This PhD position is part of a Swiss National Science Foundation grant titled “Myths of equality: the gendered history of science in Central Asia, 1870s-1970s”. The PhD candidate will explore the social history of women in the male dominated field work environments in Central Asia. Since the second half of the 19th century, but especially during the 20th century women from within the Russian Empire have been participating as scientists or observers in expeditions to the mountainous regions of Central Asia such as the Pamir mountains or the Tian-Shan. Through archival work in Tashkent, oral-history interviews, and the analysis of visual media the PhD student will study the dynamics of gender, exploration, and science in Central Asia. The project is a collaboration with historians and geographers from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the United States and the PhD candidate will be able work closely with two other PhD candidates based in Tashkent.

Please submit the following documents as a single PDF file to Katja Doose (katja.doose@unifr.ch) : Cover letter ; Curriculum vitae ; A short outline of a possible research project (ca. 500 words) ; Publication list and one sample writing (e.g. Master thesis, scientific article) ; Names and contact information of two referees.