Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA) invite applications for a PhD position at the Faculty of Humanities
The Amsterdam School for Regional, Transnational and European Studies (ARTES) and its Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA) invite applications for a PhD position at the Faculty of Humanities. ARTES is one of the six Research Schools/Institutes within the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research. Each research school/institute covers an important research area within the faculty and has its own research programme. Research at CEDLA focuses on the full breadth of societal, cultural and political transformations taking place in Latin America. ARTES is also the home base for PhD candidates at CEDLA, who interact with each other and with senior members in the research groups that make up the research school.
What are you going to do?
You will be working as a full-time PhD researcher for four years on a project of your own making, connected to our new research line on securitization, punitive politics and contestation in Latin America. Your PhD project will be related to current societal, cultural and/or political transformations in the region. It will include at least one of the following topics:
- Violence and (in)security.
- Surveillance and confinement.
- (Forced) migration.
The project can be a single country case study, multi-sited or comparative in its design, preferably located in Central America. It can also include a transnational perspective. Most importantly, we are looking for conceptually strong and methodologically innovative proposals that are ethnographic in orientation, but can include digital, mixed method, action or other research components.
Tasks and responsibilities:
- Submission of a PhD thesis within the period of appointment;
- Participating in academic meetings and events at ARTES and CEDLA;
- Presenting intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
- Participation in the Research School and Faculty of Humanirties PhD training programmes;
- (Co-)teaching courses at the BA-level in the 2nd and 3rd year of the appointment (max. 0,2FTE per year).
What do we require
We are looking for a colleague who is committed, open-minded, analytical and critical – able to question assumptions and contribute to debates; someone curious and creative in her/his research; someone diligent, flexible and able to deal with uncertainties; someone who is an independent researcher but also a team player.
Your experience and profile:
- A completed Master’s degree in a relevant field in the social sciences or humanities. You may apply if you have not yet completed your Master’s degree only if you provide a signed letter from your supervisor stating that you will graduate before 1 September 2022;
- Excellent research skills, independent thinking and critical analytical skills demonstrated by an outstanding Master’s thesis and/or a track record of academic publications;
- Excellent command of English;
- Working command of Spanish or Portuguese;
- Knowledge of or strong affinity with (one or more of) the research topics mentioned above.
Previous research or working experience in the region and/or on the topics of study at hand is a plus. Ability to work across disciplinary boundaries is also a plus.
Please note that if you already hold a doctorate/PhD or are working towards obtaining a similar degree elsewhere, you will not be admitted to a doctoral programme at the UvA.
Our offer
We offer a temporary employment contract for the period of 48 months. The first contract will be for 16 months, with an extension for the following 32 months, contingent on a positive performance evaluation within the first 12 months. The employment contract is for 38 hours a week. The preferred starting date is 1 September 2022.
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and relevant experience, ranges from €2,443 up to a maximum of €3,122. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.
What else do we offer
- PhD candidates receive a tuition fee waiver.
- PhD candidates have free access to courses offered by the Graduate School of Humanities and the Dutch National Research Schools.
- PhD candidates based at CEDLA are automatically part of the Latin American Studies Programme (LASP) network, which organizes events and courses bringing together PhD students working in/on Latin America at different universities.
About us
The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.
The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.
Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.
Questions
Do you have any questions or do you require additional information?
- For general questions about the job offer and requirements, please contact Drs. Paul Koopman.
- For specific questions about your research topics/preferences and their relation to the CEDLA programme, please contact Dr. Julienne Weegels, T: +31 (0)20 525 3251
Job application
If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the link below. The deadline for applying for this vacancy is 31 March 2022.
Applications should include the following information (submitted in one .pdf):
- A letter of motivation (max. one page).
- A research proposal of 800-1.000 words, showing how you would approach the project:
- An outline of central issue/problem/question (why)
- Object(s) of research (what)
- Methodology (how)
- How your research fits the programme of ARTES and CEDLA.
- A full academic CV, listing at least:
- Full address and contact details
- Previous education
- Professional information (previous university (or relevant) employment)
- Conference presentations and publications, if applicable
- Grants/honours
- Language proficiency
- A list of grades (transcript) obtained for your Master (or equivalent) programme; at this stage a certified document is not yet necessary.
- The name and contact details of one or two academic referees.
- A writing sample, such as a paper or a chapter of a master’s thesis, of up to 10.000 words maximum.
Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.
The interviews will be held by the end of May 2022. Applicants will be informed whether they are invited for an interview by Mid-May 2022.
The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.