Three-year post-doctoral fellowship, Contemporary Science vs. Religion Debates in Canada, York University

York University announces one, three-year postdoctoral Fellowship for Qualitative Social Sciences researchers to study the drivers for Contemporary Science vs. Religion Debates in Canada. The fellowship is funded by the Templeton Religion Trust grant ‘Clash Narratives in Context: Uncovering the Social and Cultural Drivers of Contemporary Science vs. Religion Debates’.

This multidisciplinary social sciences and humanities research project run in partnership with Coventry University (UK) and in association with the British Library and British Science Association will employ four intersecting approaches: qualitative social science field research; oral history, historical and media discourse analysis; social psychology experimental research; and a large scale quantitative survey of public perceptions, attitudes and identity formation in the UK and Canada. The research team will be co-directed by principal investigators Dr Fern Elsdon-Baker (Coventry University, UK) and Prof. Bernard Lightman (York University). Postdoctoral Fellowship Strand 1:Qualitative Social Sciences research into the drivers for Contemporary Science vs. Religion Debates’

This strand of research will seek to build a more comprehensive understanding of scientists and publics’ lived experiences of the relationship between evolution and personal belief in Canada. The post holder will be expected to work collaboratively with the whole Canada and UK based team including Co-Investigator Dr Rebecca Catto and two UK based postdoctoral research fellows who will be undertaking related comparative social science/social psychology research in the UK.

In addition to engaging in research as part of the ‘Clash Narratives in Context’ project, the Fellow will be expected to contribute to team meetings, dissemination and networking activities for the grant network in the UK and USA, including contributing the project based website and helping to plan the workshop to take place at York in Spring 2015. The successful applicant is expected to have completed his/her Ph.D. within the last five years and before taking up the fellowship in either:

• Social scientific study/sociology of religion
• Qualitative science technology studies
• or a relevant qualitative sociology or STS related field

These awards provide a stipend equivalent to $33,500 plus limited benefits. Questions about the research project and the application procedure should be directed to Bernard Lightman: lightman@yorku.ca Full applications will contain a cover letter that includes a description of current research projects, an academic cv, a writing sample, and at least three letters of reference. Applicants must also articulate how their research projects fit within the grant. Applications (digital only please) should be sent to Michael Anderson, Administrative Assistant, Institute for Science and Technology Studies at: m_ander@yorku.ca.
Deadline: Applications must be received by 2pm May 23rd, 2014. Interviews will take place on June 4th and 5th, 2014. The successful applicant will begin their appointment on October 1st, 2014.