam, to temporarily store the necessary data and to conduct further correspondence (unencrypted) by e-mail.
By submitting your application, you also consent to the further processing of your personal data within the scope of and for the purpose of the application procedure. This consent can be revoked at any time in writing or electronically without giving reasons. Please note that revocation of consent may mean that the application can no longer be considered in the current procedure.
For further information on data protection in accordance with Article 13 of the EU Data Protection Regulation (EU-DSGVO), please refer to the information sheet on the homepage of the Gotha Research Centre (“Data protection information for applicants“).
Forschungszentrum Gotha der Universität Erfurt
Schloßberg 2
99867 Gotha
Germany
