Announcement: Post-doc at Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment, KTH

[via Dag Avango/KTH]

The Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment at KTH – Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, announces a post-doc position within the Mistra funded research program ”New Governance for Sustainable Development in the European Arctic”.

The main research task of the post-doc will be to investigate how laws and regulations for forestry have been constructed and changed over time and why. The geographical delimitation is Sweden, Norway and Finland, with a focus on the north. Therefore the post-doc researcher must have language skills in Swedish/Norwegian and in Finnish.

Further information in English and in Swedish.

Deadline: 14 September 2014

Two Postdocs at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin

[vid MPIWG]

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin (MPIWG), Department III (Professor Dagmar Schäfer) announces two Postdoctoral Fellowships for up to two years.

Starting date: 01 September 2014

The fellowships will be awarded in conjunction with the agenda of Dept. III and the upcoming research project on: Histories of Planning.

Outstanding junior scholars with an interest of using the concept of planning to enhance the methodological apparatus of the History of Science and Technology and suitable experience in history of technology, economic history, STS, anthropology, archaeology, regional studies or other relevant fields are invited to apply. Candidates should have a doctorate in hand at the time the fellowship begins; the Ph.D. degree should have been awarded in 2012 or later. It is expected that candidates will be able to present their own work and discuss that of others fluently in English. Applications may, however, be submitted in German, English, Chinese or French. Postdoctoral fellows are expected to participate in the research activities at the Institute. The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science is an international and interdisciplinary research institute.

Fellowships are endowed with a monthly stipend between 2,100 € and 2,500 € (fellows from abroad) or between 1,468 € and 1,621 €, or E13 public pay scale (fellows from Germany).

Candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae including publication list, copies of certificates (PhD), research prospectus (maximum 750 words), a sample text, and the names of at least two (2). Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

Deadline for submission:  28 November 2013

Candidates of all nationalities are welcomed to apply; applications from women are especially welcomed. The Max Planck Society is committed to promoting more handicapped individuals and encourages them to apply.

For questions concerning the research project and Department III, please contact Prof Dagmar Schäfer; for administrative questions concerning the position and the Institute, please contact Claudia Paaß, Head of Administration, or Jochen Schneider, Research Coordinator.

2 Postdoc positions in history of science

[via Mersenne]

AARHUS UNIVERSITY
Centre for Science Studies
2 Postdoc positions in history of science

to be filled as part of the research project “Shaping Cultures of Prediction: Knowledge, Authority, and the Construction of Climate Change” funded by the Danish Council for Independent Research (Humanities).

The project “Shaping Cultures of Prediction” examines the emergence of climate modeling as a culture of prediction in the formative period between ca. 1960 and 1985. It aims at investigating 1) how climate modeling emerged from a competition between different knowledge claims and epistemic standards to attain hegemonic status, and 2) how the use of climates models shifted from heuristic research instrument to application as a predictive tool for long-term climate prediction. See also the project website on http://css.au.dk/forskning/projects/cultures-of-prediction/.

Postdoc position 1: Subproject “From heuristic to predictive climate simulation: Agendas in the modeling communities”

This subproject examines the shift from heuristic to predictive use of climate models and asks how climate models came to enjoy scientific authority as predictive tools. It will focus on investigating the work and impact of leading US climate modelers such as Stephen H. Schneider, William W. Kellogg and James E. Hansen in the period from about 1970 to 1985. This subproject will (1) help to illuminate the different interests, perceptions and practices within the climate modeling community, and the decisions they entailed, (2) explore the interaction of scientific and political interests in the climate modeling context, and (3) provide a better understanding of scientific, political and cultural sources of confidence and trust in climates models and their use as predictive tools.
Requirements for this position are:

• Several years of experience in the history of science. Experience in the history of atmospheric science, climatology or climate modelling will be an advantage;
• A very good command of English;
• The ability and willingness to spend time for archival research in the USA (and possibly other countries) and to pursue interviews;
• Experience and interest in collaborative research and international collaboration.
• Expected start of the position: As soon as possible.

Postdoc position 2: Subproject “Negotiation of simulation knowledge: Responses from climatology”

This subproject examines the discussion and negotiation of new modeling approaches and knowledge by climatological communities in the UK, Germany and Scandinavia and will focus on leading climatologists. This subproject will (1) investigate responses to climate modeling by leading climatologists in Sweden and/or Germany such as Hermann Flohn and Richard T. A. Scherhag in Germany, and Hans W. Ahlmann, Carl-Gustaf Rossby and Bert Bolin in Sweden, and (2) prepare and organize a dedicated website to be hosted by the Center for History of Physics (American Institute of Physics) with the materials, sources and findings of the project.
Requirements for this position are:

• Several years of experience in the history of science. Experiences in the history of atmospheric science, climatology or climate modeling will be of advantage;
• A good command of either Swedish or German (or both) and the willingness to acquire sufficient language skills in the other language; additionally a good command of English is needed;
• The ability and willingness to spend time for archival research in Sweden and Germany (and possibly also Austria and Switzerland) and to pursue interviews;
• Experience and interest in collaborative research and international collaboration.
• Expected start of position: ca. August 2014.

