This position responds to a gap in our current PhD community. Scholars from Caribbean and South American regions shaped by Dutch colonialism and transatlantic slavery have played an important role in the intellectual history of the University of Amsterdam, including figures such as Philomena Essed and Humphrey Lamur. Yet these connections are less visible in our current PhD community. With this vacancy, we seek to renew and strengthen those intellectual ties.

Candidates are invited to develop a PhD project in anthropology on any topic or region of their own choice. This means we are looking for proposals driven by your own questions, commitments, and intellectual ambitions.

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam has an excellent reputation in both research and teaching and is home to a lively academic community. This position will be formally embedded in the programme group Health, Care and the Body and the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR).

You are an ambitious and talented researcher. You are excited about your research project and have a clear, feasible plan on how to conduct this research. You are committed to contributing to the academic community in different ways, from helping with the organization of activities to participating in interdisciplinary debates. 

• You hold a Master's degree in the social sciences or humanities, including training in qualitative methods.
• You have graduate-level oral and written communication skills for advanced academic work in English and/or Dutch.
• You have a background from, and /or with heritage in the Caribbean and South American regions shaped by Dutch colonialism and slavery.

If this vacancy speaks to you, but you are uncertain whether you meet all requirements, please do get in touch with us or simply apply.

We offer a temporary employment contract of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year and the preferred starting date is 1 September 2026. Following a positive assessment, this term will be extended by a maximum of three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. You will attend courses offered by the AISSR and the Graduate School of Social Sciences as part of the PhD program. In addition to doing research, publicizing your findings, and participating in academic events, you will be involved in teaching (roughly 10% of your time).

For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” applies. Your salary will be €3,059 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,881 in the final year, based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week and in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.