The Project
SUSPICIO stems from the hypothesis that security became a key concept of governance in the late Spanish Empire (ca. 1766–1820). The perception of threat and the Spanish government’s distrust of their own population in America gave rise to extensive security regulations and measures in order to identify and judge those individuals who were perceived to be a threat to the order, i.e., who were categorized as “suspects.” The project analyzes the extent to which the treatment of “suspects” brought about a fundamental shift in the colonial legal system, and thus in colonial rule. Chronologically, the project covers the period from around 1770 to 1820, and refers to the entire Spanish America. The project group will comprise the PI (principal investigator), two postdocs and two doctoral students. The project is located in the Department of Modern History and History of America at the University of Granada in Spain.
Mission and Activities
Your part in the project will be to study one or two of the following regions of the Spanish Empire: Cuba, Peru, Audiencia de Quito (Ecuador), Audiencia de Charcas (Bolivia), Nueva Granada (Colombia)
- Archival research in American and Spanish archives
- Conduct your own research agenda on the Hispanic American region and collaborate with other project members in relation to the overall project aims
- Publish your research results in the form of a PhD tesis and journal articles, and disseminate these at international conferences
- Carry out doctoral studies at the University of Granada
Your Profile
- Master degree in history
- Very good student record (undergraduate and postgraduate average of at least 8 from 10)
- Demonstrated very good command of both written and spoken Spanish and English
- Readiness to take up residence in Granada (obligatory)
Your Benefits
You will participate in an international research group at the Department of Modern History and History of America at the University of Granada. You will have the opportunity to carry out your doctoral studies within the project and to conduct archival research in Spain and Latin America. The research environment at the University of Granada and participation in conferences will enable you to connect your research internationally. Funds are available for archive trips and conference participation. There is no teaching obligation associated with the position.
Application
Your application should include:
- Cover letter to explain your motivation, experience in the field of colonial Hispanic American history, title ant content of the degree/master thesis (2 pages)
- CV (max. 2 pages)
- Average grade of the student record (undergraduate and postgraduate)
- Short description of the research project you want to carry out (1–3 pages)
- Copies of certificates
Applications should be submitted between November 14 and November 27, 2024, via the University of Granada’s applicant portal: https://investigacion.ugr.es/recursos-humanos/personal/solicitud
Please include cover letter, CV and description of the research project in one PdF as “fichero adjunto” in the CV section of the application.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates are expected to take place in December 2024.
Contact for questions with regard to the position and to the research project:
Martin Biersack
Departamento de Historia moderna y de América
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, s/n.
18071 Granada/ Spain
mbiersack@ugr.es
For technical problems with registration of the applicant’s portal please contact the Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia of the University of Granada
Further information:
SUSPICIO homepage: https://wpd.ugr.es/~suspicio/
Doctoral Program in History and the Arts of the University of Granada: https://doctorados.ugr.es/historia/