“Shaping Cultures of Prediction” is a collaborative research project between Aarhus University, the University of Stockholm and King’s College, London. The postdocs will be part of a research team based in Aarhus, and the working place will be the Centre for Science Studies at Aarhus University. Both positions will be filled for a project period of 2 years.

The Centre for Science Studies is one of the big university centers in the history and philosophy of science in Europe and the biggest in Scandinavia. Its research activities focus on the history and philosophy of contemporary science. For more information see: http://css.au.dk/en/.

Aarhus is located at the coast of the Baltic Sea in Jutland. It is the second biggest city in Denmark with about 300,000 inhabitants. With more than 40,000 students it is considered the youngest city in Denmark. It, has one of the largest harbors in Northern Europe, holds numerous historical buildings and cultural institutions and offers a rich cultural and student life.

Applications must be in English and must include a CV, a complete list of publications, all degree documents, one letter of recommendation, and two writing samples (articles, dissertation chapters, etc.). Applications have to be submitted online by following the link below.
https://ssl1.peoplexs.com/Peoplexs22/CandidatesPortalNoLogin/Vacancy.cfm?PortalID=1407&VacatureID=596692&Vacancy=Postdoc

Please specify in your application letter whether you wish to apply to postdoc position 1 or to postdoc position 2 or both.

For more information please contact: Associate Professor Matthias Heymann,matthias.heymann@ivs.au.dk<mailto:matthias.heymann@ivs.au.dk>

Deadline:
All applications must be received by 30 September 2013.

Postdoc at Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Berlin, announces

1 Pre/Postdoctoral position for one year (with possible extension)

Starting date: January 1, 2014 (flexible)

Outstanding junior scholars are invited to apply. The position is awarded in conjunction with the research project The Construction of Norms in 17th- to 19th-Century Europe and the United States.

Research projects should fit with one of the project’s focal points, deafness or hysteria, or any medical category (including disability), and address any period between the early seventeenth century and the late nineteenth century and any European country or the United States. Comparative studies are welcome.

Although projects must have a history of science component, this may be in either the natural or the human sciences, with relevant disciplinary perspectives including history of psychology, legal history, history of medicine, technology studies, disability studies, linguistics, comparative literature, history of philosophy, and others. Projects involving large-scale translation of Latin sources on Sign Language or on conceptions of sound and hearing will also be considered. Doctoral candidates must already be registered for PhD studies at their home university.

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 Max Planck Society is committed to promoting more individuals with disabilities and encourages them to apply. Fellows are expected to participate in the research activities at the Institute. The Institute 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.

The successful applicant may be employed as a predoctoral fellow rated 50% TVöD E13 in the German system, or alternatively receive a fellowship (monthly stipend: € 1,365). Candidates of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

The postdoctoral fellowship is endowed with a monthly stipend between 2.100 € and 2.500 € (fellows from abroad) or between 1.468 € and 1.621 € (fellows from Germany).

Pre-doctoral candidates should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, dissertation project outline (maximum 3,000 words), and two reference letters (these letters may be sent separately)

Postdoctoral candidates should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae including list of publications, copies of certificates, research project (maximum 3,000 words), a publication sample, addresses of two referees (preferably including email) and the names and addresses of two referees (preferably including email) who have already been contacted by the applicant to confirm their willingness to submit letters of presentation.

Candidates with a project involving large-scale translation of Latin sources should send a curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, a detailed cover letter, a translation sample from a Latin text written between the 16th and the 18th centuries (published or not), and two reference letters (these letters may be sent separately)

The Max Planck Research Group (Sabine Arnaud) is also accepting proposals for non-funded Visiting Fellowships from one month to a year. These positions are normally open to doctoral candidates or post-docs who have external funding. The Max Planck Research Group (Sabine Arnaud) will support a limited number of funding applications to organizations such as Fulbright, DAAD, and Humboldt-Stiftung for fellowships starting in 2014, or 2015.

Please send your application in English no later than

July 31, 2012

to:
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
Administration, MRG Arnaud – fellowships
Boltzmannstraße 22
14195 Berlin
Germany

(Electronic submission is also possible: verwaltungsleitung@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de)

For administrative questions concerning the fellowships and the Institute, please contact Claudia Paaß (paass@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de), Head of Administration, or Jochen Schneider (jsr@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de), Research Coordinator.