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Scholarship-supported research project
Australian Catholic University (ACU) is offering two full-time PhD scholarships to undertake research into the late ancient nighttime as part of an ARC-funded project.
Successful applicants will work on the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project, Night Vision in the Late Ancient Mediterranean.
This project aims to create a new history of the wakeful nighttime in the late ancient Mediterranean world by combining study of material remains with literary descriptions of human nocturnal activities. Histories of the Night have focused on the classical world, the western medieval world, and especially the Industrial Revolution. The late ancient Mediterranean is a fascinating and hitherto overlooked period in studies of the night. Using this rich case study of a period and region of great technological, social, and religious upheaval, we aim to provide a better understanding of the sociality of nighttime and a new cultural history of the period that gives agency to marginalised groups.
PhD candidates will develop thesis topics on project-related themes and will be integral to the project, working collaboratively with the research team.
Possible disciplines for the PhD scholarship include:
Students working in other disciplines are welcome to contact us to discuss the possibilities.
| Study mode | Full-time for up to 3.5 years |
|---|---|
| Location |
ACU Melbourne campus. Applicants who would like to work from another ACU campus should contact us to discuss options. |
| Places available | Two |
| Commencing | 2025 |
| Supervisor |
Principal supervisor Associate Professor Kylie Crabbe or Dr Sarah Gador-Whyte The research team also includes: Chief Investigators
Partner Investigators
|
| Research group |
Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry The Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry (IRCI) is ACU's flagship institute for theology, philosophy, and related areas of history and literature. IRCI Programs include Biblical and Early Christian Studies, Premodern Belief, Philosophy, and Religion and Theology. IRCI research in these areas contributes to the University's ranking of 28th in the world in theology, divinity, and religious studies (QS 2024) and its placement as 1st in Australia and 20th worldwide for proportion of papers in the world top 10% cited in the Social Sciences and Humanities (Leiden CWTS 2024). IRCI is networked to leading universities to support research projects and doctoral training, including through joint degrees. Global Seminars at ACU's Rome Campus gather leading experts to engage in innovative research, enrich postgraduate research experience, and promote the fruitful exchange of ideas. IRCI also partners with cultural institutions, and church, education, health, and policy sectors to benefit society. |
| Scholarship package |
The successful applicant will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:
International candidates will also receive:
The scholarship package is subject to satisfactory progress and full-time study mode. The scholarship conditions align with the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy. |
Applications close: Monday 21 April 2025, 11:59 PM AEST
In addition to the eligibility criteria, the successful applicant should have:
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit all documentation required for an application to the PhD program at ACU, as detailed in the How to Apply instructions, plus:
When completing the PhD application form, please indicate that you are also applying for a stipend scholarship and include the name of this project "Night Vision in the Late Ancient Mediterranean".
Interested candidates should contact Dr Sarah Gador-Whyte before applying for the PhD program and scholarship:
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