2 doctoral grants and post doctoral grants Berlin — Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

2 doctoral grants and post doctoral grants are being offered within
Excellence Cluster 264 “Topoi - The Formation
and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations”,
which has been set up in the framework of the Excellence Initiative at
Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and in
cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
(There is a parallel announcement for the position of a research
scholar.)

In the Excellence Project Cluster “TOPOI—The Formation and
Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations,” a
junior research group is being set up on the topic “Historical
Epistemology of Space: Experience and Theoretical Reflection in the
Historical Development of Spatial Knowledge” within the framework of
the research group E-II “Space as Transformed in the History of
Science” (Christof Rapp, Jürgen Renn, Matthias Schemmel). The goal is
to produce a long-term history of fundamental structures of spatial
thinking from prehistory to the present. To this end, we are seeking
applicants who are competent in one of the following subject areas and
have an interest in researching one of the following topics: (A)
developmental psychology, cognitive anthropology, psycholinguistics,
ethnology: psychogenetic development and ethnological differentiation
of spatial thinking; (B) history of geography: the long-term
development of geodesy, its instruments and mathematical methods,
including their applications in astronomy; (C) history of astronomy
and cosmology: the long-term development of astronomy and cosmology
with special consideration of the development of the concept of space.

Profile of Candidate Requirements:
A Masters or equivalent for the doctoral stipend, a degree
dissertation for the post doctoral stipend. Mastery of German or
English.
Willingness to collaborate in the group of your researchers as well as
in the Research Group E-II. Women are especially encouraged to apply.
The Max Planck Society and Humboldt-Universität are committed to
employing more handicapped individuals.

The doctoral stipends provide between 1,300 and 1,365 Euros a month
(due to the regulations of the Max Planck Society, one of them may
also be granted in the framework of an employment contract with a
salary according to 50% of E13 TVÖD), the post doctoral stipends
provide between 1,468 and 1,621 Euro a month (for fellows from abroad,
one of them may provide between 1,900 and 2,300 Euro a month).
Supplements for family and child care can be granted.

Begin: August 1, 2008
Closing Date: June 27, 2008

Applications may be submitted in German or English. Applicants should
send a CV, copies of transcripts, a list of publications where
applicable, an original text (an article or a chapter from a book or
thesis), a short description of what they envision themselves
contributing to the research project outlined above, and the code
number DS/E-II/01/08 to:

Please send your application only electronically via e-mail to:

Excellence Cluster 264 Topoi

E-Mail: topoi @ zedat.fu-berlin.de