PhD Position: From Ecological Violence to Ecologies of Care in Latin America and the Caribbean Radboud University in Netherlands

Radboud University is offering a fully funded PhD position in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies, embedded in the Radboud Social Cultural Research Institute at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The project starts in November 2026 and focuses on ecological violence, gender, decolonial ecologies, and care in Latin America and/or the Caribbean.

The successful candidate will develop an independent PhD research project on how violence against nature is also violence against people, with a strong emphasis on women and other minoritised bodies. The position encourages a feminist, intersectional, and power-sensitive approach that engages colonial histories and their continuing effects on present-day social and ecological contexts. The university is especially interested in proposals that examine forms of slow, cumulative, and colonial violence, and how affected communities respond through mutual care, repair, resistance, and creative future-making.

The research should be situated in Latin America and/or the Caribbean and should use qualitative, ethnographic, and co-creative methods. Arts-based approaches are particularly welcome where they can illuminate hidden or hard-to-access experiences of violence and repair. Applicants are also encouraged to think about how to involve societal partners in the research process where possible.

The position is aimed at candidates with a completed Master’s or Research Master’s degree in Anthropology, Development Studies, Geography, or a related field. Strong academic writing skills, proven experience with qualitative ethnographic research and analysis, and excellent English (C1) are required. Applicants should bring a concrete and feasible research idea, a co-creative research design, contextual experience in the chosen field site, and excellent command of the relevant local language(s). Dutch C1, participatory or arts-based research experience, and a strong commitment to societal impact are considered desirable.

The appointment begins with a temporary 1.5-year contract and is extended to a total of four years upon positive evaluation. The salary starts at €3,059 gross per month and rises to €3,881 in the fourth year, plus holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus. The role includes fieldwork travel where needed, participation in conferences and seminars, publication opportunities, teaching within the department, and contributions to ongoing departmental life.

Supervision will be provided by Dr Catrien Notermans, Dr Sonja Marzi, and Dr Elke Linders. Applications must be submitted via the university application portal by 18 August 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for 11 September 2026.