Post docs in Environmental Humanities at the University of Chicago

20 Mar Post docs in Environmental Humanities at the University of Chicago

The Limits of the Numerical Project at the University of Chicago invites applications for two Postdoctoral Scholar positions supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, both expected to last for a total of three academic years (2015-18). Each Postdoctoral Scholar will propose and pursue an in-depth study of the role numbers do and do not play in the humanistic understanding of environmental problems related to climate change. “Numbers” is interpreted broadly to include symbolic/mathematical languages. We anticipate that one project will touch on studies of physical, biological, and policy sciences, and the other on the humanistic disciplines.

This research will be performed in residence at the Franke Institute for the Humanities throughout the academic year (late September to mid-June). Our hope is for these projects to interact with and contribute to our larger, ongoing project to understand the role numbers play in areas that develop hermeneutic or interpretive approaches to the study of climate change. That project in turn belongs to a consortial effort, undertaken with Cambridge University and the University of California at Santa Barbara, who will be looking, respectively, at the cases of health care and higher education. Together, these three projects aim for some general conclusions about the powers and limitations of quantitative methods.

Each Postdoctoral Scholar at Chicago will be paired with a faculty mentor relevant to the project. Investigators from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have completed their PhDs between 7/1/10 and 7/1/15, and may not hold any other appointment during the period of the Postdoctoral Scholar position. A complete application includes cover letter, C.V., three references, and a 3-5 page project description, and it should be submitted via email tomav@uchicago.edu (Ms. Mai Vukcevich). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.

No application materials will be accepted after Friday, April 17, 2015.

Additional information will be forthcoming: http://franke.uchicago.edu

Feature image: Growing Numbers by Masine.