McGill University: Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas
Two postdoctoral fellowships in Studies in Early Modern Europe

Stipend: $40,000 plus research support
Duration: 1 August 2013 to 31 July 2014, with the possibility of a one-year renewal

Deadline for Applications: 5 April 2013

The Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas at McGill University seeks two postdoctoral fellows in Studies in Early Modern Europe. One will have a demonstrable research interest in the public life of arts and ideas (A). The other will have a demonstrable research interest in Digital Humanities (B). The Fellows will join a large, international, interdisciplinary research project entitled, “Forms of Conversion: Religion, Culture, and Cognitive Ecologies in Early Modern Europe and its Worlds.” “Forms of Conversion” will study how early modern Europeans changed their confessional, political, social, and sexual identities. It will consider how these subjective changes interrelated with broader transformations in early modernity—the geopolitical reorientation of Europe in light of emerging relations with Islam and the Americas; the rethinking of the knowledge of Antiquity and the Middle Ages; the reimagining of God. By examining forms of conversion across disciplinary boundaries as a network of movements and transformations, the project will develop an understanding of religious, cultural, and cognitive change that will provide a new account of early modernity and a foundation for a renewed understanding of the present age. Members of the team include scholars in Art, Architectural, Literary, Music, and Theatre History, History of Religion, History of Cognition and Emotion, Social and Intellectual History, and Digital Humanities.

The start date for the year-long positions is August 1, 2013. There is the possibility of a one-year renewal. Candidates will have a PhD in a field consonant with “Forms of Conversion,” a research program relevant to the central interests of the project, and a record of work in one of the two fellowship tracks. The Fellows will work on their own research program, collaborate with colleagues in an interdisciplinary context, and may have opportunities to teach courses in their areas of specialty. Fellow A will also take part in the development of the project’s program of public outreach, education, and exchange and serve on the project’s Education Advisory Committee. Fellow B will take part in the development of the project’s Digital Humanities infrastructure and serve on the project’s Management Committee.

Fellowship stipends will be approximately $40,000CDN per annum, plus travel and research support. Applications, consisting of a description of research program, writing sample, and CV must be sent by email (.pdf attachments only) by April 5, 2013 to Paul Yachnin, Tomlinson Professor of Shakespeare Studies, and Director, IPLAI, McGill University at Conversion.IPLAI@McGill.ca. Please indicate clearly whether you wish to be considered for the A or B track. Please also arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to the same email address by the April 5 deadline. Candidates should ask referees to include the candidate’s name on the subject line of the email.

Note that these positions are subject to funding.