Postdoctoral research: the Material Culture of Modern Occultism in Britain’s Science, Technology, and Magic Collections / closes 11 February 2021

[Michael Pritchard]

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities, in collaboration with the Science Museum Group, is offering a 0.2 FTE Postdoctoral Research Fellow position to work the project “The Media of Mediumship (TMM): Encountering the Material Culture of Modern Occultism in Britain’s Science, Technology, and Magic Collections.” The Fellow will work in collaboration with Professor Christine Ferguson (English Studies, Principal Investigator) and Dr Efram Sera-Shriar (Senior Researcher & Research Grants Manager, Science Museum Group, Co-Investigator). This project is funded by the AHRC Follow-On Funding for Impact and Engagement Scheme.

The Research Fellow will be an early-career humanities researcher at postdoctoral level, with expertise in modern British history, history and philosophy of science, museum studies, cultural studies, literature, and/or religious life. Strong knowledge and proficiency of social media and digital platforms is highly desirable. Previous experience in museum or heritage work is encouraged but not required; applicants with previous research experience in the history of modern British occultism are particularly welcome. The candidate should demonstrate a record of high research achievement and potential, strong public engagement skills, and excellent organisational ability.

Summary and aims of the Project

Following on from the “Popular Occulture in Britain, 1875-1947 project, “The Media of Mediumship” (TMM) will create a twelve-month programme of public events and resources dedicated to exploring the occult use history of collections at the Science Museum (London), Senate House Library (London), and the National Science and Media Museum (Bradford). It will be produced in collaboration with the Science Museum Group and the Senate House Library. Through its activities, TMM aims to transform public understandings of the relationship between science, technology, popular culture, and unorthodox forms of spiritual belief in modern Britain. To do so, it will bring into conversation the performance, museum and heritage, photographic, podcasting, and academic organizations which preserve and take inspiration from the entangled histories of science, media, and modern occulture. 

See more and apply here: https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/work-at-stirling/list/details/?jobId=2...