Join us!

We are looking for a PhD fellow to join the ERC Starting Grant project Illiberal Religious Internationalism in Africa (IRInA), led by Dr. Gulnaz Sibgatullina. The project examines how religious actors contribute to the emergence of alternative, non-liberal visions of global order, with a particular focus on East Africa.

As a PhD fellow, you will investigate the role of transnational Christian networks in shaping contemporary political, social, and moral imaginaries in Uganda and/or Kenya. Your research will explore how religious actors and communities engage across borders to articulate forms of authority, solidarity, and belonging, and how these intersect with broader debates on a multipolar global order.

The successful candidate will develop an independent research subproject within this framework. Possible directions include:

Interactions between different Christian traditions (e.g. Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, independent churches);
The relationship between Christianity, political authority, and public morality;
The role of religious actors in articulating alternative visions of development and sovereignty.

The project team will be based in Amsterdam. The successful candidate is expected to relocate to the Netherlands and to reside there for the duration of the project, working full-time on the PhD research.

This is what you will be doing

Contribute to the overall goals of the project through close collaboration with the PI and two postdoctoral researchers;
Conduct original research, including data collection through fieldwork;
Complete and submit a PhD thesis within the period of appointment;
Present intermediate research results at workshops and international conferences;
Participate in the Research School and Faculty of Humanities PhD training programmes;
Contribute to (co-)teaching at BA level in the second and third year of the appointment (maximum 0.2 FTE per year)

This is what we ask of you

A completed Master’s degree in Religious Studies, Anthropology, Political Science, or a related field;
Excellent research and writing skills, as demonstrated in a Master’s thesis;
Good command of English;
Knowledge of Swahili; knowledge of other regional languages spoken in Uganda and/or Kenya is a strong asset;
Familiarity with local religious dynamics in Uganda and/or Kenya is an asset;
Willingness and ability to conduct fieldwork; prior fieldwork experience is an asset.

This is what we offer you

We offer a temporary employment contract for the period of 48 months. The first contract will be for 16 months, with an extension for the following 32 months, contingent on a positive performance evaluation within the first 12 months. The preferred starting date is 1 September 2026;
Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €3.059 in the first year to €3.881 (scale P) in the last year. This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable;
PhD candidates receive a tuition fee waiver;
PhD candidates have free access to courses offered by the Graduate School of Humanities and the Dutch National Research Schools;
excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;
an inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam;
an enthusiastic and professional academic team.

This is where you will be working

You will be part of the Amsterdam School for Regional, Transnational and European Studies (ARTES), a leading centre for interdisciplinary research on Europe and its global connections. You will join an international and collaborative research team and benefit from a vibrant academic community.

Do you have an interest in the role of religion in contemporary international relations? Are you familiar with, or eager to engage with, the political and cultural dynamics shaping East Africa today?

Join us!

The successful candidate will develop an independent research subproject within this framework. Possible directions include:

Interactions between different Christian traditions (e.g. Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, independent churches);
The relationship between Christianity, political authority, and public morality;
The role of religious actors in articulating alternative visions of development and sovereignty.

This is what you will be doing

Contribute to the overall goals of the project through close collaboration with the PI and two postdoctoral researchers;
Conduct original research, including data collection through fieldwork;
Complete and submit a PhD thesis within the period of appointment;
Present intermediate research results at workshops and international conferences;
Participate in the Research School and Faculty of Humanities PhD training programmes;
Contribute to (co-)teaching at BA level in the second and third year of the appointment (maximum 0.2 FTE per year)

This is what we ask of you

A completed Master’s degree in Religious Studies, Anthropology, Political Science, or a related field;
Excellent research and writing skills, as demonstrated in a Master’s thesis;
Good command of English;
Knowledge of Swahili; knowledge of other regional languages spoken in Uganda and/or Kenya is a strong asset;
Familiarity with local religious dynamics in Uganda and/or Kenya is an asset;
Willingness and ability to conduct fieldwork; prior fieldwork experience is an asset.

This is what we offer you

We offer a temporary employment contract for the period of 48 months. The first contract will be for 16 months, with an extension for the following 32 months, contingent on a positive performance evaluation within the first 12 months. The preferred starting date is 1 September 2026;
Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €3.059 in the first year to €3.881 (scale P) in the last year. This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable;
PhD candidates receive a tuition fee waiver;
PhD candidates have free access to courses offered by the Graduate School of Humanities and the Dutch National Research Schools;
excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;
an inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam;
an enthusiastic and professional academic team.

This is where you will be working

Questions?
For questions about the position or department, you can contact us during office hours at:

Gulnaz Sibgatullina: g.r.sibgatullina@uva.nl

Application
If you recognize yourself in the profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your application. Please submit:

A motivation letter explaining your interest in the position and how your profile fits the proposed research topic;
A CV, including details of your language skills and any relevant experience working with religious communities in (East) Africa;
A short research proposal (max. 1,000 words)
A writing sample (e.g. MA thesis chapter or article)
Contact details of two referees

All documents should be combined into a single PDF file.

The vacancy closes on 10 May 2026. The first round of interviews will take place on in the second half of May.

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PhD on Christian Transnationalism in East Africa