PhD scholarship: Identity at Play in 18^th-century French Female-Authored Drama

Deadline extended to Friday, 24th May 2019.

UCD School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics invites applications to a four-year long fully-funded PhD fellowship in 18^th-century French and Francophone Studies. This award includes full fee waiver (EU and non-EU), a generous stipend of €15,000 per annum, and funds towards a new laptop, conference travel, research library visits and book purchases.

Candidates are invited to submit a proposal for a PhD project that will focus primarily on identity play within works by 18^th-century French female authors (page or stage in the broadest senses, including both theatre and narrative). Preference may be given to thesis projects that consider proto-feminism and identity, gender metamorphosis, gender and identity play, stereotype reversal, female rôles in female-authored drama by comparison with male-authored works, or projects that assess the nature or impact of early-modern plays, novels, or performances as critiques or explorations of the restrictions imposed on the female space, rôle, voice, embodiment, identity, or potential. Candidates are also welcome to submit proposals for projects in closely related areas. Original approaches are particularly encouraged.

The successful candidate will be innovative and independent in her/his approach to research and must have already demonstrated research ability. The candidate must have fluent French and be available to lecture and tutor within the French and Francophone Studies section at UCD: the successful candidate will be expected to be resident at UCD throughout teaching terms for the entire duration of this four-year research scholarship. Prospective candidates will also collaborate on project websites, drama production, research resources, seminars and conference organisation.

The UCD PhD programme is a structured four-year programme. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of 18^th-century French specialist Associate Professor Síofra Pierse. Dr Pierse has written extensively on Voltaire and 18^th-century historiography and she is currently working on literary doubt across a range of 18^th-century writings, including female-authored novels. Candidates will benefit from local research networks, including the School graduate student group, other College of Arts and Humanities PhD scholars, a research studies advisory panel, the French and Francophone Studies section, the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics community, and the UCD Humanities Institute. The School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics boasts a lively research culture and is host to a number of internationally renowned scholars in both Modern Languages and Linguistics. Modern Languages at UCD has been consistently ranked 51-100 in the world in QS rankings since 2012.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, a full CV, a writing sample, two confidential letters of reference, and a thesis project proposal (1000-1500 words, plus indicative bibliography) by email to Associate Professor Síofra Pierse ((opens in a new window)siofra.pierse@ucd.ie) by 24th May 2019. Applications will be reviewed by a School selection committee, and the successful applicant will then be invited to apply formally for admission to the SLCL PhD programme. Preliminary enquiries by email are very welcome.