PhD Computational Science for SevenFrontiers - IISH

The aim of the ERC-funded SevenFrontiers project is to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the immense transformative effects of commodity frontiers in the Global South that fed the rise of early industrial capitalism, in the decisive years between the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the opening of the Suez Canal in in 1869. For further information see: https://iisg.amsterdam/nl/blog/erc-grant-sevenfrontiers-project.

Your task will be to map commodity trade in the seven most exported commodities from the Global South in these years (sugar, cotton, coffee, tea, precious metals (gold/silver), opium, and cereals). This will be done through automated reading of digitized newspapers and other relevant documents in search for trade-related data (prices, volumes, qualities, transactions and actors). You will develop and evaluate language and semantic web technology to identify and trace these concepts and to study the impact of digital processing tools on the hermeneutical practice of historical research.

You will conduct your research under the supervision of Prof. Ulbe Bosma (IISH) and dr. Marieke van Erp (head Digital Humanities Research Lab (DHLab) of KNAW Humanities). At the IISH you will be part of larger team of a postdoctoral researcher, 2 PhD researchers and student assistants. In addition, your work will specifically connect to the ERC Consolidator project TRIFECTA awarded to Dr. Van Erp so you will spend part of your time at DHLab. For further information on TRIFECTA see: https://trifecta.dhlab.nl and on DHLab see https://dhlab.nl

Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is 2.901 and the maximum salary is 3.707 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale P cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.