PhD Position: Embodied Knowledge of the Past (Traumascapes) Radboud University in Netherlands

This PhD position at Radboud University, titled 'Embodied Knowledge of the Past (Traumascapes)', offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to research on colonial traumatic pasts within a transdisciplinary team. The project, part of the NWA ORC initiative 'Traumascapes: Valuing, Negotiating and Sharing Sites of Trauma, Pain, and Loss', investigates how embodied methodologies such as dance, theatre, and music can help identify and process historical trauma, focusing on sites like Plantation Suriname and other cases shaped by 500 years of West European hegemony.

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct independent research using archival methods, interviews, and fieldwork, collaborating closely with social partners including the HERStory Art Foundation, Theater Thalia, and NAKS. The research aims to understand the imprint of colonial history on collective memory, identity formation, and sense perception, exploring intergenerational and intersectional trauma. You will be supervised jointly by Prof. Liedeke Plate (Radboud University) and Prof. Esther Captain (KITLV/Utrecht University), and will participate in regular project-wide workshops and meetings, presenting your findings in peer-reviewed publications and at conferences.

The position is based within the Colonial Structures and Relations and/or Memory, Materiality and Affect research groups at the Radboud Institute for Culture and History (RICH), embedded in the Faculty of Arts. The Faculty is known for its strong scientific and social impact, innovative methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration across art, history, language, culture, and communication. The university provides a supportive environment with flexible working hours, generous leave arrangements, sports and cultural discounts, and opportunities for professional development.

Applicants must hold or expect to obtain a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies or a related discipline by July 2026. Essential qualifications include knowledge of Dutch colonial history, experience with embodied and art-based research methods, affinity for community engagement, strong academic writing skills in English (C1), and Dutch proficiency (B2) or willingness to learn Dutch within the first year. The position offers a temporary contract (0.8 FTE for 5 years or 1.0 FTE for 4 years), starting salary of €3,059 gross per month, increasing to €3,881 in the fourth year, with additional benefits such as holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, extra leave days, pension plan, and training schemes.

To apply, submit your application online via the provided link, addressing your letter to Prof. Liedeke Plate and Prof. Esther Captain. Ensure all required documents are included. The application deadline is 6 May 2026, with interviews scheduled for late May and June. The preferred start date is 1 September 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Liedeke Plate at [email protected].