Soon-Young Kim in the History of East Asian Science and Technology
The Soon-Young Kim Award in the History of East Asian Science and Technology (2026-2027)
The Needham Research Institute invite applications from suitably qualified candidates for a Soon-Young Kim Award in the History of East Asian Science and Technology. The Award will be tenable from October 2026.
The Award may be held in either of two modes:
(a) A one-year research fellowship (2026-2027).
(b) The first year of a studentship to support research for the degree of PhD in the University of Cambridge, with the potential for renewal year by year thereafter. Applicants should note that the maximum amount available for the grant in this category is £20,000 per annum.
Applicants must specify clearly under which mode they wish to hold the Award when making their application. Applications should be made by email, using the VISITOR FORM and should also complete the NRI_Data_Protection_Statement.
Closing date is 31st March 2026.
Priority in making awards will be given to applicants who propose to carry out research in the following areas, which are given in order of priority:
(1) The history of science and technology in modern Korea;
(2) The history of science and technology in modern Japan;
(3) The history of science and technology in modern China, or the history of modern medicine in any of the above three countries.
The word ‘modern’ here designates the period after 1850, and ‘science’ is taken to include mathematics, whether pure or applied. Strong preference will be given to projects centering on the 20th century or later.
Research fellowship mode:
If the Award is to be held under this mode, the applicant must hold the degree of PhD in a relevant area of research. The award will consist of a stipend of £20,000 to meet the expenses of living in Cambridge, where the Award holder will be expected to reside during tenure of the award. The Award holder will be given office space in the Needham Research Institute, and will be expected to participate fully in the academic life of the Institute from October 2026-September 2027.
Candidates should send the completed application form with a full curriculum vitae, a detailed research proposal, and the name of two academic referees who are prepared to report in confidence on the candidate’s work, along with the signed Data Protection Statement.
PhD studentship mode:
The purpose of the Studentship is to support students who have been admitted to work for a PhD degree in the University of Cambridge in the areas of study specified above. In the case of a student admitted directly to work for the PhD degree, the award shall be for three years at maximum. In appropriate cases, where the student is initially admitted to work for an MPhil preparatory to beginning work for a PhD, the Institute may be prepared to consider making the award for up to four years at maximum. In all cases the continuation of the award from year to year will be conditional on the student making satisfactory progress in the view of the Institute. The successful candidate will be given working space in the Needham Research Institute, which has unparalleled research facilities in the fields of the history of science, technology and medicine in East Asia.
The amount of the Studentship will consist of payment, up to a maximum of £20,000 per annum, to support university fees, college dues and living expenses for the candidate. Where appropriate, fees will be paid at the rate for non-UK students.
It is expected that candidates will apply for admission to a department of the University that can provide the specialist supervision and disciplinary training appropriate to the particular topic chosen. Suitable departments might include the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, or the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Candidates are encouraged to make informal enquiries of the relevant department at an early stage before making a formal application, in order to see whether their choice is appropriate. Candidates thinking of applying to a department other than the two named here should first contact the Needham Research Institute to discuss their plans.
Any holder of a Studentship who wishes to make a substantive change in the topic of his or her research after taking up the Studentship must first obtain the agreement of the Institute, failing which the Studentship may be withdrawn.
Applications for this award will be treated separately from applications for admission to the University of Cambridge. Candidates should therefore:
(a) Apply as soon as possible for admission to the University of Cambridge in the normal way. For guidance, see the University website at:
https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/application-process/how-do-i-apply
Please address all queries about the University admission process to the appropriate part of the University, not to the Needham Research Institute. Candidates may however mention in their application that they are applying for this Studentship.
(b) Apply simultaneously to the Needham Research Institute for the Studentship. Candidates should send the completed application form with a full curriculum vitae, a detailed research proposal, and the name of two academic referees who are prepared to report in confidence on the candidate’s work. Candidates should ensure that they produce evidence that they possess the language skills required for the purpose of their research.
(c) The University offers other financial support for PhD applicants: candidates must also apply for any such schemes for which they are eligible at the same time as applying for this Studentship, and inform the Institute of these applications and of their result.
All applications will be carefully considered. No announcement or notification of award of the Studentship will be made before University admission procedures have been completed, and candidates have been told whether they have been given a place at Cambridge. The Institute reserve the right to make no award if in their opinion no suitable candidate of sufficient merit applies.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to:
The Administrative Manager
The Needham Research Institute
8 Sylvester Road
Cambridge CB3 9AF
UK
email: sjb58@cam.ac.uk
Applicants should put “SYK Fellowship Application” in the subject line of their email.
金顺英东亚科学技术史奖学金开放申请 2026年10月-2027年九月
宗旨
金氏奖学金旨在支持青年学子从事近代韩国、日本和中国的科技史研究，也包括近代医学史的研究。“近代”在此定义为1850年以后，“科学”在此包括数学在内。以20世 纪及其后时段为重点的研究课题将予以优先考虑。
申请人资格及相关要求
金氏奖学金将采用两种资助形式：其一，研究奖学金（Research Fellowship）, 用于支持获选者在剑桥李约瑟研究所从事为期一年或半年的学术研究。申请人应在相关的研究领域取得博士学位。其二，研究生奖学金（PhD Studentship）, 用于资助获选者在剑桥大学相关学系攻读博士学位。如果获选者直接入校攻读博士学位，则先资助第一年，表现优异者可申请延续，但最长资助期限为三年。如果获选人拟先攻读硕士学位（MPhil）, 而后转为博士研究生，则李约瑟研究所可以考虑把资助期限增加到四年，但获选者需接受年度考核，以决定其资助是否能够延续至下一年度。研究生奖学金申请者需同时申请并取得剑桥大学相关学系的入学资格，并得到所报考的指导教师的同意和支持。剑桥大学科学史与科学哲学系、以及亚洲和中东研究学系均可考虑，相关信息请参阅剑桥大学的相关网页：
https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/application-process/how-do-i-apply
奖学金额度
无论是研究奖学金还是研究生奖学金，金氏奖学金的年度发放额度均为2万英镑。申请研究生奖学金以攻读学位者还需要申请其它的奖学金以支付所需的学费和生活费用（大约需要3.5万英镑或更多）。
申 请材料
申 请者需提交如下申请材料：
l KIM_Application_form
其 中包括简历（包括论著清单）和研究计划（约1000字 左右，需具体阐述拟采用的研究材料和研究方法）
l 证明英语水平的相关材料；
l 学术推荐信（两封）。
l 签名的NRI_Data_Protection_Statement。
请注意所有的申请材料必须用英文撰写，并以电子版的形式（所有申请材料综合形成一份PDF文档）提交。请在电子邮件的题栏做如下标示：SYK Fellowship Application（您的英文姓名）。
申 请截止日期
2026年3月31日