We are looking for a highly motivated PhD-candidate who considers it a challenge to conduct PhD research on “Performing Urban Pasts (cf. project description below) as part of the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens and the Center for Historical Culture.

Research duties (80%)

• Conducting PhD research within the framework of the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens, specifically the project “Performing Urban Pasts: Historical Reenactments with Sensitive Heritage”.
• Contributing to the data-collection and data-analysis;
• Publishing and presenting research results in the form of articles in international peer reviewed journals and papers at international conferences;
• Performing organizational tasks such as assisting in the organisation of workshops and other knowledge utilisation activities;
• Writing a dissertation and defending the dissertation to complete the doctoral degree;
• Participating in project meetings, conferences, and seminars that are organised by the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens and CHC as well as the research schools and scholarly associations of which the History Department is part. 

Teaching duties (20%)

• Preparing and teaching classes within the context of the various degree programmes in the field of History provided by the ESHCC;
• Supervising and coaching students;
• Pointing out possible improvements and integrating them into teaching methods and/or the content of the classes given;
• Contributing to the evaluation of teaching, both in terms of structure and execution;
• Participating in committees, as well as performing designated organisational tasks.

• A master’s degree in history, the social sciences or humanities, preferably a research master’s degree;
• Wide ranging knowledge of state-of-the-art theory and research on heritage, reenactments, urban history, cultural consumption and production, media use, and cultural education.
• A strong academic track-record.
• A solid background in qualitative methods of historical and / or social scientific research is required as evidenced by the master’s thesis, publications, research plans, and other projects;
• Strong social skills including a profound willingness to collaborate and to take initiative;
• Didactic potential. Teaching experience is considered an advantage;
• A willingness to develop knowledge and skills in various disciplines and to increase the ability to teach a wide range of subjects within the faculty’s degree programme;
• Organisational experience and skills;
• Proficiency in spoken and written English. Candidates should meet the C1-standards of the Common European Framework (CEF);
• A basic comprehension of the Dutch language is preferred.

Employment starts September 15, 2017. The initial contract will be running for a term of 1.5 years, which - depending on performance – will be extended with a second term of 2.5 years.

The conditions of employment correspond with the “CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten” (CAO NU).

For the job of PhD Candidate (Promovendus) the salary starts at € 2.222,- gross per month on a 38 hour per week contract in the first year, which will increase annually up to a maximum of € 2.840,- gross per month on a 38 hour per week contract in the fourth year (Grade P).

The EUR has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8.0%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 41 annual vacation days in case of a full workweek.

The expertise of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is concentrated in the fields of Business Administration, Economics, Medicine and Health Sciences, Law, Psychology, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Sociology, Public Administration, History, Arts and Culture, Media and Communication, Philosophy, and International Development Studies. In addition to the initial degree programmes and scientific research, the University offers specific postgraduate study programmes and courses. Erasmus University has around 25,000 students and some 2,500 staff members.

Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens

The Erasmus University has recently launched three so-called Erasmus Initiatives, through which academic excellence and multidisciplinary collaboration in research is stimulated. One of these is the Vital Cities and Citizens project which aims to (1) to advance our understanding of the ways in which social and cultural transformations affect urban life - and (2) by doing so – to help cities thrive as places of inclusion, tolerance and cohesion, and better articulate the aspirations of their diverse citizens. The Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens is a collaboration between the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS), the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC), and the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS).

Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC)
The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication includes the Departments of History, Arts and Cultural Studies, and Media and Communication at Erasmus University. The ESHCC is home to more than 1.100 students and around 130 faculty and staff members.

Center for Historical Culture

Established in 2006 the Center for Historical Culture is a vibrant, internationally oriented research center within the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication. The center coordinates and produces academic research on the various ways people, communities and societies relate to the past, resulting in various national and international research projects on, for example, theories on historical culture and canonization processes, heritage education and the memorization of armed conflicts. Over the years, the Center has established close contacts with institutions beyond academia, in the fields of museums, heritage and education and has contributed to the public debate about the future of history education.