The German Historical Institute (GHI) in Washington D.C. offers a one-year dissertation fellowship in European-American relations within the Transatlantic Perspectives project to outstanding, advanced graduate students in history or a related discipline. Preferred staring date is January 2013 (no later than June 2013).
The fellowship is part of the interdisciplinary research project, Transatlantic Perspectives: Europe in the Eyes of European Immigrants to the United States, 1930-1980, which is funded largely through a grant from the German Ministry of Education and Research. Fellows are generally expected to be in residence at the GHI for the duration of their fellowship.
The research project aims to trace trans-cultural perspectives on Europe and the emergence of hybrid European identities among immigrants and émigrés in the United States between the 1930s and 1970s. How did immigrants who left the continent under a variety of circumstances look back at Europe? How did their views inform broader American perceptions of Europe? The project examines both perceptions and transnational transfers. For this overarching project, we are inviting applications from students pursuing a dissertation that falls within one of the project’s broad themes:
- Links between transnational migration experiences and hybrid European identities, self-identifications as Europeans or European-Americans. When and in what ways did Europeans look back at Europe as a larger political and cultural unit that transcended their individual countries of origin?
- The role of European immigrants and émigrés in transatlantic transfer and exchange processes and their impact on various fields of mid-twentieth century American society.
- The role of migrants and returning migrants as cultural and professional “translators” in postwar Europe as well as within transnational institutions.
The fellowship carries a tax-exempt annual stipend of $22,800, covers some research and travel expenses, and provides office space. During their residency, a fellow will present his or her research and be active participants in the GHI’s intellectual life. Thanks to its location in Washington D.C., the GHI offers students valuable connections to cutting edge scholarship in both Europe and the United States and to a host of institutions in the metro area. It also provides easy access to premier research facilities such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives.
Applicants should be finished with their coursework and working on a dissertation project that fits the broad themes of the overall project. Fellows are expected to contribute part of their time to the Transatlantic Perspectives project, including participation in project workshops and contributions to our website. For further information on the Transatlantic Perspectives project see: www.transatlanticperspectives.org.
Application Deadline: November 15, 2012.
Application materials include: letter of interest, C.V., sample of scholarly work, confidential letter of reference from dissertation advisor. Materials may be submitted electronically. Confidential letters of reference must come directly from the recommender. Please attach your application as a PDF or Word document and direct to Prof. Dr. Hartmut Berghoff, director of the GHI. For questions, please contact the project director Jan Logemann (email: logemann@ghi-dc.org / Tel: +1 (202) 525-3545).