PhD Position in Sociology on "Contested Epistemologies of Sustainability"

22 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Amsterdam (UvA)

Research Field

Cultural studies

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

12 May 2024 - 21:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

38.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Are you passionate about the topic of climate change and sustainability from a sociological perspective? Do you like to traverse and embed yourself in cultural worlds different from your own? Are you interested in ethnographic research and able to create your own independent research track in a larger research project? Then this position may be yours.

The Department of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam is currently looking for a PhD candidate in the project “Contested Epistemologies of Sustainability”, led by Dr Catherine Wong and Dr Jaron Harambam. In this project, we examine how climate change and the foundational ways of knowing are contested in two radically different contexts: indigenous communities in South/Southeast Asia and conspiratorial communities in Europe. Both communities challenge hegemonic “Western” epistemologies of sustainability, albeit in their own specific ways. Your project will explore and compare both communities under this broad umbrella of contested epistemologies, but with plenty of room for your own ideas and innovation in who and what you would like to study. Here your creativity comes in and we like to foster that from the start. The overall goal of this project is twofold: to understand the resistance towards hegemonic climate change and sustainability discourses, and to learn from different epistemological and cultural standpoints that oppose them.

The project is hosted by the research group Cultural Sociology and more information on the project itself can be found here.

What are you going to do?
For this four-year long fully funded position, you will perform a number of different tasks:

• design your own PhD research project within the theme of contested epistemologies of sustainability;
• conduct qualitative research / ethnographic fieldwork in indigenous communities in South/Southeast Asia and in conspiratorial communities in Europe;
• write academic articles with the two P.I.’s and independently;
• present your work to academic, professional and lay audiences;
• teach in our undergraduate (Bachelor) Sociology program (max. 10% of your time);
• assist with administrative and organizational tasks within the project;
• actively participate in the academic communities of the Program Group (Cultural Sociology), department (Sociology) and research school (AISSR).

Requirements
Specific Requirements

Our ideal candidate is driven by their own curiosity to understand more about the world, without projecting their own worldview on others. We are looking for someone who is creative and ambitious yet down-to-earth. Being able to relate to different kinds of people is essential. You should be able to work in different locations across the world, while having your base in Amsterdam. We are looking for a hands-on person who can organize their own research projects independently and able to work in a team. Most importantly, we hope to find someone who has an open mind, who is willing to learn from others, able to think deeply about issues and who can surprise us with novel insights.

The following qualifications are essential:

• a Master’s degree or equivalent in Sociology, or in the adjacent Social Sciences such as Anthropology and Science & Technology Studies. The degree must have been obtained before the employment starting date;
• affinity and experience with doing ethnographic and/or qualitative research methods;
• interest in sustainability, climate change policy, politics, and epistemologies.
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

The following qualifications are desirable:

• affinity and experience with research on (the epistemologies of) indigenous communities in South-East Asia;
• affinity and experience with research on (the epistemologies of) conspiratorial communities in Europe.

Additional Information
Benefits

The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year and will preferably start on 1 September 2024. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. We will put together a curriculum which will also include the opportunity to attend training courses and both national and international events.

For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” applies. Your salary will be €2,770 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,539 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.

Selection process

The Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences strives for and puts conscious efforts into having a work and academic environment that is inclusive. We commit to providing the grounds for equal treatment and empowering you to become a full participating member of our academic community, regardless of your background, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and/or age. We especially invite members from historically disadvantaged and under-represented groups to apply.

If this vacancy speaks to you, but you are uncertain whether you meet all requirements, please do apply. Given the department’s commitment to diversity, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, and specifically from people with backgrounds underrepresented in academia.

Please submit your application no later 12 May 2024. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications should be submitted as one bundled .pdf that includes:

• a two-page CV detailing your education and work/research experience;
• a two-page Motivation Letter outlining your desire and qualifications to pursue a PhD in this project;
• undergraduate and graduate transcripts (grades);
• the contact details of two academic references.

Please upload this package as a single PDF on the next page in the 'CV' box.
Additional materials such as recommendation letters, writing samples, and a short PhD proposal will be requested only for short-listed candidates. Please do NOT send these materials with the initial application. The committee expects interviews to take place in the week of 27 June 2024.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Additional comments

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Dr. Catherine Wong, [email protected]
• Dr. Jaron Harambam, [email protected]

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/339328/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Country

Netherlands

City

Amsterdam

Postal Code

1018WV

Street

Nieuwe Achtergracht 166

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/339328/phd-position-in-sociology-on-contest…

Contact

City

Amsterdam

Website

http://www.uva.nl/

Street

Spui 21

Postal Code

1012 WX

STATUS: EXPIRED