PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY with PLYMOUTH CITY MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Collaborative Doctoral Award

Funded doctoral studentship over 3 years

Start date: 01 October 2013

The School of Humanities and Performing Arts in collaboration with Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (PCMAG) invites suitably qualified applicants for the above project. For more information about the School please see and museum see, http:/www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/humpa/Pages/default.aspx,  http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/museumpcmag.htm/ . The doctoral award covers full time fees and an annual bursary of £13,726 per year.

Project description

The Cottonian Research Initiative is led by Professor Dafydd Moore, the supervisory team for this studentship will be drawn from a broad range of expertise in English and Creative Writing and Ms Emma Philip (Curator of Art, PCMAG).

This doctoral studentship is an exciting development of our two institutions’ joint Cottonian Research Initiative, which is devoted to the scholarly and public understanding of Plymouth’s nationally designated Cottonian Collection. Our aim is to generate new knowledge about the Collection, about eighteenth and nineteenth-century cultures of collecting and connoisseurship more widely. An almost totally unexplored National Designated Collection, the Cottonian is of international significance to scholarship, and its ‘recovery’ has the potential to reconnect the people of Plymouth with one of their greatest cultural treasures.

This studentship will focus on reading and interpreting the written elements remains of the Cottonian, in particular its collection of books and archives. Based within the Museum (which is co-located with the University), the successful applicant will work with museum professionals and develop archival, curatorial and public engagement experience and expertise. Full details of the project can be found at http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/humpa/Study/Pages/Studentships.aspx

Eligibility

The successful candidate will hold a good undergraduate degree (2.1 or above) in English or relevant discipline (History, Art History or Curatorial Studies). They will o hold a Masters qualification in a relevant subject. The award is subject to AHRC eligibility criteria, including residency criteria. Full details can be found at http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Student-Funding-Guide.pdf .

Further information & how to apply

For further information about the Cottonian Research Initiative, please visit http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/humpa/Partners/cottonian-humpainitiative/Pages/default.aspx

For an informal discussion, please contact Dr Annika Bautz or Dr Bonnie Latimer (annika.bautz@plymouth.ac.uk or bonnie.latimer@plymouth.ac.uk).

Applications must be made in accordance with the details shown below.

For an application form and full details on how to apply, please visit http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=32190

As this is a specific project call, applicants will not need to provide a project proposal at this stage. Instead they should provide a personal statement outlining:

• Interest in the project and motivations for applying

• Nature of expertise suitable for doctoral study in this field

Applications should be sent direct to Susan Matheron by email: susan.matheron@plymouth.ac.uk. Please ensure the application is clearly marked CDA Cottonian. Do not send the application to Central Admissions.

The closing date for applications is 12 NOON on Monday 1^st July 2013.

Interviews will be held on Friday 12^th July 2013.