Applicants are invited for a PhD position in the project “Moving Animals: A History of Science, Media and Policy in the Twentieth Century”. The project is funded by a NWO Vici grant awarded to the principal investigator, Raf De Bont.

‘Moving Animals’ will combine perspectives from the history of science, cultural history and environmental history, in order to analyze (1) the ways in which humans have gained (both scientific and ‘vernacular’) knowledge about animal movement, (2) how this movement has been represented in the media, (3) how animal mobilities have been actively managed and have become the object of governance.

Research project
The project ‘Moving Animals’ will study how the long-distance movement of wild animals has been understood, represented and managed in the course of the twentieth century. While historians of globalization have extensively studied the movement of humans, commodities and ideas, they overall had little attention for animal movement and the ways in which it has been perceived and managed by humans.

The project will consist of four interlinked subprojects – focusing respectively on invasive species, animal reintroductions, zoo trade and seasonal migrations. Apart from a PI and a Post-Doc, two PhDs will work on the project. The PhD researchers will analyze the historically changing human interaction with respectively invasions of ‘alien species’ (PhD1) and reintroductions of locally extinct species (PhD2). The PhD researchers are expected to collaborate closely with the other participants in the project.

Job description
On the basis of case studies, you will carry out historical research on the human interaction with respectively:

• Invasions of ‘alien species’ (PhD1)
• Reintroductions of locally extinct species (PhD2).

In both cases you will be:

• Developing a line of historical research that studies the changing ways in which humans have scientifically studied, culturally represented and environmentally managed undomesticated animals.
• Carrying out archival and oral history research in several countries. For this, travel will be required.
• Dedicating some time to teaching at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Maastricht).
• Communicating with the external partners of the project.
• Writing academic publications, and co-authoring with other members of the team.
• Participating in team meetings.
• Taking part in training by the Graduate School of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences as well as the WTMC Graduate School.

Requirements
You hold a MA/MSc degree in history, Science and Technology Studies or a related discipline (or are expected to obtain such a degree by 1 January 2020). Particularly experience with research in the history of science, cultural history, animal history or environmental history is seen as an advantage.

You have received excellent grades and you have an obvious interest in academic research, particularly qualitative research methods. You have good organizational skills. You are capable of autonomously conducting original research as well as working in a team. You write and communicate fluently in English; knowledge of other languages is considered an asset.

Fixed-term contract: 4 year.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. She / he will be part of an international network of top universities and renowned scholars within the field.

We offer a 4 year full-time appointment as PhD student. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended with another 3 years.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels for PhD students starting with a salary of € 2.325,- with a yearly growth to € 2.972,- gross a month (based on a full-time appointment).

Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. You may also be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing. Other secondary conditions include e.g. a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave.

You will be provided with shared office space and a PC.

Starting date: 1 January 2020 

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,600 students. More than 76% of the students are non-Dutch (64 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers three 3-year bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture, European Studies and Digital Society. It also offers eight different 1-year Master’s programmes and two 2-year research master’s programmes.

Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.

Further information on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is available on our website:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos