The Capacity Group of European Studies in the Department of History, European Studies, and Religious Studies invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Heritage of Social Europe. We are looking for a scholar whose research combines approaches from political history and critical heritage studies, engaging with the enduring material and immaterial heritage as well as intangible heritage practices of Social Europe and its influence on contemporary political and social debates and policies. Based in the capacity group of European Studies, the candidate’s research will illuminate how 20th century’s historical developments in European politics and policy have enduring effects in the present as objects, narratives, memories and affects related to Social Europe become heritagized.

Possible research areas are the development of the European welfare state in the postwar decades and its imprint on political cultures and social policies in the European Union and its member states; the alleged demise of the welfare state since the 1980s and the surge in welfare nostalgia and nativism as a reaction to these changes as well as national and transnational solidarity movements building on ideas of social Europe. We are especially interested in candidates who can approach Social Europe as a form of heritage from a transnational perspective, have an affinity with deep archival work, seek intersectional/decolonial approaches to the curriculum, and are eager to collaborate with colleagues who investigate heritage in other disciplines in ARTES across the social sciences and humanities, such as law, economics, political science, and cultural history. The new assistant professor will also contribute to the new sector research theme Cultural Heritage and Identity, collaborating with colleagues across the humanities.

What are you going to do?

• You will provide education at the BA and MA level in European Studies, an interdisciplinary and international, bilingual (English and Dutch) Department with ample opportunities for the development of innovative teaching methods.
• You will develop your own line of research in the history of contemporary Europe and the EU, in which you demonstrate the added value of working with a range of heritage institutions such as archives, museums, and historical collections.
• You will join and actively participate in the Amsterdam School for Regional, Transnational and European Studies (ARTES), a research community that combines humanities and social science-based approaches to the study of Europe and other world regions.
• You will contribute to conversations and collaborations within the sector research theme Cultural Heritage and Identity.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Designing and conducting independent research on European political history and critical heritage studies, resulting in peer-reviewed academic publications; pursuing external funding for research from research councils, national as well as European, and contributing to and developing national and international research networks and other forms of cooperation;
• developing, coordinating and teaching courses in both Dutch and English, in the BA and MA programmes; supervising BA and MA theses and tutoring students; co-supervising PhD theses; and contributing to the development and improvement of the broader teaching programmes in the department;
• taking part in committees and working groups, and carrying out departmental administrative tasks as directed;
• Actively contributing to the interdisciplinary collaborations within the sector research initiative on Cultural Heritage and Identity.

You are a researcher with international publications and (willingness to develop) an international academic network. Your publications show broad knowledge of the political history of European integration and the welfare state as well as debates in heritage studies, broadly understood, familiarity with the methods of historical research and source criticism, and a strong affinity with transnational and interdisciplinary historical research. Research School ARTES, a school that combines humanities and social sciences, offers you an inspiring environment both for multi- and interdisciplinary research.

As a lecturer, you will co-teach and develop modules on European and transnational political history, both in the BA and MA European Studies. We also invite you to design your own, more specialized courses, connected to your own research. Next to this, you enjoy teaching on topics beyond your own research focus and working in an interdisciplinary team of teachers. You also enjoy connecting to our large, multilingual student community.

Your experience and profile:

• a PhD in history or heritage studies with a research focus on European political history or adjacent field;
• clear potential for developing an international academic network in the research area concerned;
• provide research output commensurate with the level of the position;
• active and ambitious researcher with the potential for a strong publication record;
• ambition or demonstrable ability to obtain external research grants;
• relevant teaching experience at BA and MA level;
• willing to use digital and audiovisual teaching facilities and ICT in university teaching;
• willing to apply digital skills in your research practice and seek collaboration with the faculty’s Humanities Labs.
• experienced or interested in valorization and practice-based education and/or research; collaboration with societal stakeholders;
• willingness to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If you have not attained a UTQ you are required to start with the UTQ track upon commencement of your employment contract and obtain the certificate within three years of employment;
• good command of Dutch and English. If you do not speak Dutch, an active and passive command must be acquired within the first two years of the employment contract and the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language programme II must be passed. UvA will provide support for this.

The Department of European Studies is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome employees who contribute to the diversity of our faculty through their unique backgrounds and perspectives. We especially value an ethical commitment to the societal position of the communities that your research engages with.

We offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 18 months with a probationary period of two months. If you already have an employment contract with the UvA, we offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 12 months. The employment is for 38 hours per week. The preferred starting date is 1 September 2024.

Your salary, depending on relevant experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges between € 4.332 (scale 11) to € 6.737 (scale 12) gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. Favourable tax agreements may apply to applicants moving from abroad. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

What else do we offer?

• the opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams;
• excellent opportunities for study and personal development;
• attaining the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ);
• the opportunity to participate in the Dutch as a Second Language programme II;
• a position in which taking initiative and providing input are greatly appreciated;
• an inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam;
• an enthusiastic, inspiring and professional academic team.

Faculty of Humanities

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

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.