What happens when a nineteenth-century Scottish textile company produces traditional Mexican scarves and exports them to Latin America? This is the kind of question at the heart of this project, which sets out to explore the transcultural exchanges between nineteenth-century Britain (especially Scotland) and the Spanish-speaking world, created through the production, trade and consumption of textiles. This general research question will be addressed by studying

• cases of UK textile production destined for the export to Spanish-speaking countries,
• the ways in which UK textile exports were integrated and re-signified in the countries that imported them, and
• if and how these processes of adaptation abroad fed back into UK textile production and perception of Spanish-speaking cultures.

Thus, the project will contribute to a better understanding of trade as an intercultural practice that goes far beyond the mere exchange of objects because it affects and changes the communities involved.

Supervised by a team of researchers in Hispanic Studies, Accounting and Business History, and History of Dress and Textiles, the student would carry out archival research, for instance in the Scottish Business Archive at the University of Glasgow, analyse Spanish-language sources such as nineteenth-century magazines, and engage with the material analysis of surviving textiles. They would be encouraged to take a longer research trip to a relevant Spanish-speaking country (depending on the case study selected) and to actively seek opportunities for knowledge exchange, for instance by co-organising a workshop at a Scottish heritage institution.

Project Team – This project will be jointly supervised by Dr Henriette Partzsch (Hispanic Studies, School of Modern Languages and Cultures), Dr Kirsten Kininmonth (Accounting and Business History, Adam Smith Business School) and Dr Sally Tuckett (History of Dress and Textiles, School of Culture and Creative Arts). Dr Partzsch has an established track record in nineteenth-century studies, with a particular interest in the transnational dynamics of cultural exchanges. Dr Kininmonth and Dr Tuckett were both participants and partners in the research networks ReINVENT and ReCREATE, with sought to expand and promote understanding and collaborative research in the Scottish textile industry.

Person Specification – This studentship is open to candidates of any nationality – UK, EU or International.

Applicants should demonstrate the following:

Qualifications
Essential: Very good first degree in a relevant discipline, such as Spanish or Latin American Studies, Accounting, Business Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature, or History;
Desirable: Masters degree in relevant subject

Experience
Desirable: experience of working with archival or museum based collections
Desirable: working with local communities (e. g. museums, heritage sites, special interest groups) for the benefit and promotion of knowledge exchange

Skills
Essential: Proficiency in Spanish (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: C1)

Application Process – In the first instance prospective applicants must contact Dr Henriette Partzsch, Henriette.Partzsch@glasgow.ac.uk , to discuss your eligibility. Applicants may submit applications up until the application deadline of 12 noon, Thursday 12 January 2017.

Lord Kelvin / Adam Smith PhD scholarships
This year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the University of Glasgow’s flagship Lord Kelvin Adam Smith (LKAS) PhD Scholarships. To date 100 fully funded interdisciplinary PhD projects have been created.
The LKAS PhD Scholarships offer the opportunity for outstanding research students to participate in some of the most exciting areas of interdisciplinary research carried out at the University.
This year priority will be given to projects which align with the ‘Challenge Areas’ of the Global Challenges Research Fund or strategic goals of the University .

• Up to 4 years stipend at UK Research Council recommended rates – estimated to be £14,510 for 2017/18.
• Open to home, EU and international students.
• Annual research support budget of £3000.
• Full fee waiver.