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A fully funded three-year doctoral studentship (funded by the Wellcome Trust) is available to work with Professor Corinne Saunders and colleagues in the Department of English Studies and the Centre for Medical Humanities. Doctoral proposals are invited that span the disciplines of English Literature and Medical Humanities. Research may be focused on literature of any period, but should engage with the ways in which literature reflects on, represents, or is illuminated by, medicine. Topics might include, for example, the literary portrayal and function of aspects of medicine and illness, the history of medicine and its relationship with literature, psychoanalytic theory, or the connection between illness and creativity. Proposals should contribute to one or more of the broad themes below:

•the place of creativity in human flourishing and wellbeing
•practices and policies that aim to promote wellbeing and health, including arts based practices
•relations between flourishing, embodiment, wellbeing and health
•relations between the sciences, the arts and medical practice
•explorations of public engagement within medicine, arts and other forms of social policy with a view to enhancing wellbeing and health
•the role of creativity in health and wellbeing
•experience, medical knowledge and individuals

The award is part of a strategic grant in Medical Humanities made by the Wellcome Trust to Durham University and the successful candidate will have full affiliation and involvement in the research environment of the unique inter-disciplinary and cross-faculty Centre for Medical Humanities http://www.dur.ac.uk/cmh/. The Centre’s work is funded by the Wellcome Trust and focused on an established collaborative research programme concerning the role of medical knowledge in human flourishing.

The research training and PhD registration will be through the Department of English Studies, a dynamic research and postgraduate environment. The Department was awarded a 5*A in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 90% of the research activity in the Department was judged to be of international standing, in terms of its originality, significance and rigour, with 60% considered to be either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. The RAE panel found the research environment and the interdisciplinary research centres and facilities to be ‘impressive’. In terms of its teaching quality, the Department performs consistently well in league tables.

Eligible candidates

Applicants should have an upper second or first class honours degree in English or a related discipline, and an MA (or be on target to successfully complete one in this academic year).

Please note that only EU and UK citizens are eligible.

How to apply

To apply, please use the online application form (available from http://www.dur.ac.uk/english.studies%20/postgrad/apply/). Please include a CV, a research proposal and a letter outlining any relevant experience and your interests in this topic. If you have already submitted an online application, please send a separate CV, research proposal and covering letter to: Mrs. Marie Caygill, Postgraduate Secretary, Department of English Studies. (m.a.caygill@durham.ac.uk )

Inquiries

Informal enquiries are welcome – for further details please contact Professor Corinne Saunders (c.j.saunders@durham.ac.uk )

Closing date for applications: 2nd July 2010

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