Join Us!
With this vacancy we invite potential candidates from and/or with heritage in the Caribbean and South American regions which are historically shaped by Dutch colonialism and trans-Atlantic slavery to consider the UvA as a place to pursue their PhDs.
What are you going to do
This position responds to a gap in our current PhD community. Scholars from Caribbean and South American regions shaped by Dutch colonialism and transatlantic slavery have played an important role in the intellectual history of the University of Amsterdam, including figures such as Philomena Essed and Humphrey Lamur. Yet these connections are less visible in our current PhD community. With this vacancy, we seek to renew and strengthen those intellectual ties.
Candidates are invited to develop a PhD project in anthropology on any topic or region of their own choice. This means we are looking for proposals driven by your own questions, commitments, and intellectual ambitions.
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam has an excellent reputation in both research and teaching and is home to a lively academic community. This position will be formally embedded in the programme group Health, Care and the Body and the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR).
Who are we looking for
You are an ambitious and talented researcher. You are excited about your research project and have a clear, feasible plan on how to conduct this research. You are committed to contributing to the academic community in different ways, from helping with the organization of activities to participating in interdisciplinary debates.
- You hold a Master's degree in the social sciences or humanities, including training in qualitative methods.
- You have graduate-level oral and written communication skills for advanced academic work in English and/or Dutch.
- You have a background from, and /or with heritage in the Caribbean and South American regions shaped by Dutch colonialism and slavery.
If this vacancy speaks to you, but you are uncertain whether you meet all requirements, please do get in touch with us or simply apply.
What do we have to offer
We offer a temporary employment contract of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year and the preferred starting date is 1 September 2026. Following a positive assessment, this term will be extended by a maximum of three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. You will attend courses offered by the AISSR and the Graduate School of Social Sciences as part of the PhD program. In addition to doing research, publicizing your findings, and participating in academic events, you will be involved in teaching (roughly 10% of your time).
For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” applies. Your salary will be €3,059 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,881 in the final year, based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week and in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.
You will work here
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam is an independent, creative, innovative, and international community, characterized by an open atmosphere and genuine engagement with academic colleagues as well as the communities we study. The Department is committed to making academia a more supportive and inclusive place, with a strong emphasis on social interaction and peer support. We highly value the broad range of perspectives and forms of scholarship that diverse researchers bring to our department. Our active DEI Committee monitors the departmental climate regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, organizes related events, and ensures that a diversity advocate serves on every hiring committee.
You will become part of the community of PhD researchers within the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR). The institute is dedicated to providing supervision and support to post-graduate students ensuring that PhD candidates have a stimulating and high-quality experience, leading to the timely completion of their research projects.
The AISSR is part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences (FMG), which plays a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands, and Amsterdam.
Do you come from, or have heritage in the Caribbean or South American regions shaped by Dutch colonialism and slavery? Are you interested in pursuing a PhD in anthropology at the University of Amsterdam on a topic of your choice?
Interested candidates are welcome to attend an online information session to ask questions about the position.
To register, please send an email with your name and email address to secretariaat-antr@uva.nl. You will then receive the link to join the Zoom meeting.
Online information meeting – PhD position, University of Amsterdam
Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Time: 4:00–5:00 PM (CEST, Amsterdam time)
Join Us!
With this vacancy we invite potential candidates from and/or with heritage in the Caribbean and South American regions which are historically shaped by Dutch colonialism and trans-Atlantic slavery to consider the UvA as a place to pursue their PhDs.
What are you going to do
This position responds to a gap in our current PhD community. Scholars from Caribbean and South American regions shaped by Dutch colonialism and transatlantic slavery have played an important role in the intellectual history of the University of Amsterdam, including figures such as Philomena Essed and Humphrey Lamur. Yet these connections are less visible in our current PhD community. With this vacancy, we seek to renew and strengthen those intellectual ties.
Candidates are invited to develop a PhD project in anthropology on any topic or region of their own choice. This means we are looking for proposals driven by your own questions, commitments, and intellectual ambitions.
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam has an excellent reputation in both research and teaching and is home to a lively academic community. This position will be formally embedded in the programme group Health, Care and the Body and the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR).
Who are we looking for
You are an ambitious and talented researcher. You are excited about your research project and have a clear, feasible plan on how to conduct this research. You are committed to contributing to the academic community in different ways, from helping with the organization of activities to participating in interdisciplinary debates.
- You hold a Master's degree in the social sciences or humanities, including training in qualitative methods.
- You have graduate-level oral and written communication skills for advanced academic work in English and/or Dutch.
- You have a background from, and /or with heritage in the Caribbean and South American regions shaped by Dutch colonialism and slavery.
If this vacancy speaks to you, but you are uncertain whether you meet all requirements, please do get in touch with us or simply apply.
What do we have to offer
We offer a temporary employment contract of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year and the preferred starting date is 1 September 2026. Following a positive assessment, this term will be extended by a maximum of three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. You will attend courses offered by the AISSR and the Graduate School of Social Sciences as part of the PhD program. In addition to doing research, publicizing your findings, and participating in academic events, you will be involved in teaching (roughly 10% of your time).
For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” applies. Your salary will be €3,059 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,881 in the final year, based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week and in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.
You will work here
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam is an independent, creative, innovative, and international community, characterized by an open atmosphere and genuine engagement with academic colleagues as well as the communities we study. The Department is committed to making academia a more supportive and inclusive place, with a strong emphasis on social interaction and peer support. We highly value the broad range of perspectives and forms of scholarship that diverse researchers bring to our department. Our active DEI Committee monitors the departmental climate regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, organizes related events, and ensures that a diversity advocate serves on every hiring committee.
You will become part of the community of PhD researchers within the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR). The institute is dedicated to providing supervision and support to post-graduate students ensuring that PhD candidates have a stimulating and high-quality experience, leading to the timely completion of their research projects.
The AISSR is part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences (FMG), which plays a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands, and Amsterdam.
Do you recognize yourself in the profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by Friday 26 June 2026. You may apply online by using the link below.
Applications should include (combined in one pdf):
- An application letter (no more than 1,5 pages) describing your motivation and qualifications including an explanation of how you recognize yourself in the description of the vacancy
- Your Curriculum Vitae
- Your research proposal (details below)
- At least one English and/or Dutch writing sample of no longer than 20 pages. If you want to include a longer text (such as a master’s thesis), please provide an excerpt
- Contact information for two academic/research references (email and phone number). Do NOT include letters of recommendation at this stage
- Please note that including a scan of your diplomas is NOT necessary at this stage.
Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:
(1) Quality and originality of the application and proposal
(2) Feasibility of the research plan
(3) Candidate's preparation and motivation.
Format of proposal:
The proposal should be a maximum of 2000 words, written in English or Dutch, and should include the following items:
- Title of the project (provide a brief title)
- Abstract (describe your project in no more than 300 words. It should provide the project’s rationale and highlight its scientific significance)
- Introduction (make the case for your study and state the research questions)
- Theoretical approach (explain here how you will approach the research question conceptually, include key concepts)
- Research design (explain here how you will execute the research, including access, methods, work plan)
- Statement on originality and significance (explain here how the project pushes the boundaries of the field and why it is important and relevant)
- Reference list (included in the word count)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview. The first round of interviews will be held on 6 July 2026
For questions about the vacancy, you can contact:
