Postdoctoral researcher in the History of Science at the University of Leuven: French and American Scientific Societies and the Globalization of Science (1930-1990) (ref. BAP-2023-310)

The Cultural History since 1750 Research Group at the University of Leuven focuses on the history of knowledge and science, historiography and historical culture, cultural infrastructure and cultural transfers, by considering the various shapes and meanings of scientific and cultural practices. Within the history of science and knowledge, its members pay attention to the production, circulation and cultural meanings of knowledge and science in the public domain. They explore themes such as the formation of disciplines, scientific identities, the popularization of science, science policy, visual culture and the role of gender and corporeality in the history of science and knowledge.

The postdoctoral project is part of the larger research project GLOBAL ACADEMIES, funded by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council (ERC) and supervised by prof. dr. Joris Vandendriessche. The project uses scientific societies as a lens to scrutinize the changing social relations between scientists at a global scale over the course of the twentieth century. The project focuses more specifically on the regulatory role of scientific societies within science (e.g. by organizing conferences, selecting speakers, allocating prizes, electing boards etc.) during a period of intense social and geopolitical changes, such as decolonization and the Cold War. To uncover this regulatory role, the project will look at how formal and informal codes of conduct (sociability) led societies to distinguish – consciously or unintentionally – between (sub)groups of scientists (e.g. women scholars, scholars with different nationalities or socio-political views), and to in- or exclude these groups from aspects of scientific practice. In addition, the project investigates how codes of conduct related to the setting and maintaining of scientific standards, and to coping with (political) dissent. The results of this research will contribute to a better awareness of the versatile regulatory role of scientific societies within science, and will offer a nuanced historical perspective to the initiatives taken by present-day academies on diversity in science.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral researcher will develop comparative historical research between scientific societies and academies in France and the USA. In the USA, post-WWI structures of ‘elite’ science became eroded earlier than elsewhere in a political culture oriented towards democratization. Yet, research may reveal how this egalitarian rhetoric of scientific societies was juxtaposed with a reality of excluding scholars on the basis of gender, ethnicity and political ideology. France was a much more conservative country when it came to academic hierarchies and scientific traditions in relation to democratization. Research into French scientific societies may uncover the difficult incorporation of new social groups and the possible resistance against what may be felt as an ‘Americanization’ of scientific standards. To enable comparative research, the focus will be on scientific societies for cancer researchers (e.g. the Association française pour l’étude du cancer, American Association for Cancer Research) and historians (Société de l’Histoire de France, American Historical Association), and – if time allows – in their relation to national academies (Académie des Sciences, National Academy of Sciences), international societies and international organizations. The research will involve journal analyses, archival research and oral history interviews.

Profile

-You have a passion for historical research and the ambition to become an outstanding researcher.
-You have strong academic abilities and you have completed (or are about to complete) a Doctoral Degree in History or an equivalent degree in which a historical and/or a science studies and/or a gender and ethnicity studies perspective played a prominent role.
-You can read and speak English and French, are prepared to publish in English.
-You have (at least) a basic understanding of Dutch, and are willing - if needed - to perfect your Dutch language skills to engage in teaching starting from the second year of the position (2024-2025).
-You are willing to teach in Dutch (one course and one seminar annually) in the second and third year of the position (2024-5 and 2025-6) in the History Program at KU Leuven.
-You are willing to work in Leuven and live in Belgium during the main period of the PhD scholarship.
-You are willing to conduct substantial research stays (e.g. 10 to 12 months in total) in France and the United States to conduct oral history interviews and archival research.
-You are willing to communicate on your research at conferences, on social media, through publications, and by engaging in outreach activities in collaboration with present-day academies and scientific societies, which will be involved as stakeholders in the project.
-You are willing to work in team and to engage in comparative historical research, which involves close collaboration among the team members (e.g. composing an edited volume), and to play an active role within the Cultural History since 1750 Research Group.

Offer

We offer a fully funded, full-time postdoctoral position for the duration of 3 years. The initial contract will cover 1 year. After a positive evaluation, this can be extended with 2 years. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the university salary scales for postdoctoral researchers.
You will carry out your postdoctoral research as part of the international research project GLOBAL ACADEMIES (funded by a Starting Grant from the European Research Council, N. 101042343) in the stimulating intellectual environment of KU Leuven’s History Department, which has a lively international community of(postdoctoral) researchers.
You will benefit from guidance from experts in the field. You will be given a work space and the resources to attend and present at conferences, to publish in open access journals, and to cover travel expenses for research in France and the United States.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Joris Vandendriessche, tel.: +32 16 32 50 17, mail: joris.vandendriessche@kuleuven.be.

Candidates are invited to submit their application in English or Dutch, consisting of:
- a cv, including a detailed list of publications
- a letter of motivation stating the candidate’s qualifications and reasons for interest in the position
- a writing sample, in pdf (e.g. a published article, a chapter of the dissertation …)
- the contact information of two references (including information on the relationship with the applicant).
- a research plan (max. 2 pages) developing a strategy for the envisioned research project (e.g. research questions, methodological choices)

Interviews with a selection of the applicants are scheduled on August 8. Candidates who are selected will be notified by mid-July.
You can apply for this job no later than July 03, 2023 via the online application tool.
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.