Assistant Professor Museums and Social Justice – University of Amsterdam

Job description

The Department of Art and Culture Studies in the Faculty of Humanities is looking for an Assistant professor ‘Museums and Social Justice’ to build upon and extend existing research strengths on this topic within the Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH).

What are you going to do?

You will provide education in a dynamic context with ample opportunities for the development of innovative teaching methods. Your research will be part of ASH, one of the five research schools of the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research. ASH represents and fosters the study of the human past from Antiquity to the present day. It brings together more than 200 academics from Amsterdam’s Faculty of Humanities, who participate in ca. 25 research groups. Given the wide range of research groups/centres within ASH, depending on your expertise you will join one of these groups, for example the Amsterdam Centre of Urban History or Amsterdam Centre of Early Modernity, and/or help establish new research groups focused on public history and imperial history.

You will develop and provide modules within the field of contemporary museology in the context of the interdisciplinary Bachelor Global Arts, Culture and Politics, and the MAs Museum Studies, and Heritage and Memory Studies. The post holder will likely be asked to contribute to majors in Culture and Social Justice, Reimagining Sustainability, and Art, Media and Visual Culture within the Bachelor Global Arts, Culture and Politics. Important is proven flexibility in teaching on topics beyond your own research focus, a willingness to work in interdisciplinary teams of teachers, and the ability to offer inspiring lectures and tutorials in BA, MA and minor programmes that cater to a wide range of students.

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in the 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. The Faculty of Humanities offers assistant professors the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that – partly as a result of their interdisciplinary approach – are world-renowned. Moreover, you will be teaching in a dynamic context in which new teaching methods are being developed. Arts and Culture at UvA is a large and highly successful academic department that connects research and teaching in Art History, Cultural Studies, Theater Studies, Music Studies, Heritage and Memory Studies, and Museum Studies.

Tasks and responsibilities:

  • designing and conducting independent research in the area of museums and social justice, building upon and extending existing research strengths on this topic within ASH and the University of Amsterdam;
  • active engagement in ASH research groups and seminars actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, national as well as European;
  • contributing to academic peer-reviewed international journals and books, as well as, ideally, exhibition curation and museum engagement activities with multiple publics;
  • actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, national as well as European;
  • actively contributing to and developing national and international research networks and other forms of cooperation;
  • actively contributing to the research activities of ASH;
  • developing, coordinating and teaching courses in both Dutch and English, in Bachelor and Master programmes, building on expertise in core topics of contemporary museology and post- and decolonial heritage with a focus on issues of social justice, museums and cultural institutions in relation to their publics, community engagement, citizen participation, intersectionality, diversity, and inclusion;
  • actively contributing to the development and improvement of the broader teaching programmes in the department;
  • supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students; co-supervising PhD theses;
  • taking part in committees and working groups, and carrying out departmental administrative tasks as directed.

Requirements

You are a researcher working on museums and social justice in an academic, heritage, or public engagement environment, with a proven flair for collaborative projects with a range of partners. Your projects and publications show a research focus on the historical role of museums in society, and affinity with themes such as historical collection formation and management and (colonial) restitution. Your publications show broad knowledge related to museums and cultural institutions and the different ways in which they relate to their many publics. You are able to demonstrate familiarity with critical, contemporary and historical approaches to museums, cultural institutions and (post- and decolonial) heritage. We particularly welcome candidates with hands-on experience of such issues, whether in the form of (co)curating, community engagement work, or socially engaged heritage practice.

Your teaching portfolio should complement and add to the existing courses, while also responding to growing student interest in thinking about museums and cultural institutions in relation to their publics, with a special focus on – for example – issues of social justice, post- and decolonial heritage, critical race theory, community engagement, citizen participation, intersectionality, diversity, and inclusion. Hands-on experience in museum work and curation is particularly welcome, as is your willingness to apply and develop these skills in the classroom as part of an innovative teaching methodology.

We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and are especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, to this mission. We particularly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply.

Your experience and profile:

  • a PhD in museology/heritage studies or cultural studies, or a related field;
  • demonstrable familiarity with critical approaches to museology and emerging / ongoing debates in this field (e.g. those related to post and de-colonial heritage, critical race theory, gender, class, and accessibility).
  • holds an international academic network in the research area concerned;
  • a relevant network in the field of heritage institutions, or a willingness to develop one;
  • research output commensurate with the level of the position;
  • an active and ambitious researcher with a strong publication record;
  • demonstrable ability and ambition to obtain external research grants;
  • experience with research-led teaching in a higher education context and a strong commitment to personal development in teaching
  • broad and relevant teaching experience at BA and MA level;
  • good command of Dutch and English. If you do not speak Dutch, both active and passive command must be acquired within the first two years of the employment contract (the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language programme II must be passed by then);
  • experience with digital and audiovisual teaching facilities and affinity with IT in university teaching;
  • experienced in valorisation and practice-based education and/or research and/or curation and hands-on museum work;
  • a good team player and versatile at all levels, capable of multidisciplinary co-operation;
  • excellent organisational experience and skills;
  • a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), or willingness to acquire this within the first two years of the employment contract.

Conditions of employment

We offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 18 months with a probationary period of two months. If you already have an employment contract with the UvA, we offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 12 months. The employment is for 38 hours per week. Preferred starting date is 01 September 2023.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week, ranges between € 3974 (scale 11) to € 6181 (scale 12) dependent on relevant experience. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

We additionally offer:

  • the opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams;
  • excellent opportunities for study and personal development;
  • a broad range of facilities to effectively combine work and personal life (e.g. parental leave provisions);
  • an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

Employer

Faculty of Humanities

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 42,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

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.

Additional information

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact (during office hours):

  • Prof. Kati Röttger, head of the department Arts and Culture

T: +31 20-5254098

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