The Postdoctoral researcher will carry out research within the framework of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) funded research project ´Monarchy in Turmoil: Rulers, Courts and Politics in the Netherlands and Germany, c.1780 – c.1820’. How did rulers in the Netherlands and in adjacent smaller German territories adapt their regimes to ongoing change in legitimacy and decision-making during the transition period 1780-1820?

This postdoc project ‘Two Early Restoration Monarchies’ compares the courts of William I Prince/King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1813/1815-c.1820) and Frederick William III King of Prussia (1810 - c.1820). After two decades of revolution and war, how did the Dutch and Prussian Restoration kings define their reinstated monarchical power between traditional legitimacy and the strengthened state bureaucracy, within a changed and volatile international context?

The planned comparative research will be supervised by three researchers leading the project: senior post-doctoral researcher Dr. Jos Gabriëls (Huygens ING), Prof. Jeroen Duindam (Leiden History Institute) and Prof. Ida Nijenhuis (Huygens ING). A closely related PhD project will be carried out by Quinten Somsen: Two late ancien régime ‘monarchies’. The two Napoleonic monarchies of Louis Napoleon King of Holland (1806-1810) and Jerome Napoleon King of Westphalia (1807-1813) form the connection between the PhD and Postdoc projects. These two Napoleonic courts will be examined by senior postdoctoral researcher Dr Jos Gabriëls. A project summary and full descriptions of the subprojects can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/research/research-projects/humanities/monarchy-in-turmoil

Key responsibilities

• Writing a monograph in Dutch or English within three years;
• Submitting research results for publication to international peer-reviewed academic journals;
• Presenting papers at conferences and workshops;
• Co-organizing conferences and workshops;

• A PhD in history, experience as a writer-researcher, a track record of publications
• Fluency in English; command of Dutch, German and French relevant for primary sources;
• Experience with archival research in this period;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a larger team.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years.

The postdoctoral position is for a period of 3 years(1 February 2018 until 31 January 2021); a 4-year position of 0.75 FTE can be discussed. Initially the employee will receive a one year contract. An extension of 2 years is possible having received positive evaluations of capabilities and achievements. The monthly salary for a full-time working week will range between €3,475 and €4,757 gross (pay scale 11). Depending on qualifications, the postdoc may start at the appropriate step in scale 10 until he/she fully meets the requirements for scale 11 as specified by the Faculty of Humanities, particularly with regard to the years of relevant work experience.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at www.workingat.leiden.edu/.

Diversity
Leiden University and the Huygens ING are strongly committed to diversity within their communities and especially welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Universiteit Leiden

Leiden is a typical university city, hosting the oldest university in the Netherlands (1575). The University permeates the local surroundings; University premises are scattered throughout the city, and the students who live and study in Leiden give the city its relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.

Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia.

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/

Faculty of Humanities

The Leiden University History Institute (LUIH) is the home of a vibrant community of researchers and lecturers with outstanding track records and successful in attracting national and international research grants. Under the label ‘Global Questions, Local Sources’ scholars affiliated to the Institute combine a deep knowledge of global interactions and of specific localities, regions and states in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. They use comparative, connective and entangled approaches and resort to qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

Huygens ING is an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) researching texts and sources from the past with the aid of new methods and techniques. Next to championing research methodologies for the humanities, the institute advocates a better comprehension of Dutch culture and history among a broad public. The location of the Institute is right at the heart of Amsterdam with all the advantages of academic fellow institutes and libraries nearby.

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities