The Department of History and Art History seeks to appoint a PhD candidate for the project “Sharing Knowledge in Learned and Literary Networks: the Republic of Letters as a pan-European Knowledge Society”, funded by means of an ERC Consolidator grant awarded to Dr Dirk van Miert.

The PhD candidate will be working on the following project: “Mining for learned identities, 1400-1800”.

In this project the different ways will be analysed in which early modern scholarly and scientific identities, and the ideals of knowledge they stood for, were collectively (re)defined within the Republic of Letters through cults, monuments, republications, life-writing, dedicatory letters, collective biographies, festivities and other repertoires of fame. The focus is on scholarly memories of exemplary embodiments of the knowledge ideals of the Republic of Letters, and on condemnations of deviant behaviour and practices. The analyses regard the ethics, chronology, materiality, and geography of learned heritage, and the epistemic and moral virtues constructed by means of scholarly memories and identities. How scholars and scientists were celebrated depended on chronological, material, geographical, social and disciplinary contexts. The extent to which learned memories transcended geographical, religious and political boundaries and came to construct ‘European’ identities, is an open question, partly to be answered by means of text-mining of early modern learned texts.

A successful PhD candidate should preferably have:

• a (research) Master degree in early modern intellectual history
• experience with the paradigm of heritage, memory and identity
• an outstanding record of undergraduate and Master's degree work;
• excellent command of English, both written and orally
• a working knowledge of Latin, French and German
• strong writing skills;
• capacity to work both as a creative and independent researcher and as part of a team;

The positions can be offered for 1.0 FTE, start date from 1 January 2018 onwards. The appointment is for an initial period of 18 months which, after a positive assessment of progress made, will be extended by another 30 months (4 years in total). The gross salary ranges between € 2,222 in the first year, ending at € 2,840 in the fourth year (Collective Employment Agreement for Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment.

Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8 % and a year-end bonus of 8.3 % per year. We offer a pension scheme, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). You'll find more information at working at Utrecht University

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively on major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Faculty of Humanities has around 6,000 students and 900 staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and teaching in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. Enthusiastic and committed faculty members and excellent amenities in the historical city center of Utrecht, where the Faculty is housed, contribute to an inspiring working environment.