Are you an enthusiastic teacher, do you have talent for research, and do you want to work inter- and cross-disciplinary in the Graduate Gender Programme? Join the Graduate Gender Programme of the department of Media and Culture Studies!

Your job
We seek a new colleague who combines experience in research and teaching in intersectional feminist and postcolonial studies, with possible connected expertise in one or more of the following areas: feminist critical thinking, critical race theories, decolonial theories, queer and trans studies, visual culture and aesthetics, critical (dis)ability studies, indigenous studies, environmental humanities, related to questions of social justice, political activism, migration, critical digital humanities and the role of media in a globalised world.

The candidate’s research adds to the Gender Studies research programme that consists of the following four thematic strands:

1. Cultural Critique;
2. Colonial Legacies-Postcolonial Formations;
3. Crossing/Contesting Boundaries;
4. Critical Epistemologies.

Within the department of Media and Culture Studies, you will be part of the Cluster Gender, Culture and Postcoloniality. Your research will be part of the Institute for Cultural Inquiry (ICON) with the research group Gender Studies, the Postcolonial Studies Initiative (PCI), Terra Critica (TC), and other research initiatives. The position also offers possibilities for you to connect with Utrecht University’s interdisciplinary Strategic Themes and the Research Focus Areas such as and the national Netherlands Research School of Gender Studies (NOG).

As Assistant Professor, you teach courses in the broad field of Gender and Postcolonial Studies, as well as engage in interdisciplinary tutorials and methodological research seminars. You participate in the two BA-minors Gender Studies and Postcolonial Studies, the MA Gender Studies and the RMA Gender Studies. Depending on your expertise, you may also teach in the BA Media and Culture or interdisciplinary programmes such as Taal en Cultuur Studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences and the EU GEMMA Programme. You collaborate with colleagues in various interdisciplinary teaching teams and are also involved in the supervision of individual student projects such as internships as well as BA, MA and RMA theses.

You have demonstrable motivation to teach, you are willing to work inter- and cross-disciplinary with colleagues in the Graduate Gender Programme and in the Department of Media and Culture Studies at large, and you possess a proven commitment and talent for research.

You are specialised in Gender and Postcolonial Studies, with further areas of specialisation such as feminist critical thinking, critical race theories, decolonial theories, queer and trans studies, visual culture and aesthetics, critical (dis)ability studies, indigenous studies, environmental humanities, and related to questions of social justice, political activism, migration, critical digital humanities and the role of media in a globalised world.

Additionally, you are committed to furthering new and innovative developments in academic research and teaching, participates in interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships within and beyond the university, and is also willing to explore the use of new methods in education, research and external partnerships.

As ideal candidate, you meet the following requirements:

• You hold a PhD in the Humanities or in a field relevant for this position, with a research focus on Gender and Postcolonial Studies.
• You have relevant teaching experience at Bachelor’s and (Research) Master’s level and with student supervision.
• You show a commitment to working in a team and for feminist education.
• You are an active and ambitious researcher with output that reflects this.
• You have a vision on teaching and your own contribution to teaching in relation to your own research and the course offer of our programmes.
• You have experience with or good prospects for acquiring external funding.
• You have excellent communication skills, strength in interpersonal relationships and in being a team player.
• You have acquired the University Teaching Qualification, or are willing to acquire this within the first two years.
• You are fluent in English, preferably close to near-native standard. If you do not have a native command of Dutch you are expected to obtain NT2-level spoken and written Dutch within two years of appointment.

We offer:

• an employment contract for 12 months with the prospect of a permanent employment contract;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €4,332 and €5,929 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

The job’s allocation is set to 40% research and 60% teaching. Within the 60% for teaching, there is 10% free space that will not be scheduled.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Humanities has around 7,000 students and 1,100 staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city centre of Utrecht, where the faculty is located, contribute to an inspiring working environment.

Our department of Media and Culture Studies has a staff with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and views. We are committed to support our staff and their development and we foster various forms of interdisciplinary collaboration and team-based teaching and research. In our department, we study a wide range of media as well as cultural and artistic expressions, also in their intermedial relations. We interpret culture as a dynamic combination of artistic, creative, and everyday activities that people use to shape their identities, and within which social processes, structures and institutions are shaped. We welcome colleagues who can further strengthen the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds in our department.

The department of Media and Culture Studies is committed to uphold the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek colleagues who work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity.

For more information, please contact Dr Kathrin Thiele at k.thiele@uu.nl.

The first round of Interviews will take place on 10 June 2024 (online interviews). The second interview will take place at the end of June/beginning of July. The starting date is on 15 August.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.