PhD in the study of religion and slavery in the context of Dutch colonialism and its afterlives

What you will be doing

Developing a project on the basis of their own research idea, the candidate will investigate the relationship between Dutch colonial slavery and religion and/or spirituality in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and/or the ‘international’ Netherlands (including colonial and postcolonial connections between the Netherlands and South Asia, South Africa, West Africa, and Brazil).

This position has been created in response to the report Dutch Colonial Slavery and Its Afterlives: Research Agenda 2025-2035 (Allen et al. 2024). One of the recommendations offered in this report is to pay more attention to the ways in which Dutch colonial slavery has impacted the making and transformation of religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, and communities. This implicates a bottom-up approach which privileges the experiences and perspectives of the enslaved.

We invite proposals that engage with one or more of the following themes:

• The formation of religious communities among enslaved and the interactions between these communities and Christianity and/or Islam and colonial hegemony;
• The resilience and transformation of religious and/or spiritual traditions (oral as well as textual traditions) in the context of slavery, colonial violence, and/or (forced) conversion;
• The role of religion in the narratives, memory and/or material cultures, and strategies of coping and healing among communities of descendents of enslaved, either in the past or in the present.

We welcome applications from candidates with training in history, anthropology, religious studies, area studies, or related fields. Research proposals should focus on the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and/or the ‘international’ Netherlands, but are encouraged to explore global and/or interregional connections. A demonstrated interest in interdisciplinary and/or intersectional approaches, studying connections between religion and race, gender, or age, will be considered an advantage.

The candidate will engage with and contribute to ongoing research at KITLV, exploring the connections with and between the institute’s three research lines, Mobility and Belonging; State, Violence, and Citizenship; and Climate Governance, as tailored to their individual background and research focus.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct research, including field research.
• Publish on the basis of this research, culminating in at least two international peer-reviewed journal articles and a PhD dissertation completed in the allotted time (four years at 1.0 fte; five years at 0.8 fte);
• Take part in the PhD program of the KITLV and relevant affiliated institutes;
• Participate in academic conferences, workshops, and other scholarly and outreach activities.

What we are offering
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is offering a four-year PhD position at the KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies.

What you will be contributing

The candidate should:

• Hold a recent MA or Mphil in the social sciences or humanities;
• Have a proven academic track record, as shown in the transcripts and CV, and show a strong interest in fundamental research;
• Have a solid written and spoken command of English;
• Have an advanced level in one of the local languages in the area/region of focus.
• Be highly motivated and able to work independently;
• Have excellent social and organizational skills.

Terms of employment
Upon commencement of employment, the doctoral candidate will be placed in salary scale P-0 € 2,901 for the duration of 12 months. In years 2, 3 and 4, the salary of a PhD candidate increases to ultimately € 3,707 (these are fixed amounts that can only be adjusted as a result of a CLA increase). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.

About the KITLV
The Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV-KNAW) is an Academy research institute. The KITLV conducts interdisciplinary and comparative historical research. Its research focus is Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, with an emphasis on Indonesia and the 'Dutch' Caribbean. It is particularly interested in such issues as state formation, violence and citizenship, processes of mobility and the formation of ethnic and national identity. KITLV is active in the humanities, social sciences and comparative area studies and works closely with Leiden University.

The KITLV is a research institute dedicated to the study of societal challenges, with a focus on the histories and afterlives of colonialism in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and the Netherlands. We aim to produce quality research that furthers justice and helps envision and nourish alternative futures beyond dominant perspectives.

For more information

For further information about this vacancy, please contact Rosemarijn Höfte at Hofte[at]kitlv.nl.

Application procedure

Your application package should be submitted no later than 16 May 2025, 11.59 pm CEST via the blue button in our application system.

The selection process will continue until the position is filled. Those shortlisted will be asked for a sample academic writing and invited to come to Leiden (or online) for an interview.

Applicants should submit online:

• A motivation letter (no more than 600 words), including a research proposal (no more than 800 words);
• A detailed curriculum vitae, including names, affiliations, and contact information of two referees (no reference letters).