A postdoctoral researcher in the field of history to investigate the activities, connections and legacies of Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in Indonesia and Suriname during and after the period of Dutch colonial rule. This 3-year project has been commissioned by the board of Wageningen University and will be carried out at the Rural and Environmental History Group under the auspices of an International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB).

Colonial Entanglements investigates four sets of questions.

• What type of activities did (representatives of) Wageningen University and the research institutes undertake and with whom did they cooperate? What type of research and teaching programmes were developed and how did these affect post-colonial agricultural research and education in Wageningen, Indonesia and Suriname?
• How were research and teaching programmes organized and financed, who were the main stakeholders (companies, authorities)? How were co-operations between Dutch and local stakeholders governed? Who were the envisioned beneficiaries of research facilities (e.g. botanical gardens, experimental stations, laboratories) as well as schools established, who provided the financial and human resources to do so, and who benefitted?
• What was the political rationale and ideological context of Wageningen's activities in the colonies and how were these ideas perceived and/or contested by locals who were engaged with teaching or research programmes? What were the stated 'development' purposes as well as less tangible mental, cultural and ideological frames of researchers or colonial government officials and how did these evolve over time?
• What were the long-term legacies of Wageningen's colonial entanglements, for example with regards to agricultural development in Indonesia and Suriname, and the knowledge and training networks that were sustained or have disappeared in the course of time?

Your research is to result in the publication of a book manuscript. Furthermore, you are expected to actively contribute to the project's programme of meetings, both with respect to substance and organisationally (e.g., expert meetings, conferences, public events). The postdoc researcher will benefit from the expertise and networks of the ISAB members as well as of the staff of the Rural and Environmental History Group. The candidate will also be assisted by two research assistants and will receive funding for two long research visits to conduct archival studies and fieldwork in Indonesia and Suriname.

You have:

• a completed PhD in history;
• demonstrable expertise in one or more of the following fields: colonial history, agricultural history, history of science and technology and/or history of ideas. Specific knowledge of the history of Indonesia or Suriname is a plus;
• for this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level and an excellent command of Dutch. Basic proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia would be considered an advantage;
• an excellent track-record in research achievements and publications;
• demonstrable experience and affinity with knowledge utilization, preferably in projects with a clear publicity component.
• the ability to work in an international environment, as evidenced by previous work experience;
• a proven capacity to generate new ideas, to work independently and to meet deadlines.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, we offer a fixed term position (1.0) from September 2022 through August 2023. Salary ranges from € 3,821.- to € 5,230.- gross per month (pay scale 11), according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 12 months which will be extended for another 24 months if you perform well.
Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University and Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.