The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University invites applications for a fulltime lectureship in the ‘History of Japan Until 1868’. As part of the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS), the Japan Studies program is committed to the integration of disciplinary and regional-historical perspectives, on a solid foundation of excellent language skills. Priorities include cooperation across the full width of (East) Asian Studies. The local research environment includes an excellent library, and is further enhanced by research networks and the International Institute for Asian Studies, and Leiden Asia Centre.

Key responsibilities

• Original research involving primary sources and fieldwork as appropriate;
• Teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, in lecture and seminar formats, including the supervision of BA and MA theses;
• Teaching in various teaching programmes of the faculty, including BA International Studies;
• Supervision of PhD research;
• Acquisition of research funding from outside sources;
• Administrative duties, commensurate with career stage;
• Representation of the field to external audiences and media.

• A PhD degree in a relevant field. Candidates near completion of the degree will be considered.
• Specialist expertise in the history of Japan, with proven affinity with pre-Meiji sources. A research and publication record that is commensurate with career stage;
• The ability to teach and to supervise written work on Japanese history at the BA, MA, and PhD levels; the ability to teach and supervise written work on modern and contemporary topics at the BA level;
• The ability, certainly in teaching and preferably in research, to engage with wider East Asian and Asian contexts, and to position the study of Japanese history in transnational and global configurations (keyword: Sinosphere);
• Research experience in Japan, and familiarity with modern and contemporary cultural developments in the region;
• Commitment to high-quality teaching practice, wide teaching scope in terms of content and audiences (e.g. students majoring in Japanese Studies, Asian Studies, and International Studies; students in other fields taking cross-listed electives; etc.);
• Affinity with area studies, and the ability to work from interdisciplinary, transnational, and comparative perspectives;
• A willingness to help develop research and teaching involving Leiden University’s Japan-related collections;
• An excellent command of classical Japanese and of modern Japanese. Proficiency in other East Asian languages is an advantage;
• Commitment to the acquisition of research funding from national and international funding bodies;
• Administrative abilities, as measured against career stage;
• An excellent command of English. The majority of the MA programs at Leiden University are taught in English, and staff members who have a better command of English than of Dutch may teach in English in BA programs as well. If the lecturer is not Dutch-speaking, she or he is expected to acquire a good command of Dutch within two years from taking up duty. LIAS will make resources available to this end.

We offer a fulltime fixed-term position, from August 2020 through July 2022, with the possibility of a permanent position thereafter, depending on need, funding and good performance. Subject to experience and teaching skills certifications, salary range from €3,637.- to €5,656.- gross per month on full-time base (pay scale 11 or 12 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). 

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. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at Job application procedure and employment conditions.

Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If the successful applicant does not already possess this qualification or its equivalent, he/ she must be willing to obtain this Qualification within two years.

Leiden University

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 995, the faculty provides 27 master’s and 25 bachelor’s programmes for over 7,000 students based at locations in Leiden and in The Hague. For more information, see Faculty of Humanities.

Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS) is comprised of a School of Asian Studies and a School of Middle-Eastern Studies, with international staff and student populations. The institute is committed to a present-day vision of area studies, integrating disciplinary and regional-historical perspectives on a solid foundation of excellent language skills. Current staff  in LIAS has expertise in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, art studies, Buddhist studies, film studies, history, international relations, language pedagogy, law, linguistics, literary studies, material culture studies, performance studies, philology, philosophy, political economy, religious studies, sociology, and visual culture studies.