Wordsworth, Creativity, and Cumbrian Communities

The School of English at the University of Leeds, in collaboration with the Wordsworth Trust, is pleased to offer an AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award to commence in October 2013. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr David Higgins, Associate Professor in English Literature at the University, and Mr Jeff Cowton MBE, the Curator at the Trust.

This three-year doctoral studentship will investigate how Wordsworth’s creativity was developed, fostered, and/or challenged by his interactions with communities within Cumbria. The student will be based part of the time at the University of Leeds and part of the time at the Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere, Cumbria. It is envisaged that s/he will make extensive use of the Trust’s manuscript collections at the Jerwood Centre, and will undertake a traineeship at the Trust. The student will also be involved in public engagement activities in Leeds and Grasmere related to their research. Further details of the project can be found at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/news/article/3516/ahrc_wordsworth_phd_studentship_opportunity.

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate to develop their academic profile, while also gaining experience of public engagement and work in the museum and heritage sector.  Candidates should have at least a 2:1 degree in English or a related subject, and will normally be expected to have completed a relevant Masters degree by October 2013. They must meet the AHRC’s standard eligibility requirements, as detailed in their Student Funding Guide. Preference may be given to candidates with subject knowledge in Romantic-period literature, and particularly of Wordsworth, critical approaches to creativity, and/or ideas of community. The studentship will include fees, the AHRC’s standard stipend (currently £13726 per annum) plus an additional £550 per annum from the AHRC, and a contribution of £250 per annum from the Wordsworth Trust. The Trust will also offer a considerable ‘in kind’ contribution through the provision of training, facilities, and other expenses. 

Candidates should follow the usual procedure for applying for a research degree in the School of English, as detailed here, making it clear that they are applying for this specific award. Instead of the standard research proposal, please write a statement of application of 1,000 to 2,000 words. Candidates should explain why they would be interested in undertaking this project and how their previous training and research relates to it. They should also suggest ways in which they might shape the project in line with their own research interests and expertise.

Informal enquiries can be addressed to Dr Higgins (d.higgins@leeds.ac.uk).

The closing date is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

Interviews will take place in Leeds on Monday 22 July 2013.