The project Covering the Ocean investigates how early print media covered distant but urgent geopolitical conflicts in the Atlantic world, using newspapers from across early modern Europe. Atlantic news represented a unique challenge, as the tension between the infrequent arrival of information and a regular deadline consistently jeopardized the newspapers' credibility For more information, see www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/research/research-projects/humanities/covering-the-ocean

The Leiden University Institute for History will be appointing a postdoctoral researcher for a period of 20 months, within the NWO VIDI-project Covering the Ocean: Newspapers and Information Management in the Atlantic World, 1620-1770 led by Prof. Michiel van Groesen.
The candidate will be responsible for the development of the subproject The rhetoric of Atlantic news, examining and analyzing the rhetorical strategies used in the newspapers’ argumentative discourse. Cooperating closely with the team’s two PhD-students, the postdoc examines the persuasive tone and interdiscursivity in the media by taking into account both the conventions of early modern newspaper journalism and the regular topic shifts to emphasize good news and reduce or ignore undesirable events. Ultimately this subproject answers the question how early modern newspapers employed style and rhetoric to attain and retain credibility.

Key responsibilities

• Submitting research results for publication to international peer-reviewed academic journals;
• Attending and actively participating in all the team meetings;
• Presenting papers at conferences and workshops;
• Co-organizing conferences and workshops;

• PhD in Argumentation Theory or Literary Studies, or a relevant discipline closely connected with the theme of this subproject;
• Written and oral fluency in English; good working knowledge of Dutch and French
• Demonstrable interest for research premises of the project;
• Willingness to work within a team and an international academic community that aspires to scholarly excellence;
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

Fixed-term contract: 20 months.

The postdoctoral position is for a period of 20 months. Initially the employee will receive a one year contract. An extension of 8 months 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 is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes 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 Faculty of Humanities is rich in expertise in fields such as philosophy, religious studies, history, art history, literature, linguistics and area studies covering nearly every region of the world. With its staff of 930, the faculty provides 27 master’s and 25 bachelor’s programmes for over 6,000 students based at locations in Leiden’s historic city centre and in modern buildings in The Hague. For more information www.hum.leidenuniv.nl.

The Institute for History 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.
All researchers of the Institute for History are connected to one of the six research specializations: The Unification of the Mediterranean World (400 BC - 400 AD), Collective Identities and Transnational Networks in Medieval and Early Modern Europe, 1000-1800, Political Culture and National Identities, Colonial and Global History, Cities, Migration and Global Interdependence, and History and International Relations. See www.hum.leiden.edu/history/research. This position will be part of the specialization Colonial and Global History.

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