ENGAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP 2022

Host Organisation: Winterbourne House and Garden, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Research Project: Plant collectors represented in the University of Birmingham Herbarium
Fee payable to Fellow: £2,000
Duration of Fellowship: 4 weeks (4 x 40 hours), which can be spread over 2-3 months
Deadline for applications: Friday 14th October 2022
Fellowship to be completed by: 28th February 2023

Winterbourne House and Garden is pleased to announce the opportunity for a current postgraduate student working in the history of plant sciences, environmental sciences or a related field to carry out research on archival material relating to the University of Birmingham Herbarium.

About Winterbourne House and Garden

Winterbourne is an Edwardian house, accredited museum and 7-acre botanic garden, owned by the University of Birmingham. The University Herbarium came into Winterbourne’s care in 2021. It contains around 100,000 specimens dating from the early 19th century to the 1950s. A large body of associated correspondence has recently been uncovered and catalogued, which sheds light on the botanists whose collections became part of the Herbarium in the early 20th century.

About the fellowship

We are inviting a current postgraduate student to research these botanists, their plant collecting activity and their national and international networks. The projected output will be a booklet to accompany an exhibition. The research will also feed into museum catalogue records and information for future researchers. The Fellowship is one month’s placement (4 x 40 hours), which may be completed over 2-3 months.

The successful applicant will have full access to Winterbourne’s archive and the University Herbarium, and will work alongside the Winterbourne team.

Person specification

• A current postgraduate student
• An interest in the history of plant sciences and plant collecting
• An understanding of the importance of historical collections and archives to current research
• An interest in communicating history in an accessible way for a wide range of audiences

To apply, please email h.c.j.lockhart@bham.ac.uk and attach:

• A cover letter outlining why you are interested in the role and any relevant previous experience that you may have (maximum 1 side of A4)
• Your CV (maximum 2 sides of A4)

Shortlisted candidates who are not British citizens will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the UK.