London Renaissance Seminar: Research Internships

The London Renaissance Seminar invites postgraduate students at Birkbeck to apply for two research internships 2016-17. These internships are open to all postgraduate students at Birkbeck.

The London Renaissance Seminar hosts and organises a variety of events from half-day symposia to lectures, larger conferences and single lectures. Most events are open to audiences. Anyone with an interest in the Renaissance is welcome to attend. Seminars are usually held in the School of Arts, 43 Gordon Square.

The internship is open to all postgraduate students at Birkbeck and is likely to be particularly rewarding for those working in a historical or literary field in the early modern period. The postholders will (a) have a shared budget of £325 to fund a research-led event of their choice for the LRS, and (b) to participate in steering and above all maintaining the Seminar during the academic year 2016-17. Thus interns will liaise with event organisers at Birkbeck and beyond, work with members of the Steering Committee, ensure the website is up to date, advertise the seminar, liaise with projects (such as the Marston project)

The internships are planned to commence in October 2016 and end in July 2017 (there may be some flexibility). The successful candidates will be working on a postgraduate degree, have some prior research experience and be familiar with early modern texts and ideas.

The research intern’s responsibilities include:

• Devising, planning, scheduling, advertising and delivering an LRS event using the assigned budget: either one event co-organised or two smaller events. Event to be held in 2016-17. This may include planning of the LRS strand for the Renaissance Society of America conference 2018.
• Advertising upcoming LRS and Shakespeare Conversations events: website, social Media.
• Liaison with event organisers and academics involved in planning and delivering events;  liaison with the LRS Fellows and Early Career Fellows 2016-17.
• Supporting LRS involvement with projects and institutions eg Marston Project; ‘Renaissance Loves’; RSA and Birkbeck projects including Early Modern Reading Group.
• Contributing to LRS Steering Committee planning meetings

Each intern will provide two hours per week for 3 x 11 week terms, paid at £18.93 per hour.

£325 towards speakers and refreshments for the research event/events to be designed by the two interns

As indicated, students at MPhil and PhD level may apply. In applying, please supply:

1. 150 words outlining (a) your special area of research and how it relates to the period 1500-1690 (b) how the placement will benefit your academic study; (c) how the internship will develop your career skills.
2. 150 words giving an initial proposal for an outward-facing LRS event. The format of this event is open (Examples include but are not limited to: postgraduate conference; site-specific seminar; book talk; symposium; performance and analysis).

These ((a) and (b) can be submitted as separate documents or in the form of a letter)

1. Full CV
2. Name of 1 academic referee

Candidates will be interviewed on 12 August 2016. If you are not available on that day please indicate that.

Submit your application  as a WORD document with the information and documents requested above and marked LRS Intern to b.waddell@bbk.ac.uk and s.wiseman@bbk.ac.uk by 12.00pm on Friday 5 August 2016. Enquiries to the same e-mails please.

Birkbeck welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Birkbeck holds an Athena Swan Award, is a Stonewall Diversity Champion and is working towards the Race Equality Charter Mark.