The Trustees of the
Needham Research Institute invite applications from
suitably qualified candidates for a Soon-Young Kim
Studentship in the History of East Asian Science and
Technology, to be held in the University of Cambridge.
The Studentship will be tenable from October 2012.
The purpose of
the Studentship is to support students who have been
admitted to work for a PhD degree in the University of
Cambridge in the areas of study specified below. In
the case of a student admitted directly to work for
the PhD degree, the award shall be for three years at
maximum. In appropriate cases, where the student is
initially admitted to work for an MPhil preparatory to
beginning work for a PhD, the Trustees may be prepared
to consider making the award for up to four years at
maximum. In all cases the continuation of the award
from year to year will be conditional on the student
making satisfactory progress in the view of the
Trustees. The successful candidate will be given
working space in the Needham Research Institute (www.nri.org.uk), which has
unparalleled research facilities in the fields of the
history of science, technology and medicine in East
Asia. The Studentship is associated with Darwin
College, and the successful award holder will normally
be admitted to full membership of the College for the
tenure of the Studentship.
The amount of
the Studentship will consist of payment of university
fees and college dues for the candidate, plus an
amount for living expenses. Where appropriate, fees
will be paid at the rate for non-EU students.
Priority in making awards of
Studentships will be given to applicants who propose
to carry out research in the following areas, which
are given in order of priority:
(1) The history
of science and technology in modern Korea
(2) The history
of science and technology in modern Japan
(3) The history
of science and technology in modern China, or the
history of modern medicine in any of the above three
countries
It is expected
that candidates will apply for admission to a
department of the University that can provide the
specialist supervision and disciplinary training
appropriate to the particular topic chosen. Suitable
departments might include the Department of History
and Philosophy of Science (http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/),
or the Department of East Asian Studies (http://www.ames.cam.ac.uk/deas/)
. Candidates
are encouraged to make informal enquiries of the
relevant department at an early stage before making a
formal application, in order to see whether their
choice is appropriate.
Candidates thinking of applying to a department
other than the two named here should first contact the
Needham Research Institute to discuss their plans.
The word ‘modern’ here
designates the period after 1850, and ‘science’ is
taken to include mathematics, whether pure or applied.
Strong preference will be given to projects centering
on the 20th century or later. Any holder of a
Studentship who wishes to make a substantive change in
the topic of his or her research after taking up the
Studentship must first obtain the agreement of the
Trustees, failing which the Studentship may be
withdrawn.
Applications for this award
will be treated separately from applications for
admission to the University of Cambridge. Candidates
should therefore:
(a) Apply as
soon as possible for admission to the University of
Cambridge in the normal way. For guidance, see the
University website at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/prospec/apply/; please address
all queries about the University admission process to
the appropriate part of the University, not to the
Needham Research Institute. Candidates may however
mention in their application that they are applying
for this Studentship. Candidates should normally give
Darwin College as their first choice of college.
Candidates should note carefully the University's
demanding requirements in regard to English language
ability: for instance, in IELTS applicants must have a
band score of 7.0, with not less than 7.0 in speaking,
listening and writing, and 6.5 in reading.
(b) Apply simultaneously to
the Needham Research Institute for the Studentship.
Candidates should send a full curriculum vitae, a
detailed research proposal, and the name of two
academic referees who are prepared to report in
confidence on the candidate's work. In most cases the
best thing will be for the candidate to send the
Needham Research Institute a hard printed copy of
their University application, together with any
further material necessary to give a clear impression
of the research they intend to carry out. Candidates
should ensure that they produce evidence that they
possess the language skills required for the purpose
of their research.
(c) The University offers
other financial support for PhD applicants: candidates
must also apply for any such schemes for which they
are eligible at the same time as applying for this
Studentship, and inform the Trustees of these
applications and of their result.
All applications will be
carefully considered. No announcement or notification
of award of the Studentship will be made before
University admission procedures have been completed
and candidates have been told whether they have been
given a place at Cambridge. The Trustees reserve the
right to make no award if in their opinion no suitable
candidate of sufficient merit applies.
All enquiries and
applications should be addressed to:
The Institute Administrator
The Needham Research
Institute
8 Sylvester Road
Cambridge CB3
9AF
UK
email: admin@nri.org.uk