Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 30,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: it belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.
Within the Faculty of Arts of the University of Groningen research on Culture is organized in The Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG). This institute is home to a wide range of disciplines, including: history, arts, literature, media and journalism studies, American Studies, and International Relations and International Organization. These disciplines are currently grouped in five research centres.
Job description
We offer three PhD positions in the areas of International Relations Research, Media and Journalism Studies, and research on the Americas (US, Canada, Mexico).
As a PhD candidate, you are committed to conducting independent and original scientific research, to report on this research in international publications and presentations, and to present the final results of the research in a PhD dissertation. The PhD candidate participates in local, national and international training activities, including summer schools and conferences, to develop his/her full potential as a scientific researcher. As a member of the Graduate School for the Humanities (GSH), a PhD candidate will participate in such training activities, organized by Dutch national graduate schools, some of which are listed here: http://www.rug.nl/research/research-let/onderzoeksscholen/
Some involvement in faculty teaching is negotiable.
The PhD proposal must closely connect to ongoing research in one of the following three centres:
• the Centre of International Relations Research (http://www.rug.nl/let/cirr)
• the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies (http://www.rug.nl/let/centre-mjs)
• the Centre for the Americas (http://www.rug.nl/let/centre-as)
In addition, connection to the University’s focal themes (Energy, Sustainable Society and Healthy Ageing: http://www.rug.nl/research/priorities/) counts as an advantage. Please consult the research institute’s web pages for an description of the research groups and themes. http://www.rug.nl/research/icog/
Qualifications
We are looking for talented and ambitious researchers in the relevant disciplines.
Your qualifications are:
• a Master’s degree in one of the three areas mentioned above, with an excellent academic record
• proven research abilities and affinity with the research topic
• excellent command of English and good academic writing skills.
Conditions of employment
The University of Groningen offers the PhD candidate a salary of € 2,125 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 2,717 gross per month in the final year (based on fulltime employment. These PhD positions are 0.9 fte, for 4 years). The position requires residence in Groningen, and must result in a PhD dissertation. The initial appointment is for 18 months. After the first year, an assessment of the candidate’s progress and results will take place to decide whether the employment can be continued.
The successful candidates will be enrolled in the Graduate School for the Humanities (GSH) of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen. The GSH offers the organizational infrastructure within which PhD candidates participate in advanced training and supervised research. http://www.rug.nl/research/gradschool-humanities/
Starting date: 1 September 2015.
Application
Please send your entire application (in English) as a single PDF-file before 1 May 2015 Dutch local time, by means of the application form (click on ‘Apply’ below on the advertisement on the university website). Please upload your entire application as “letter of motivation” and include the vacancy number at the start of your application.
The application should contain the following:
1. A cover letter introducing yourself, describing your motivation to conduct scientific research, and locating your research within one of the three research groups (and the university’s focal themes, if applicable).
2. A full CV demonstrating academic excellence, including publications and presentations (if applicable), and a copy of your passport.
3. A certified copy or scan of your MA diploma (or equivalent) and academic record.
4. A research proposal, focusing on the central research question to be addressed and the proposed method of approaching and answering this question (1500 words, plus tables and references). See the following website for the proposed format: http://www.rug.nl/research/gradschool-humanities/phd-programme/admissions/gsh-format-for-phd-applications
5. Names and contact details of two academic references.
For questions regarding the application procedure, please contact Mrs. M.R.B. Wubbolts, MA, e-mail: m.r.b.wubbolts@rug.nl (please do NOT use any of the email addresses for applications).
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Information
For information you can contact:
• Prof. C.J.W. Zwart (for questions regarding the Graduate School for the Humanities), directeurgsh@rug.nl
• Prof. E.J. Korthals Altes (for questions regarding the research institute ICOG), e.j.korthals.altes@rug.nl
• Prof. R.M. Esser, (for questions regarding the research institute ICOG), r.m.esser@rug.nl
(please do not use for applications)
