Call for Applications: 3 years PhD position in the history of late medieval
astronomy in Europe 

 

ALFA is an ERC funded project (2017-2022, 60 month, Consolidator grant 2016
agreement 723085) 
dedicated to the study of Alfonsine astronomy which flourished in Europe
from the second half of the 
13th century to the middle of the 16th century. 

Relying on approaches from the history of astronomy, history of
mathematics, and history of manuscript 
cultures to study astronomical tables, instruments, theoretical and
mathematical texts, ALFA’s main 
objectives are to: 

. Retrace the development of the corpus of Alfonsine texts from its origin
in the second half of 
the 13th century to the end of the 15th century by following, on the
manuscript level, the milieus 
producing and using these codices; 
. Analyse Alfonsine astronomers’ practices, their relations to
mathematics, to the natural world, 
to proofs and justification, and their intellectual and social contexts and
audiences; 
. Build a meaningful narrative showing how astronomers in different milieus
with diverse 
practices shaped, also from Arabic and Hebrew materials, an original
scientific scene in Europe. 


ALFA works in a deeply collective manner. Matthieu Husson (PI, CNRS-
Observatoire de Paris), José 
Chabás (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona) and Richard Kremer (Dartmouth
College, USA) 
constitute its advisory board. Around them a local team of 3 post-docs, 3
PhD students and a digital 
humanities IT expert, based at the Paris observatory, will work with a team
of international collaborators 
comprised of 10 specialists of the history of late medieval astronomy in
Europe. Finally a team of 
external experts from neighbouring fields will consult with ALFA in order
to enrich its methodological 
and theoretical dimensions and to help design the digital tools. 

ALFA invites application for a 3 year doctoral position expected to start
on October 1, 2017 or as 
soon as possible thereafter (CNRS-contract, according to CNRS policy 1758
Euros gross per month). 
This position will be hosted at the Observatoire de Paris (ED 127) inside
the history of science team 
(dir. Michela Malpangotto) of the SYRTE Laboratory (UMR 8630). 

The successful candidate will work as part of the local team and will spend
most of his/her working 
time on his/her research project in the context of this collective,
international project. He is expected to 
participate in the publications of the project and will be encouraged to
take part in the conception of 
scientific events relevant to his research (workshops and seminars). He
will have also dedicated research 
funds especially for travel to relevant European libraries. In line with
ALFA’s (first) objective this PhD 
research project should enhance our understanding of the formation of the
corpus of Alfonsine texts. 
Different approaches are possible to achieve this aim. They include: the
critical edition of key works of 
Alfonsine astronomy and or an in-depth study of a selected corpus of
manuscripts (linked to a specific 
production milieu, to a pertinent collector, or to the diffusion or
teaching of specific Alfonsine works). 
These studies should be connected to more general questions regarding the
history of astronomy 
(technical contents of texts and the elements described in them,
establishment and connection of 
different milieus fostering Alfonsine astronomy, specificity and overlap of
these milieus in term of 
manuscript and astronomical practices). Complementary approaches may be
considered in particular 


regarding the history of manuscript cultures (typology of astronomical
multiple-text manuscripts, visual 
organisation of the codex, manuscripts as performative objects). 

To qualify for the position, candidates are required to have completed
their Master’s degree in either 
sciences, history of sciences or medieval history. During the PhD it will
be possible for the successful 
candidate to complete her/his training according to his/her needs in Latin
philology, codicology, 
palaeography, history of astronomy and history of mathematics. Acquired
competences in these domains 
will be appreciated. A good control of spoken and written English is also
important in order to be able 
to interact fruitfully with the international team of the project. 

Applications should be sent no later than May 14, 2017 to Matthieu Husson 
(matthieu.husson@obspm.fr).
They shall include: a short CV (2 p. max), contact information for two 
possible externals referees (name, institution, email contact), a short
research proposal (3-4 p. max), a 
written sample of academic work (e.g. Master thesis and/or a recent paper
on it). 

Review of applications will start on May 15, 2017 and the result will be
published on June 15, 2017. 

For further information you are warmly encouraged to contact Matthieu
Husson 
(matthieu.husson@obspm.fr).