PhD Position in Anthropology for Candidates from Former Dutch Colonies in the Americas University of Amsterdam in Netherlands

PhD opportunity in Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam is advertising a 4-year PhD position focused on anthropology, with the project topic left open for the selected candidate to design. Applicants are invited to propose their own PhD project based on their own questions, commitments, and intellectual ambitions.

This call is especially aimed at potential candidates from and/or with heritage in the Caribbean and South American regions historically shaped by Dutch colonialism and trans-Atlantic slavery. The position is based in the UvA Department of Anthropology and is part of the UvA Maatschappij & Gedrag environment.

Research areas and keywords: anthropology, social sciences, humanities, qualitative methods, colonial history, trans-Atlantic slavery, Caribbean studies, South American studies.

Eligibility highlights: a Master’s degree in the social sciences or humanities, training in qualitative methods, strong academic writing skills in English and/or Dutch, and a clear and feasible research idea.

Funding and conditions: 4-year PhD employment, 38 hours per week, with a salary of €3,059 to €3,881 gross per month. Preferred start date is 1 September 2026.

Deadline: Friday 26 June 2026.

Information session: An online Q&A session will be held on Wednesday 10 June 2026 from 4:00–5:00 PM (CEST). To register, email [email protected] with your name and email address; the Zoom link will be sent afterward.

Apply: Review the official vacancy page and follow the application instructions there. If you want to join the information session, register by email before the session date.