Postdoctoral Researcher SevenFrontiers

The International Institute of Social History seeks to appoint a post-doc researcher for the project SevenFrontiers, which is funded by the European Research Council. The aim of the project is to acquire for the very first time 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.

Together with the team leader Prof. Ulbe Bosma (IISH), a postdoctoral researcher, 2 PhD researchers and student assistants you will assess these effects by studying the seven most exported commodities from the Global South (sugar, cotton, coffee, tea, precious metals (gold/silver), opium and cereals). Your task will be to focus on the wide-ranging and diverse social consequences of the massive mobilization of labour and land for the production of these commodities. You will be working with the data assembled in the Global Collaboratory on the History of Labour Relations.

https://iisg.amsterdam/en/data/data-websites/history-of-labour-relations-1500-2000

Duration of the project: 1 December 2025 until 30 November 2028

Job requirements

a PhD in History, preferably with a specialization in colonial and/or global history;

having an affinity with both quantitative and qualitative research on historical population statistics, including data on demography, occupations and gender;

the ability to work both as a creative and independent researcher in an interdisciplinary team, and willing to take responsibility for deliverables and deadlines in your work package;

excellent command of English, both written and orally; proficiency in a second non-native language will be considered as a bonus.

Deliverables
You will be assigned to writing either three or four articles in prominent academic journals or prepare a monograph manuscript.

Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is € 4.728 and the maximum salary is €6.433 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 11 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.

About the IISH
The International Institute of Social History (IISG-KNAW) is an Academy research institute. IISG is one of the most prestigious social history research institutes worldwide. It examines how work and labour relations have developed globally over time. To support its research, it collects archives and data from all over the world. The relationship between its research and its data and archive collections contributes substantially to the institute's unique nature.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.