3 PHD POSITIONS, UNIV. OF AMSTERDAM

The Research Institute for Culture and History at the University of Amsterdam has three vacant PhD positions per 1 April 2009 as part of the NWO project The Legacy of Soviet Oriental Studies: Networks, Institutions, Discourses.
The project analyses the history of Soviet Oriental and Islamic Studies in Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia and its repercussions for the discipline today. Our first goal is to study the research agendas and ideological approaches of the Oriental Studies institutions that emerged in the course of 20th century in various republics of the USSR, the changing Soviet discourses on Islam and Muslim societies, the involvement of scholars in party and state agencies, and their role in anti-religious propaganda. Our second goal is to assess the legacy of the heavily politicised history of Soviet Oriental Studies in today's Russia and the newly-independent Muslim-majority states of the Former Soviet Union.
3 PhD Positions (m/f)
0.8 fte (i.e., part time 80%, 4 years)
Call open for both internal and external candidates.
PhD Project 1: From Ghafurov to Primakov: The Politicisation of Academic Oriental Studies in Moscow and Leningrad/St. Petersburg since 1950
PhD Project 2: The Legacy of Soviet Oriental Studies in Kazakhstan
PhD Project 3: Soviet Oriental Studies and Azerbaijani Nationalism
Tasks
The candidates are expected to research and complete a Ph.D. dissertation within a period of four years (part-time position), and to participate in the group work (incl. conferences, workshops, and publications) .
Requirements
The candidates are expected to have a (research) master degree, preferably with a specialization in History, Islamic Studies, Anthropology, Political Studies, Central Asian Studies, or Russian Studies. For the necessary language skills, please see the extended project descriptions below.
More information
For further information candidates are welcome to contact Prof. Dr. Michael Kemper (m.kemper@uva.nl) and Dr. Stéphane A. Dudoignon (dudoignon@aol.com).
Appointment
The intention is for the appointment to start on April 1, 2009, in temporary employment for a period of 16 months. After completing this first period successfully, the candidate will be employed for a further period of 32 months. The gross monthly salary for the position will be in accordance with the University regulations for academic personnel, and will range from 2.042 to a maximum of 2.612 for a full time position.
Job application
Those wishing to apply should send their letter of application in English, together with a CV, a statement about the research proposal, a specimen of their written work and the names of two referees, to the director of the Institute for Culture and History, c/o drs P.J. Koopman, Spuistraat 134, NL-1012 VB, Amsterdam. Applications have to be submitted before January 1, 2009.
University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a university with an internationally acclaimed profile, located at the heart of the Dutch capital. A world centre for business and research, Amsterdam is also a hub of cultural and media activities. The University of Amsterdam is a member of the League of European Research Universities. The Faculty of Humanities provides education and international research in a large number of disciplines in the fields of languages and culture. The Faculty is located in the centre of Amsterdam and maintains intensive contacts with many cultural institutions in the capital. Just under 1,000 people are employed by the Faculty and approximately 6,500 students follow our courses. The Research Institute for Culture and History (ICG) has programs in Archaeology, History, Literature, Art & Cultural Heritage, the Golden Age, and European Studies. The emphasis lies on studying European culture from a historical perspective.