[Taxacom] Kew/Birkbeck PhD studentship: Cross-Cultural Histories of Tropical Botany in Latin America

[Mark Nesbitt]

This might be of interest to history/collections-minded botanists. Candidates must have UK or EU eligibility for AHRC funding.

AHRC Collaborative PhD Studentship: Cross-Cultural Histories of Tropical Botany in Latin America

The Department of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at Birkbeck (University of London) has been awarded one studentship for a PhD project on ‘Cross-cultural histories of tropical botany in Latin America’ working with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Subject to AHRC eligibility criteria, this three year studentship pays all fees (UK/EU rate) and an enhanced full maintenance grant. It offers the opportunity of extensive experience within Kew Gardens, and the development of curatorial as well as academic skills and expertise.
The closing date for applications is Friday, 30 May 2008.

The project aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the history of tropical botany through a critical engagement with the herbarium, economic botany, bibliographic and visual reference collections of a major botanic garden of global significance. The project seeks to illuminate the multiple histories entangled within the development of tropical botany, with particular reference to the Latin American collections, providing insights into the cultural history of the transatlantic exchanges between Britain and Latin America.

Further details may be found at:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/cilavs/research/opportunities