PhD Candidate (M/F) History of Health and Colonial Empires

Job Description

Thesis Subject

PhD Student (M/F) History of Health, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology in Colonial Empires (19th–20th Century)

The doctoral contract is part of the CNRS Junior Professor Chair (CPJ) MOBIMATHS, which revolves around the research project "Human Circulations, Maritime Mobilities, and Modeling of Infectious Risks (17th–21st Century)", funded by the ANR and the Amidex Foundation of Aix-Marseille University. The project aims to explore the globalization of infectious risks in relation to human circulations, maritime mobilities, and colonization. It adopts a socio-historical perspective on health, medicine, science, and technology, while also promoting interdisciplinary dialogue between history, mathematics, infectiology, and public health. A particular focus is placed on the history of mathematical approaches in epidemiology, as well as on quantitative data and health statistics, which are examined both as historical sources and as subjects of study.

The PhD candidate's thesis will focus on the history of health, infectious diseases, and epidemiology in colonial empires (19th–20th century). He or she will explore a topic related to health in colonial and/or naval contexts, with an interest in using or analyzing quantitative sources. The subject is intentionally broad to allow the candidate to develop his or her own research project, in agreement with the thesis supervisors, whether in terms of methodological choices, geographical framework, or approaches to health and epidemiology. The candidate will thus be expected to shape his or her own research space while contributing to a collective dynamic. Depending on the chosen topic, the chronological scope may begin before the Second Colonial Empires or extend beyond decolonization (post-colonial contexts, Cold War, global health issues). The research could, for example, focus on a specific imperial space, a transimperial context, a precise case study (city, port, maritime route, etc.), or a phenomenon involving human mobility (particularly by sea).

The thesis will be carried out within the MESOPOLHIS laboratory (UMR 7064) and the Doctoral School Espaces Cultures Sociétés (ED 355), under the joint supervision of Guillaume Linte (CNRS) and Nicolas Badalassi (Sciences Po Aix).

Required skills:
• A Master's degree (M2 or equivalent), preferably in History and/or History of Science and Technology.
• Interest in conducting research related to colonial, naval, and/or global health history, as well as in using quantitative sources and/or methods.
• Ability to work independently and organize research, along with motivation for working with archival sources.
• Willingness to contribute to a collective project and interest in interdisciplinarity, for example in global health issues or mathematical approaches to epidemiology.
• Fluent in French (thesis writing language). Good English skills, or a willingness to improve them during the PhD, will be appreciated, as will any additional language skills.

Activities:
• Writing the PhD thesis
• Contributing to the objectives of the Junior Professor Chair (CPJ) MOBIMATHS: participating in project coordination, organizing scientific events, and promoting research results.
• Contributing to the activities of the host laboratory (MESOPOLHIS, UMR 7064).

Your Work Environment

The PhD candidate will join the Mediterranean Center for Sociology, Political Science, and History (MESOPOLHIS, UMR 7064), affiliated with the CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, and Sciences Po Aix. MESOPOLHIS brings together researchers and faculty from various social science disciplines, primarily sociology, political science, and history, as well as anthropology, demography, geography, and urban studies. The candidate will be enrolled in the Doctoral School Espaces Cultures Sociétés (ED 355). He or she will also benefit from the particularly dynamic research environment of Aix-Marseille University.

The candidate's daily workplace will be in Aix-en-Provence, at one of the MESOPOLHIS research sites (Maison Méditerranéenne des Sciences de L'Homme or Espace Philippe Séguin). He or she will have a shared workspace with other PhD students in the laboratory, access to the libraries of Aix-Marseille University and Sciences Po Aix, and the material resources necessary for his or her research. Thanks to funding from the ANR and the Amidex Foundation, the candidate will receive support to conduct research under favorable conditions.

Constraints and risks

The PhD candidate will be required to conduct archival and library research in France and/or abroad, depending on the scope of his or her project and its needs, which will involve travel. Additional travel will also be necessary for participation in national and/or international academic events.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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