PhD Position: Urban Landscapes in Late Antiquity: Prosperity and Decay in the Eastern Roman Empire (c. 400–800 CE)

The Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH) is advertising a PhD position as part of the FGW Starting Grant Project “Urban Landscapes in Late Antiquity”, led by principal investigator Dr Konstantin Klein. The supervisor team will consist of Prof. Dr Daniëlle Slootjes, Dr Martijn Icks, and Dr Konstantin Klein. The Amsterdam School of Historical Studies is one of the five Research Schools within the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR). You will be part of the Ancient History Chair Group of the Department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies at the University of Amsterdam.

What are you going to do?
Your PhD project focuses on the dynamic urban culture of the Eastern Roman Empire during Late Antiquity. The research investigates how urban landscapes evolved during this period of significant political, environmental, and/or social transformations. From flourishing urbanisation to the formation of ruined landscapes due to factors such as climate change, epidemics, and political shifts, your project will explore how ancient cities and their inhabitants navigated prosperity and decline.

Your PhD project will employ diverse literary, epigraphic, and material sources, as well as cutting-edge digital tools provided by UvA’s 4D Research Lab, to reconstruct late antique urban landscapes. A key focus will be the interplay between monumentalisation and ruination as markers of collective memory and identity, offering new insights into how cities and their inhabitants experienced urban decay.

Tasks and responsibilities

• submission of a PhD thesis (monograph or a set of articles), which includes a digital component, within the period of appointment (four years, full time);
• presentations of intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
• publication of at least one single-authored, peer reviewed article;
• participation in the PhD programme of OIKOS, the National Research School in Classical Studies in the Netherlands;
• participation in the PhD training programmes of the Amsterdam School of Historical Studies and the Faculty of Humanities;
• (co-)organisation of knowledge dissemination activities such as training sessions in digital methods or workshop organisation;
• (co-)teaching in BA programmes in years 2 and 3 of the PhD project.

What do you have to offer?
Are you keen to develop new skills by drawing on multidisciplinary approaches? Do you have a broad interest in late antique urban history and a strong motivation to expand your scope to lesser studied regions and cities? A problem-solving attitude and the ability to think out of the box are key to the success of this PhD project. Advanced computational skills are not a prerequisite.

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

• a completed (R)Ma or MPhil degree in (Ancient) History, Ancient Studies, or Classical Philology (held by time of appointment);
• strong interest in urban studies and/or environmental history;
• well-developed research skills including the ability to formulate relevant and creative research questions and hypotheses, descriptive and analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing;
• a strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research;
• enthusiasm for communicating academic research to non-academic audiences;
• a good working knowledge of Ancient Greek or the willingness to improve existing basic knowledge within the first year of the PhD project;
• a working knowledge in or the willingness to acquire a second ancient language of Late Antiquity (for example: Armenian, Coptic, Latin or Syriac etc.);
• excellent command of English, reading competence in French, German and Italian;

Experience with Digital Humanities tools is a plus but not required.

Please note that if you already hold a doctorate/PhD or are working towards obtaining a similar degree elsewhere, you will not be admitted to a doctoral programme at the UvA.

What can we offer you?
We offer a temporary employment contract for the period of 48 months. The first contract will be for 16 months, with an extension for the following 32 months, contingent on a positive performance evaluation within the first 12 months. The employment contract is for 38 hours a week. The preferred starting date is 01 February 2025.

Your salary is in the first year of the employment contract € 2,872 and in the last year a maximum of € 3,670 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?

• PhD candidates receive a tuition fee waiver;
• PhD candidates have free access to courses offered by the Graduate School of Humanities and the Dutch National Research Schools;
• excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;
• an inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam;
• participation in UvA and ACASA research groups such as the “Amsterdam Center for Urban History”, “Environment & Society”, and the “Amsterdam Late Antiquity Network”;
• access to advanced digital resources for reconstructing ancient (urban) landscapes;
• an enthusiastic and professional academic team as well as a vibrant and collaborative academic environment within the UvA and broader Amsterdam research community.

About us
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.

Questions?
If you have any questions about the position or the department, please contact:

Dr. Konstantin Klein (k.m.klein@uva.nl)
Assistant Professor of Ancient History

Job application
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 25 October 2024.

Your application should include the following information:

• a letter and full academic CV;
• a list of all Master-level modules you have taken, with an official transcript of grades;
• a copy of the relevant diploma or statement by your Master thesis advisor confirming that you will hold the required degree at the time of appointment.
• a preliminary research proposal of 1000–1200 words (excl. bibliography);
• the names and email addresses of two references, including your Master thesis advisor, who may be approached by the selection committee.

Please submit the required information in one single PDF by uploading in the required field ‘CV’.

The first round of interviews will be held in mid-November 2024. For candidates living abroad, interviews may be held through an online platform.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please.