This is an exciting opportunity to join a relatively new research team carrying out comparative collaborative work related to medical practices, media, learning, sensing and technologies. In particular we are looking for a historian to conduct oral history interviews, and relevant archival research, in Budapest, Tamale and Maastricht. The historian will attend to doctors’ learning and teaching with technologies. He/she will work independently and in collaboration with the two PhD ethnographers and the principal investigator (PI) of the project, Anna Harris. The postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to expand on the details of their own research based on their expertise, the material they gather and their own ideas, in consultation with the PI. Creative approaches in particular are encouraged. They will also work synergistically and collectively with the rest of the team. For example, they will: play a crucial role in the conceptual and methodological innovations required by the project as a collective endeavour; lead, and contribute to, academic publications; participate in team meetings; offer active support to the PhDs; engage in presentations; and be involved in the co-organisation of workshops and other events related to the project.

Historians who have a completed PhD with methodological experience in oral history interviewing, are invited to apply. We are particularly looking for historians with research backgrounds related to the history of medicine, technology, craft, media, education or other fields related to the project. The postdoctoral researcher will be based in Maastricht and will spend several months conducting interviews in Hungary and in Ghana. The successful candidate must be willing to travel, be open to working together with a team of anthropologists and STS scholars on a collaborative project, and have excellent organisational abilities. Excellent communication and writing skills in English are a prerequisite, since the candidates will be engaging on an international level, collaborating with other team members in English and producing English-language publications. Knowledge of Hungarian or a Ghanaian language is an advantage, however not essential as interpreters will be hired for the oral history interviews if necessary.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. The postdoctoral researcher will have the unique opportunity to carry out research within one or more of the four themes within the research programme. They will be part of an international network of top universities and renowned scholars within the field. 

We offer a 1.00 fte appointment as Researcher for 3 years. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended for the remaining two years. Your position of Post-doctoral Researcher (Onderzoeker 3) will consist of 100% research. 

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels, depending on education and relevant work experience. This implies a gross monthly salary of about € 3.111,00 per month, scale level 10 (based on a full-time appointment). Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. After a positive assessment a promotion to scale 11 is possible in the 2nd year. 

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing.  

Other secondary conditions include e.g. a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave. 
You will be provided with shared office space and a PC.

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,500 students and 4,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,600 students. More than 75% of the students are non-Dutch (almost 40 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers two 3-year Bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture and European Studies. It also offers six different 1-year Master’s programmes and two 2-year research Master’s programmes.
Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.