PhD position in Arctic and Antarctic Studies (1.0 FTE)

A four-year PhD position is available at the Arctic Centre (Arctic and Antarctic Studies chair group). We invite talented and ambitious candidates interested in conducting an original research project of their own design relating to the Arctic and/or Antarctic. Applicants whose interests complement those of our staff, who will take supervisory roles in the project, will receive priority; in particular, we welcome theoretically-grounded projects focusing on one or more of the following themes:

• Indigenous Law;
• Climate change and protection of polar values (e.g., cultural heritage, archaeology, biodiversity, wilderness);
• Climate change and pollution in the Polar Regions;
• Tourism in the Arctic and Indigenous People;
• Subsistence hunting in the Arctic; and
• Protected Areas in the Polar Regions.

Organisation

Since its founding in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. The position will be embedded in the Arctic Centre, an interdisciplinary research centre founded in 1970 whose staff focus their research, education and outreach activities on the Polar Regions. Research disciplines that are represented in the Arctic Centre include polar biology, environmental science, social science, archaeology, anthropology and law and governance. The Arctic Centre is part of the Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA) within the Faculty of Arts of the University of Groningen.

The PhD will be enrolled in the Graduate School for the Humanities, which is the home for all (circa 200) PhD candidates of the Faculty of Arts, and is committed to creating and maintaining excellent conditions for PhD research. In addition to organizing local courses, the GSH works closely with 16 national research schools, which offer regular courses and seminars by top national and international researchers.

We seek an ambitious candidate with a strong background in a relevant discipline. Specifically, your qualifications should include:

• a master’s degree (completed before starting the PhD) in a relevant discipline (e.g. polar biology, environmental science, the social sciences, archaeology, anthropology; law and governance, cultural/human geography or spatial planning), with an excellent academic record
• close affinity with the Polar Regions and with Polar research
• interest in theory-based research with potential to contribute to the protection of ecological and social values in the Polar Regions
• an interest in inter- and/or transdisciplinary collaborative research
• creative, critical and independent research attitude and open to different perspectives
• excellent command of English and proven academic writing skills; and
• willingness to contribute to organisational activities of the Arctic Centre.

Knowledge of Dutch is not required.

In accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, the University of Groningen offers you:

• a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to € 3,247 in the fourth year
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance
• a temporary 1,0 FTE appointment for a specified period of four years. The candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After six months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued.

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment as well as to acquire valuable teaching experience: the PhD candidate is expected to conduct 0.3 FTE teaching during the second, third and fourth year of their appointment (0.1 FTE yearly).

Start date: 1 September 2023

For information you can contact:

Prof. Kees Bastmeijer, questions regarding the Arctic Centre and research themes,   [email protected]

F. (Flip) Kramer, for questions regarding the submission procedure,   [email protected]

(please do not use the email addresses above for applications)