From November 1, 2013, the Institute for History of the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University (General History Section) will be appointing three part-time (0.8 fte) PhDs for a five-year period within the NWO-funded VIDI project The Scholarly Self: Character, Habit, and Virtue in the Humanities, 1860-1930, under the supervision of Dr. Herman Paul (http://hum.leiden.edu/history/organisation/staff-history/paul.html).
3 PhD Positions (0.8 fte)
The Scholarly Self: Character, Habit, and Virtue in the Humanities, 1860-1930
This project examines why ‘character’, ‘habit’, and ‘virtue’ served as key terms in late 19th and early 20th-century scholarly correspondences, biographies, and obituaries. Why did scholars around 1900 display so much interest in the scholarly habits (e.g., disciplined time management) and character virtues (e.g., impartiality) of what they called the ‘scholarly self’? Focusing on the humanities around 1900, the project examines (1) how ‘scholarly selfhood’ was envisioned by late 19th and early 20th-century humanities scholars, (2) how these scholars implemented their ideals of scholarly selfhood, (3) how they monitored the observance of these ideals in day-to-day research, and (4) what kind of contexts and conditions enabled these ideals to flourish around 1900. Each of the subprojects focuses on one or more humanities disciplines, in one or more European countries. Together, they test the hypothesis that many of those who laid the foundations of modern disciplinary infrastructures saw ‘discipline formation’ as a project that not only required professorial chairs and scientific periodicals, but also, and especially, a disciplining of the scholar’s body, heart, and mind.
Within this project, three PhD positions are available:
1. Scholarly Selves: How to Discipline One’s Body, Heart, and Mind
(Vacancy number: 13-231)
Subproject 1 starts from the observation that a scholar’s life, as represented in late 19th and early 20th-century (auto) biographical texts, was a constant struggle against sins of the mind (distraction), the heart (emotions), and the body (relaxation) – not to mention the wallet (money). It examines how scholars envisioned the disciplining of their bodies, hearts, and minds through the acquisition of relevant habits, virtues, and character traits. It investigates how scholarly selfhood was inscribed, embodied, and translated into habitual patterns that could be incorporated and lived out. It does so on the base of scholarly obituaries from various European countries, using these sources not as transmitters of factual information, but as windows into social conventions and narrative templates regarding scholarly lifestyles and scholarly conduct, focusing especially on how scholars were reported to deal with temptations arising from other aims than those recognized as the proper aims of scholarship.
2. Scholarly Aptitude: Criteria for Selection and Promotion
(Vacancy number: 13-232)
If scholars were supposed to develop virtuous selves, then the follow-up question is how this ideal of scholarly selfhood was actually implemented. What means were available for stimulating scholarly self-discipline, or for punishing inappropriate character development? In order to answer this question, this subproject examines the role of character, habit, and virtue in how scholars evaluated, judged, and rewarded (positively or negatively) the scholarly aptitudes of their pupils. It examines the kind of conduct professors expected from their students; whether and how these professors stimulated their pupils to develop certain habits, virtues, and character traits; how they rewarded or punished (perceived) character, habit, and virtue, or the lack thereof; and the degree to which such performance criteria differed across time, place, and disciplines. It does so on the base of scholarly correspondences and personal archives.
3. Men with a Mission: Informal Accountability Practices
(Vacancy number: 13-233)
How can scholarly integrity be monitored and enforced among those admitted to the academic ranks? While 21st-century scholars are most familiar with formal accountability practices, such as peer review, the 19th-century humanities invested more in informal accountability practices: confidential exchanges of work, plans, and ideas through, especially, correspondences. This subproject examines the ethical goal (accountability) served by scholarly correspondences; the aims or ‘mission’ to which correspondents held each other accountable; the habituses fostered by such accountability practices; the sanctions imposed on breaching expectations; and the relative effectiveness of informal accountability, compared to more formal types of accountability (book reviews, peer review). By way of case study, it focuses on (published and unpublished) correspondences between oriental scholars in Europe.
The General History Section is a dynamic research group with broad interests, enthusiastic researchers and lecturers with outstanding track records and is successful in attracting national and international research grants.
Duties and responsibilities
- Writing a dissertation in English within five years.
- Submitting research results for publication in international peer-reviewed academic journals (either individually or co-authored).
- Presenting papers at conferences and workshops.
- Co-organizing conferences and workshops.
- Teaching undergraduate courses in the third and fourth year of appointment.
- Actively participating in project discussions and working as a peer reviewer for the team.
Requirements
- MA degree in History or a related field.
- Fluency in English and passive command of German (additionally, passive command of Dutch and French would be a great advantage).
- Demonstrable interest in the history of the humanities and/or the history of science.
- Experience in working with nineteenth-century archival source material.
- Willingness to work in an international and highly competitive environment.
- Willingness to utilize theoretical and comparative frameworks.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of the team.
What we offer
The three PhD positions are part-time (0.8 fte) and for five years. Initially all employees will receive a one-and-a-half year contract. An extension of three-and-a-half years is possible after positive evaluations of capabilities and compatibilities. Remuneration for a full working week will be € 2.083,- gross per calendar month in the first year, increasing to € 2.664- gross per calendar month in the fourth and fifth year. An appointment with Leiden University includes a pension build-up and facilitates other benefits such as an annual holiday premium of 8% and an end-of-year premium of 8.3%.
Further information
For more information, please contact Dr. Herman Paul (h.j.paul@hum.leidenuniv.nl).
How to apply
Letters of application should be submitted in English and include a:
- Cover letter, specifying for which of the three PhD positions you apply.
- Statement of Purpose, which will state the ways in which your experience and knowledge would aid the team in achieving the goals of this project and explain how you see your role as a researcher in a comparative, interdisciplinary and international project.
- Curriculum vitae and a list of publications (if applicable).
- Copy of MA thesis.
- Proof of English language proficiency for non-native English speakers or those without an undergraduate degree obtained in The Netherlands or an English-speaking country (IELTS 7.0 or lower will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, e.g. in the case of other compensatory factors such as unique experience and expertise).
- List of (maximum) two referees to your application (with full postal addresses, telephone numbers and emails). Referees will be contacted directly by the search committee.
Please quote the vacancy number in your application and send it electronically to vacaturesgeschiedenis@hum.leidenuniv.nl before September 6, 2013. All requested documents should be sent in PDF format.
An interview with the search committee is part of the procedure. Short listed candidates will be interviewed at Leiden University. Interviews will be held in the second half of September 2013.