Assistant Professor in Gender Justice and Health Technology in Africa

Updated: over 1 year ago
Deadline: 10 Oct 2022

Apply now

The institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology of Leiden University and African Studies Centre Leiden jointly invite applicants for the position of

Assistant Professor in Gender Justice and Health Technology in Africa (1.0 FTE)  
Vacancy number 22-593 12764

Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (CADS) at Leiden University studies the everyday practices of individuals, groups, and communities worldwide, to situate them within complex global challenges. Our CADS research program Global Vulnerabilities and Social Resilience focusses on three areas of research: Sustainability, Diversity, and Digitalization. At CADS we propagate a signature methodology consisting of a unique mix of qualitative, quantitative, digital and visual methods grounded in ethnographic fieldwork. We do this research along both disciplinary and interdisciplinary lines, together with our academic and preferred societal partners.

The CADS-teaching program is home to a vibrant student community consisting of over 30 nationalities. Diversity is key to who we are and what we do; in creating an inclusive learning environment where a diversity of experiences, perspectives and positionalities is fully supported, in our own research and in appointing research and teaching staff.

The neighboring African Studies Centre (ASCL) is the only multidisciplinary academic knowledge institute in the Netherlands devoted entirely to the study of Africa. The ASCL undertakes research in Africa with the aim of promoting a better understanding of historical, current and future social developments in Sub-Saharan Africa. The current research program of the ASCL, Strident Africa: Societal and Environmental Change in the Context of 50 Centuries of History covers four main themes: ‘politics & security’ ‘society, religion and culture’, ‘economics’ and ‘history’.

We intend to strengthen the research and education of both Institutes by jointly appointing an assistant professor that works in the field of gender, youth, justice and health technology. You will work in a team with two other assistant professors, similarly jointly appointed at the ASCL, the Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Humanities respectively. This interdisciplinary team will collaborate within the framework of the University research profile (Domain Social Sciences & Humanities Cross-cutting) ‘Prosperity, participation and citizenship in a digital world’ (Welvaart, participatie en burgerschap in een digitale wereld) with a focus on frugal innovation in health services in Africa. This program aims to explore how innovations in frugal digital health platforms are co-shaped in, and find their ways in African societies, and in so doing, contribute to inclusive knowledge societies (for examples of that, see here  and here ). More specifically this position aims to further our understanding of how adoption of technologies, whether in full or partially or not, plays out for well-being and welfare in particular in the case of young female entrepreneurs who are participating in the health technology sector and their (imagined) audiences. We are hoping for a candidate who with us is interested in exploring whether and how these women succeed in promoting alternative economic models, equity and justice, studying to which degree technology continues to be racially coded and gender-insensitive, and contributing to critical perspectives on development that resist/subvert typical Silicon Valley-inspired discourses of startups and incubators. We expect you to collaborate with colleagues, other academic centers and societal partners already developing these diverse fields.

Key responsibilities

  • You will teach courses at Bachelor and Masters level, in the field of diversity, area studies and/or critical development theory;
  • You will supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses;
  • You will contribute to our academic output within the scope of the CADS and ASCL research program, . and more particular the interfaculty program Frugal Innovation in Health Services in Africa;
  • You will contribute to the development of the interdisciplinary Africa hub on prosperity, participation and citizenship in a digital world;
  • You may supervise junior research (for example Ph.D. candidates) within the scope of our research program;
  • You will work towards acquiring significant external research funds within the scope of the CADS and ASCL research program, in one of the fields mentioned above.

Selection criteria

  • You hold a Ph.D. in Anthropology, Sociology or a relevant neighboring discipline
  • You are familiar with critical approaches to development and/or alternative economy, have research interests that complement the current expertise at our Institutes and have experience with mixed method interdisciplinary approaches;
  • You are an innovative and inspiring teacher who knows how to engage a diverse community of graduate and undergraduate students with an inclusive approach to teaching, and can contribute to ongoing efforts to  decolonize the  curriculum;
  • You have a promising publication record, notably international peer-reviewed publications and/or (forthcoming) monographs, films or other multimodal products;
  • You are inventive, communicative and know how to collaborate with students and colleagues from a diversity of backgrounds, and have networking skills that enable you to tap in and reach out to a network of diverse social partners;
  • You are willing and able to meet the requirements for a Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO) within two years if you do not already possess a Dutch University Teaching Qualification;
  • If you do not speak Dutch, the institute will cover the costs and will provide time to follow language courses so you will be able to master a relevant level of linguistic competence (NT2) within a period of two years.

Considering the current composition of our staff, and our commitment to diversity, we expressly encourage people from groups presently underrepresented at our institute to apply, especially candidates from the African continent.


About the faculty
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences consists of five institutes: Education and Child Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology and the Centre for Science and Technology Studies. The faculty has approximately 7,000 students and 1,025 employees. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences brings together high-quality research and outstanding teaching as well as in multidisciplinary approaches. Please, visit the faculty’s website  for more information. 

Information about the Institute for Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural-sciences/cultural-anthropology-and-development-sociology . 

The CADS program Global vulnerabilities and social resilience addresses ‘Diversity’, ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Digitalization’ as intersecting areas of critical investigation. These three themes articulate the urgent connection between economy, politics and ecology, and run as a red thread through multiple projects in the institute, firmly emplaced in a signature methodology that combines qualitative, quantitative, digital and visual methods. The institute’s scientific staff work on economic and political anthropology, global sociology, the anthropology and sociology of environmental issues, citizenship and diversity, in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

 The African Studies Centre Leiden  is a national research institute based at Leiden University as an interfaculty institute between the  Faculty of Social Science, the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Law. It is the only multidisciplinary academic knowledge institute in the Netherlands devoted entirely to the study of Africa. In addition, collecting and disseminating knowledge and information about Africa is an important task. The ASCL does this, among other things, by publishing books and articles and organizing seminars and conferences. The ASCL was founded in 1947 and has approx. 50 employees. It has an extensive library that is open to the general public.

Terms and conditions
We offer a temporary position for 18 months starting 1 December 2022. A permanent appointment may be possible after the temporary term depending on performance and available budget. Conditions of good performance, consistent with the selection criteria, are set at the beginning of the contract. The gross salary depends on qualifications and experience, and ranges between € 3.974 and € 5.439 per month for a full-time appointment (salary scale 11 Dutch Universities Conditions of Employment).

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. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions .

Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification. If the successful applicant does not already possess this qualification or its equivalent, he/ she must be willing to obtain this Qualification within two years.

Diversity and inclusion
Fostering an inclusive community is a central element of the values and vision of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.

Information
Additional information about this position can be obtained from the Institutes’ Scientific Directors, Prof. Bart Barendregt [email protected]  or Prof Marleen Dekker [email protected] .

If you have any enquires about the procedure, please contact the CADS Institute Manager, Ilse Prins at [email protected]  


Applications
Please submit online your application no later than 10 October 2022 via the blue button in our application system. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview and job talk consisting of a presentation for the CADS team. The interviews are scheduled on 17 October 2022. You are kindly requested to be available in this period.

Applications should include:

  • a cover letter, consisting of a one-page statement of interest indicating the names of your two referees. Referees will be contacted directly by the search committee.
  • a CV with a list of your publications
  • a one-page research statement covering your current and future research plans
  • two articles or papers, plus other possible formats you have been working on a one-page diversity statement in which you explain, based on your own experiences, how you aim for an inclusive teaching environment which benefits all students. You are encouraged to include sample syllabi and teaching evaluations.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.

Apply now



Similar Positions