KITLV / Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, Research Department

Junior postdoctoral researcher Southeast Asia / Caribbean

The Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde (KITLV) / Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies is looking for a talented junior postdoctoral researcher (38hrs/week).

KITLV is an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). It has specialized in collecting information and advancing research on the present and former Dutch colonies and their surroundings since 1851. Today it is an authoritative research institute focusing on Southeast Asia, in particular Indonesia, and the Caribbean, especially Suriname and the Dutch Antilles. Our collections, publications, and research encompass the humanities and the social sciences, ranging from colonial history to present-day social issues. KITLV houses sizeable and diverse collections. Since 1969 KITLV has a representative office in Indonesia, KITLV-Jakarta, in collaboration with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

KITLV initiates and coordinates innovative research on the Caribbean and Indonesia. It engages in research that is theoretically informed, comparative, and empirically strong. Research on both regions focuses on contemporary socio-political developments, as well as on historical themes.

The applicant:
-has conducted research in Southeast Asia or the Caribbean
-has recently completed a PhD thesis in the humanities or social sciences
-has published articles in peer reviewed international journals
-speaks one of the local languages of these areas

During the appointment the researcher:
-will conduct research in one of the following fields in which KITLV researchers are engaged: the history of ecology and economy of Southeast Asia; recent changes in state society relations, including citizenship and clientelism in Southeast Asia or the Caribbean, which also includes a new research project on ‘regime change and emotions’; transnational aspects of cultural politics ranging from heritage to popular culture; postcolonial migrations; and the making of an audiovisual archive of everyday life in Indonesia; decolonization in a comparative perspective.
-has preferably affinity with new tools and research methods in the so-called e-humanities in order to explore large sets of digitized data.
-is expected to prepare a project proposal which will be submitted to an external funding agency such as a VENI/NWO grant.
-will publish his/her thesis and write articles to be submitted to international peer reviewed journals.

We offer a one-year position starting in August/September 2013, which can be extended with 6 months; a dynamic research environment; an excellent library; and good research facilities.

Appointment will be according to the terms of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten). The function is validated in the University Function Ordening system (UFO) under the profile “Onderzoeker (researcher)”. The salary will be set, depending on education and work experience, between € 2.890,- and € 3.796,- per month, based on fulltime employment (salary scale: 10). KNAW offers an attractive benefits package