Postdoc on Security Cooperation and Crisis Governance in International and Transatlantic Relations The Institute for History at the University of Leiden invites applications for:
Postdoc position (0,8 fte) 15 months from 1 June 2025 to 31 August 2026. The Institute for History, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University is looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a 0.8 FTE, 15 months position for the interdisciplinary NWO-funded project
“You say security, I say crisis” – Challenging Disciplinary Boundaries in Security Cooperation and Crisis Governance (CDB). The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of Dr Andrea Warnecke and Dr Håvar Solheim and will conduct their own research, support the research and dissemination activities of the project, and contribute to teaching activities of the Institute for History.
The project The CDB project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). It addresses the ongoing acceleration of overlapping systemic crises and security threats in international governance and security cooperation through a set of interdisciplinary case studies that explore how international crises interact with local, national, and regional processes.
The current sense of polycrisis is exacerbated by intense criticisms of the actors, institutions, and practices of governance and cooperation. Divisive politics and discourses call for an interrogation of societal, sectoral, and epistemological approaches to security cooperation and crisis governance. Our project consortium thus brings into dialogue multiple interdisciplinary research agendas with the aim to advance a critical and deeper understanding of such crucial contemporary developments and their historical roots.
The assumption is that the combined effects of rapidly developing polycrises substantially weaken any baseline consensus on the nature and causes of common threats and further fragment demands for security. Our challenge is therefore to better identify these causes and demands through cross-disciplinary collaboration to match this complexity and interconnectedness with relevant insights from varied disciplines and research programmes.
The project comprises two project streams:
- Re-imagining Impartiality beyond (Liberal) Hegemony in Global Governance
- Managing Security in Complex Trans-National and Local Settings: EU-Latin American Crime Fighting Efforts since the 1980
Further information on the two subprojects and affiliated research is available
on our website. What you will do The successful candidate is expected to develop and/or consolidate their own research agenda in collaboration with one of the two existing project streams and contribute to the overall research, dissemination, and teaching activities of the team.
Key responsibilities - Conduct research in the field of transatlantic security cooperation and/or international crisis governance;
- Draft one article to be published in a peer-reviewed journal;
- Limited teaching
- Support the team of the CDB project, particularly regarding outreach and dissemination activities.
Requirements - A PhD degree, preferably in international relations, history, or a related discipline fitting the research agenda of the CDB project.
- If the degree is not yet obtained at the time of application, the date of the PhD defence should be set before 1 June 2025 . A confirmation of this is required from your university/institute. A statement by the applicant’s supervisor should confirm that it will be obtained by the time of appointment;
- Research expertise relating to one of the two project streams, e.g. (the history of) international organisation, international security, and/or trans-regional security cooperation;
- Strong research and writing skills;
- Ability to work both independently and as part of an (international) team;
- Excellent command of English. Knowledge of Spanish or Dutch is considered an asset.
About our organisation Since its founding in 1575, Leiden University has acquired an international reputation for excellent teaching and research. With its staff of over 800, the Faculty of Humanities provides 26 Bachelors and 27 Masters programmes for over 7,200 students based at locations in Leiden and The Hague.
The Institute for History is the home of a vibrant community of researchers and lecturers with outstanding track records and successful in attracting national and international research grants.
Under the label ‘Global Questions, Local Sources’ scholars affiliated to the Institute combine a deep knowledge of global interactions and of specific localities, regions and states in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. They use comparative, connective and entangled approaches and resort to qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
All researchers of the Institute for History are connected to one of the six research specializations: The Unification of the Mediterranean World (400 BC – 400 AD), Collective Identities and Transnational Networks in Medieval and Early Modern Europe, 1000-1800, Political Culture and National Identities, Colonial and Global History, Cities, Migration and Global Interdependence, and History and International Relations. For more information on the Institute for History:
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities/institute-for-history/phd-programme.
Diversity and inclusion Leiden University’s Institute for History embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized backgrounds to apply.
Terms and conditions We offer a 0,8 fte position for initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of research, personal capabilities and compatibility the appointment will be extended by a further 3 months. The salary will be between €4060 and €4537 gross per month for a full appointment (scale 10.4 - 11.0) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), and training and career development. The individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.
Information For more information, including a description of the project, contact dr. Andrea Warnecke (a.u.warnecke@hum.leidenuniv.nl) and/or dr. Håvar Solheim (
h.a.s.solheim@hum.leidenuniv.nl).
Applications Applications should be submitted in English and include a:
- Cover letter;
- Research proposal (maximum 500 words), which states how your planned research contributes to the themes of the project;
- Curriculum vitae, including list of publications (if applicable);
- Copy of the introduction or a chapter of your PhD thesis, or a relevant publication.
Applications should be submitted no later than 15 February 2025 via the blue button in our application system. All requested documents should be sent in PDF format.
An interview with the search committee is part of the procedure. Interviews will take place two weeks after the deadline. The exact time and venue will be announced later. A list of two referees (with email addresses and phone numbers) will be required at a later stage of the application. You do not need to enter details about referees at this stage.