Explore media, culture, and environmental futures in Southeast Asia
How do media shape the ways people imagine, understand, and respond to environmental change? This question lies at the heart of Eco-Islam in Indonesia: Media, Institutions, Publics, a research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and based at the University of Amsterdam.
The project examines how media and cultural practices shape environmental imaginaries, awareness, and action, with a particular focus on Indonesia and its connections to the wider Southeast Asian region. Bringing together perspectives from media studies, cultural studies, and environmental humanities, we explore how environmental ideas, narratives, and practices are produced, circulated, and negotiated across media, institutions, and publics, paying particular attention to the roles of religion and spirituality.
As a student assistant, you will join a small, international research team consisting of the principal investigator, a postdoctoral researcher, and two PhD researchers. You will support ongoing research activities, contribute to the administration, and organisation of the project, and gain first-hand experience of collaborative academic research in an international environment.
This is what you will be doing
- Helping to organise academic workshops, events, and other project activities;
- Providing administrative support and contributing to the project's communication and outreach activities;
- Assisting with collecting relevant academic and non-academic sources;
- Collecting and monitoring news coverage, social media content, films, and other cultural materials relevant to the project;
- Assisting with the transcription and translation of research materials, including interviews and media content;
- Supporting the organisation and management of research materials and data;
- Assisting with the preparation of research publications, presentations, and other academic outputs.
This is what we ask of you
We are looking for a motivated student who is interested in media, culture, and environmental issues in Southeast Asia and enjoys contributing to collaborative research.
- You are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at a Dutch university, preferably in Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, or a related discipline in the humanities or social sciences;
- You have a strong interest in media and cultural practices, environmental issues, and the social and cultural contexts of Southeast Asia;
- You are fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and have excellent written and spoken English skills;
- You work carefully and systematically when collecting, organising, and documenting research materials;
- You can work independently, manage your time effectively, and communicate clearly with team members;
- You are comfortable working with digital tools and are willing to learn new research methods and software;
- You are willing to contribute to both research-related and organisational tasks.
This is what else we offer you
- An employment duration of 7 months starting per 1 February 2027 until 31 August 2027 (until the end of the student year);
- Depending on relevant experience, the salary at the start of the employment is between € 3.230 - € 3.288 euros gross per month based on full-time employment for a 38-hour working week. In addition, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable;
- Close supervision and mentorship;
- A supportive, international research team that values collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and independence;
- Regular research seminars and informal gatherings that foster a collegial atmosphere;
- A workplace in the heart of Amsterdam, and a vibrant, international academic environment.
This is where you'll be working
You will join an international and interdisciplinary research team working on the European Research Council (ERC)-funded project Eco-Islam in Indonesia: Media, Institutions, Publics, based at the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA) at the University of Amsterdam. Led by Dr. Leonie Schmidt, the team consists of a postdoctoral researcher and two PhD researchers, with backgrounds in media studies, cultural studies, and related disciplines.
Our research explores how media, culture, religion, and spirituality shape people’s relationships with the environment, with a particular focus on Indonesia and Southeast Asia. We are interested in the ways communities imagine and respond to environmental challenges through media, storytelling, cultural practices, and everyday forms of care.
We offer a welcoming, collaborative, and intellectually stimulating research environment in which team members exchange ideas, learn from one another, and collaborate on workshops, events, and other academic activities. As a student assistant, you will be an active member of our team, joining team meetings when relevant and working closely with researchers. You will gain practical research experience while contributing to an international research project.
Are you interested in the intersections of media, religion, spirituality, and climate change? Would you like to gain hands-on experience in an international research project? We are looking for an enthusiastic student assistant to join our European Research Council (ERC)-funded project Eco-Islam in Indonesia: Media, Institutions, Publics at the University of Amsterdam.
Explore media, culture, and environmental futures in Southeast Asia
How do media shape the ways people imagine, understand, and respond to environmental change? This question lies at the heart of Eco-Islam in Indonesia: Media, Institutions, Publics, a research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and based at the University of Amsterdam.
The project examines how media and cultural practices shape environmental imaginaries, awareness, and action, with a particular focus on Indonesia and its connections to the wider Southeast Asian region. Bringing together perspectives from media studies, cultural studies, and environmental humanities, we explore how environmental ideas, narratives, and practices are produced, circulated, and negotiated across media, institutions, and publics, paying particular attention to the roles of religion and spirituality.
As a student assistant, you will join a small, international research team consisting of the principal investigator, a postdoctoral researcher, and two PhD researchers. You will support ongoing research activities, contribute to the administration, and organisation of the project, and gain first-hand experience of collaborative academic research in an international environment.
This is what you will be doing
- Helping to organise academic workshops, events, and other project activities;
- Providing administrative support and contributing to the project's communication and outreach activities;
- Assisting with collecting relevant academic and non-academic sources;
- Collecting and monitoring news coverage, social media content, films, and other cultural materials relevant to the project;
- Assisting with the transcription and translation of research materials, including interviews and media content;
- Supporting the organisation and management of research materials and data;
- Assisting with the preparation of research publications, presentations, and other academic outputs.
This is what we ask of you
We are looking for a motivated student who is interested in media, culture, and environmental issues in Southeast Asia and enjoys contributing to collaborative research.
- You are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at a Dutch university, preferably in Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, or a related discipline in the humanities or social sciences;
- You have a strong interest in media and cultural practices, environmental issues, and the social and cultural contexts of Southeast Asia;
- You are fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and have excellent written and spoken English skills;
- You work carefully and systematically when collecting, organising, and documenting research materials;
- You can work independently, manage your time effectively, and communicate clearly with team members;
- You are comfortable working with digital tools and are willing to learn new research methods and software;
- You are willing to contribute to both research-related and organisational tasks.
This is what else we offer you
- An employment duration of 7 months starting per 1 February 2027 until 31 August 2027 (until the end of the student year);
- Depending on relevant experience, the salary at the start of the employment is between € 3.230 - € 3.288 euros gross per month based on full-time employment for a 38-hour working week. In addition, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable;
- Close supervision and mentorship;
- A supportive, international research team that values collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and independence;
- Regular research seminars and informal gatherings that foster a collegial atmosphere;
- A workplace in the heart of Amsterdam, and a vibrant, international academic environment.
This is where you'll be working
You will join an international and interdisciplinary research team working on the European Research Council (ERC)-funded project Eco-Islam in Indonesia: Media, Institutions, Publics, based at the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA) at the University of Amsterdam. Led by Dr. Leonie Schmidt, the team consists of a postdoctoral researcher and two PhD researchers, with backgrounds in media studies, cultural studies, and related disciplines.
Our research explores how media, culture, religion, and spirituality shape people’s relationships with the environment, with a particular focus on Indonesia and Southeast Asia. We are interested in the ways communities imagine and respond to environmental challenges through media, storytelling, cultural practices, and everyday forms of care.
We offer a welcoming, collaborative, and intellectually stimulating research environment in which team members exchange ideas, learn from one another, and collaborate on workshops, events, and other academic activities. As a student assistant, you will be an active member of our team, joining team meetings when relevant and working closely with researchers. You will gain practical research experience while contributing to an international research project.
For questions about the position or department, you can contact us during office hours at:
Leonie Schmidt (L.K.Schmidt@uva.nl)
Associate Professor of Media Studies
Application
If you recognize yourself in the profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your application.
The vacancy closes on 25 November 2026. Candidates will be notified between 4 and 8 December 2026. Interviews will take place on 15 and 16 December 2026.
