Assistant Professor in Global Economic and Social History

Location: AMSTERDAM

FTE: 1 

Job description

We are looking for an Assistant Professor (tenure track) to teach global environmental history from an economic and social history perspective. We are especially interested in candidates with a strong research-profile in the modern environmental history of Africa. Topics might include all branches of environmental history, including climate history, water history and history of sustainability. The prospective candidate has a proven academic record as apparent from academic publications and contributions to public debate. When hired, you will play a central role in teaching the courses offered in the programs Environmental and Water History and Global Economic and Social History (GESH). You can also be asked to teach general History and History and International Studies courses. You will have the freedom to redesign elements of the courses, according to your interests and qualities, and in close consultation with the director of studies. 30% of your time is available for research, for presenting at conferences and publishing, as well as for writing grant proposals. You will become a member of the history staff within the department of Art & Culture, History, and Antiquity (AHA), Faculty of Humanities. You are expected to work closely with other colleagues in your teaching and research, and to participate fully in the daily affairs of the department. Research of most of the VU historians is embedded within the CLUE+ Research Institute for Culture, History and Heritage and within national and international research networks and schools.

Your duties

• teaching and/or developing courses, spread out over the year, in the Environmental and Water History and GESH programs as well as the broader History and History and International Studies programs; supervision of  bachelor and master theses. Examples of courses that you might be asked to teach are World History 1800-present, History of Water and Environment, Climate and Crisis
• initiating and performing outstanding research leading to new publications
• preparing or participating in the writing of grant applications
• administrative or management tasks, including an active role in recruiting new students

Requirements

• a completed PhD-thesis in History that demonstrates a clear affinity with methods of environmental history, economic and / or social history and global history
• teaching experience (as evidenced by excellent teaching evaluations) in relevant topics for this job
• proven track record of independent research, as demonstrated by publications (book(s); chapters in volumes; articles in academic journals)
• In case the candidate does not possess a university teaching qualification (BKO) and/ or English Language Certificate (at least level C1), being committed to obtain these qualification in the first year. If the candidate fulfils all other requirements but is not (near) native in Dutch, proficiency in Dutch may be acquired within two years after appointment
• demonstrated ability in writing research proposals to acquire external research funding is a plus

Desirable

• versatility in the use of digital humanities methods
• openness to building connections from your own areas of expertise to ongoing research projects within the Global History section that might fall outside your immediate specialism, such as migration history, the history of capitalism, colonialism and decolonization

What are we offering?

We offer a tenure track position at the level of assistant professor for five years. The standard division of labour at our Faculty is 60% of teaching, 30% of research, and 10% of administration and management. During the tenure track, performance will be evaluated in all three domains. After a positive evaluation, a permanent position will be granted.

On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of € 3.821 (scale 11) and a maximum € 5,230 (scale 11), depending on your education and experience. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 1 FTE.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity

We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities links a number of fields of study: Language, Literature and Communication, Art & Culture, History, Antiquities and Philosophy. Our teaching and research focus on current societal and scientific themes: from artificial intelligence to visual culture, from urbanization to the history of slavery, from ‘fake news’ in journalism to communication in organizations. We strive to ensure small group sizes. Innovative education and interdisciplinary research are our hallmarks.

Working at the Faculty of Humanities means making a real contribution to the quality of leading education and research in an inspiring and personal work and study climate. We employ more than 350 staff members, and we are home to around 2,000 students.

Application

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter until June 1, 2022. 

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions

If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Dr. P. (Pepijn) Brandon
Position: Associate Professor
E-mail: p.brandon@vu.nl

No agencies

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com