PhD candidate in the HERA project
Job description
Night spaces: migration, culture and inTegration in Europe (NITE) brings together 5 European universities (Leiden, University College London, Limerick, Aarhus, Leuphana) and Principal Investigators Dr Sara Brandellero (Leiden), Prof. Ben Campkin (University College London), Prof. Manuela Bojadzijev (Leuphana), Dr Derek Pardue (Aarhus) and Dr Ailbhe Kenny (Limerick), and a number of non-academic partners to study how night spaces are dynamically produced, imagined, experienced and narrated by migrant communities in Europe. These spaces (both material and virtual) are taken to be important sites of crisis and regeneration, memory and heritage, community solidarity and growth. The project focuses on eight European cities. Through a programme of community co-designed cultural events and activities, and close engagement with policy-makers, NITE aims to enable a better understanding of the cultural dynamics and diversity of night spaces and contribute to policy approaches to night-time economies in creating more inclusive cities.
We are looking for a highly motivated, enterprising and enthusiastic PhD candidate to join our project and work with the Leiden team, which will include: Dr Sara Brandellero, Dr Kamila Krakowska (who will act as co-promotors) and Prof. Frans-Willem Korsten (promotor). The PhD candidate will investigate night spaces connected with the Cape Verdean community in Rotterdam from the first immigration movement in the 1950s to the present day. The subproject will focus on how spaces of belonging were/are constructed, through historical mapping of key nocturnal urban sites (e.g. Heemraadsplein, the iconic Delta Hotel). It will also focus on the analysis of narratives (literary and audio/visual) that have emerged from Cape Verdeans’ experiences in Rotterdam. Materials for analysis are expected to include: testimonials; venue flyers; literary narratives; music lyrics, film.
Key responsibilities
- Finalize an original PhD thesis within the allocated time under supervision;
- Undertake ethnographic fieldwork and archival research in Rotterdam and potentially elsewhere in the Netherlands; although the PhD candidate will be primarily based in Leiden;
- Participate in regular team meetings, present research findings at workshops and conferences in Europe and prepare papers for publication in consultation with supervisors;
- Contribute to the research group’s blog and the construction of a database of materials emerging from their research;
- Contribute to the organization of the cultural events and workshops/conference envisioned within the Leiden project;
- Participate in the training programme of the Institute, local Graduate School and the relevant national research school;
- Participate in staff meetings and the intellectual life of the LUCAS community;
- In the 2nd year of their appointment, the PhD candidate may be given opportunities to contribute to teaching.
Requirements
- A Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field of Cultural Analysis;
- A background in Lusophone studies will be an advantage. Knowledge of Cape Verdean migration studies will be an advantage;
- Native/near native speaker knowledge of Dutch;
- Knowledge of Portuguese. Knowledge of Cape Verdean Creole will be an additional advantage;
- Excellent communication skills in written and oral academic English;
- Demonstrable interest in the topic;
- Intellectual independence;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a larger research team;
- Excellent proven time-management skills;
- Proven experience or willingness to work in an international and competitive research environment;
- Proven experience or willingness to collaborate in the organization of related academic/cultural events;
- Proven experience to undertake fieldwork/interviews and archival work, or demonstrable willingness to acquire the necessary skills to undertake such work;
- Demonstrable experience of or the potential to engage with wider/non-academic community and generate research impact beyond the strictly academic context;
- Team player skills, flexibility.
Conditions of employment
PhD project, 3 years (1.0 FTE, 38 hrs per week), starting date 31 May 2019. Initially the employee will receive a one-year contract, with extension for the following 24 months on condition of a positive evaluation.
Salary range from € 2,325.- to € 2,972.- gross per month for a full-time appointment depending on prior education and working experience (pay scale P, 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. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. www.workingat.leiden.edu/
Diversity
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.
Employer
Universiteit Leiden
Leiden is a typical university city, hosting the oldest university in the Netherlands (1575). The University permeates the local surroundings; University premises are scattered throughout the city, and the students who live and study in Leiden give the city its relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.
Leiden University is one of Europe’s foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at.
Additional information
The Faculty of Humanities is a unique international centre for the advanced study of languages, cultures, arts, and societies worldwide, in their historical contexts from prehistory to the present. Our faculty is home to more than 6,000 students and 800 staff members. For more information see: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities.
The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) is one of the seven Research Institutes of the Faculty of Humanities. LUCAS is dedicated to ground-breaking research that explores the multifaceted relationships between the arts and society. For more information see: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities/centre-for-the-arts-in-society
