If you are looking for an interesting workplace where you can conduct independent research and where interest in the Frisian language is linked to contemporary research at one of Europe's top universities in the field of Linguistics, we offer a unique opportunity.

The collaboration between FA and UvA gives you access to a strong, international research environment as well as specialist knowledge about Fryslân and the Frisian language. You write a dissertation in four years. Four possible research projects can be found in the project description 'The Remarkable Resilience of Frisian' , but you can also come up with your own project proposal. You can write your proposal, using the proposal guidelines.

The PhD candidate will work partly at the Fryske Akademy in Leeuwarden and partly at the University of Amsterdam. In consultation and with an eye for your personal circumstances, this will be between 40 and 60% in Leeuwarden or Amsterdam over those four years. The promotion is at the UvA. 

We are looking for candidates who are well versed in the Frisian language – for some projects at a native level – and who have a background in or a clear affinity with linguistics (historical linguistics / philology, phonology / phonetics, language variation, language sociology / sociolinguistics) or literature. Candidates with a primarily computational / digital humanities background and affinity with the Frisian language can also apply.

Job requirements 

• a master's degree with excellent grades in a relevant field; 
• required language skills: see the project descriptions; 
• excellent academic writing and oral skills; 
• good social and organizational skills; 
• great interest in a scientific career.
• additional requirements for each project can be found in the project description. 

Fixed-term contract: 1 + 3 years.

You will be appointed for a period of 4 years. Initially, a contract of 1 year is offered, with an extension for the following years on the basis of an evaluation of, among other things, a written research output. We offer a full-time PhD position (38 hours per week) for 4 years, preferably starting as soon as possible. 

The salary, with a full appointment, is € 2,541 in the first year, P scale 0 bruto per month, rising to € 3,247 in the last year. Favorable employment conditions include: holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus, according to the Collective Labor Agreement of Dutch Universities. We offer a wide package of fringe benefits.

Diversity & Inclusion

The FA values a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and in which development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the case of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who strengthens the diversity within the FA and the UvA in this way.

The Fryske Akademy Foundation conducts scientific research into the Frisian language, the multilingual society and the regional history of Fryslân and thus makes a critical and constructive contribution to the international scientific debate and developments in the society.

The Fryske Akademy is affiliated with the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and equally firmly rooted in the region.