[ Fellowship/s ]

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin (Department II; Director: Prof. Lorraine Daston) seeks an outstanding junior scholar for a three-year position (to begin no later than 1 September 2009) as Research Fellow in conjunction with the research project The Sciences of the Archive. Application deadline: November 17, 2008.

Candidates should hold a doctorate in the history of science or related field at the time the position begins and show evidence of scholarly promise in the form of publications or other achievements. A previous postdoctoral position is desirable but not essential.

Research projects may concern any culture or historical period (including the present). Although projects must have a history of science component, both the human and natural sciences are included under that rubric and additional relevant disciplinary perspectives are welcome. Possible topics include:

• The material culture of selecting, collecting, preserving, classifying, and transmitting knowledge (e.g. libraries, museums, and data bases but also collections of astronomical observations, botanical herbaria, documentary films)
• The history of key ideas associated with the Sciences of the Archive (e.g. "data", "information", "tradition", "cultural heritage")
• The practices of turning data from the archives selectively into knowledge (e.g. classifications, search techniques, catalogues, synopses, atlases)

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science is an international and interdisciplinary research institute. 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. Applications may however be submitted in German, English, or French.

The position is primarily devoted to research, with no teaching and minimal administrative duties. It is ranked at the BAT IIA level in the German system, which roughly corresponds to that of Lecturer in Britain, Assistant Professor in North America, and Maître de conférences in France. Salary is set by both the position's rank and individual factors; please address specific questions to Ms. Claudia Paass.

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), and names and addresses (preferably including email) of three referees who may be contacted and asked to submit letters by December 22, 2008 if the candidate is among the finalists for the position to

Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte
Abt. Personal/WiMi II Archives
Boltzmannstr. 22
14195 Berlin
Germany

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

Finalists for the position will be informed by December 1, 2008 and asked to come for an interview during the week of January 5, 2009 (travel expenses covered by the Institute).

For questions concerning the research project and Department II, please contact Prof. Lorraine Daston or Dr. Fernando Vidal; for administrative questions concerning the position and the Institute, please contact Mr. Jochen Schneider. Scholars of all nationalities are welcome to apply; applications from women are especially welcomed. The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and encourages them to apply.


Contact:

Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte
Abt. Personal/WiMi II Archives
Boltzmannstr. 22
14195 Berlin
Germany

Website: http://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/en/news/jobs.html