Postdoctoral Researcher on Art Institutes in Beijing and Hong Kong

The Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA) https://asca.uva.nl currently has a vacant Postdoc researcher position as part of the ERC-funded research project Resilient Cultures – Music, Art, and Cinema in Mainland China and Hong Kong (RESCUE), led by main researcher Prof. Jeroen de Kloet. ASCA is one of the five Research Schools within the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR). ASCA is home to more than 120 scholars and 160 PhD candidates, and is a world-leading international research school in Cultural Analysis. ASCA members share a commitment to working in an interdisciplinary framework and to maintaining a close connection with contemporary cultural and political debates.

What are you going to do?
This Postdoc position is embedded in the ERC-funded research project Resilient Cultures – Music, Art, and Cinema in Mainland China and Hong Kong (RESCUE). In this project we investigate the resilience of pop music, contemporary art and queer cinema in rapidly changing cultural, technological and (geo)political contexts. Specifically, we look at indie pop in Hong Kong (project 1), folk music in Mainland China (project 2), art institutes in both Hong Kong and Mainland China (project 3), as well as socially engaged art practices (project 4) and queer cinema (project 5) in both localities. The research findings will testify to the polyphony, diversity and vitality of cultural productions in Mainland China and Hong Kong.

This postdoc project focuses on art institutes in both Hong Kong and Mainland China (project 3). It involves:

• Ethnographic fieldwork in the first and second year into art institutes in both Hong Kong and Mainland China.
• A study of a selection of exhibitions and activities presented/organised by the institutes under study.
• Digital analysis of key platforms used in by the institutes under study.
• Participation in and (co-)organisation of workshops in which academics, curators, art organisations, and artists participate.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Conducting research within the period of appointment;
• Publish two peer-reviewed journal articles, edit a special issue for a journal, and write a monograph within the period of appointment;
• Setting up and managing project data (while taking into consideration the project’s risk analysis, and complying with its data management plan);
• Participating in, and the management of, project meetings, and closely collaborating with other members of the research team;
• Assisting with knowledge dissemination and with the organization of project workshops, conferences and creative events;
• Presenting research results at national and international workshops and conferences.

You are passionate about developing innovative strategies for combining humanities and social science research. You are interested in critical media and cultural theory, in inter-Asia cultural studies, art studies, postcolonial theory, platformization studies; and in combining different research methodologies. You have a strong interest in contemporary art and in art institutes. In addition, you have a social and cooperative attitude, and you thrive in a team setting. You are curious and open-minded towards research traditions and methodologies you are less familiar with.

Your experience and profile
Candidates need to have the following qualifications:

• A relevant PhD degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences, on a topic relevant to the project, completed no later than 31 July 2024. You may apply if you have not yet completed your PhD degree only if you provide a signed letter from your supervisor stating that you will graduate before 31 July 2024.
• Outstanding research qualities manifested in strong transcripts, a high-quality PhD dissertation and peer-reviewed academic publications.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of the following research methods: ethnography; participant observation; individual interviews; narrative, semiotic and visual analysis.
• Demonstrable experience working with theoretical frameworks, and a keen interest in the research fields central to the project: media and cultural studies, art studies, platformization studies, inter-Asia cultural studies, China studies, and Hong Kong studies.
• Excellent written and spoken English, and a high-level of proficiency in/understanding of Mandarin and Cantonese.
• Team spirit and experience working in an interdisciplinary, international setting.
• Willingness to travel abroad for fieldwork, research stays, conferences and workshops.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills.

Experience in digital methods and in coding will be a plus.

The Postdoc researcher will be appointed at the department of Media Studies of the Faculty of Humanities and will conduct the research in The Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis. The employment will be for one year. Contingent on a positive performance evaluation the contract will be extended with 2 years. The employment contract is for38 hours a week. The preferred starting date is 01 August 2024.

Your salary, depending on relevant experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges between € 3.226 - € 5.090 gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. Favourable tax agreements may apply to applicants moving from abroad. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

What else do we offer?

• excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;
• an enthusiastic and professional academic team;
• an inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam;
• the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that - partly as a result of their interdisciplinary approach - are world renowned.

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the link below. We will accept applications until the 22nd of March 2024.

Your application should include the following information:

• A letter, stating your reasons for applying, and detailing why you are an excellent candidate for the position (500-800 words);
• Your curriculum vitae, listing at least: full address and contact details, education, professional employment and language proficiency. Also include grants/honours, conference presentations, academic publications and creative work, if applicable;
• A writing sample: one chapter of your dissertation, or one article (submitted or published);
• The names and contact details of two referees familiar with your academic record and research skills. One of the referees must be your PhD supervisor. The referees may be approached by the selection committee.

Please submit the required information in 1 pdf by uploading in the required field ‘CV’.

Candidates selected for an interview will be asked to write a short research proposal. The interviews will be held over Zoom on April, 24 2024, between 9:00-13:00 CET (tentative).