STEP - Science and Technology in the European Periphery

Needham Research Institute, Cambridge

The Soon-Young Kim Studentship in the History of East Asian Science and
Technology

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 2011.

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

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.

Given the subjects covered by the award, the normal expectation will be
that applicants will seek admission to the Department of History and
Philosophy of Science of the University of Cambridge
(http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/).

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