PhD Political & Digital History: The Development of Crisis Narratives since 1800
This PhD position at Utrecht University offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Adapt! project through digital-historical research into the development of crisis narratives since 1800. The project is based in the Faculty of Humanities, Department of History and Art History, and is supervised by Professors Beatrice de Graaf and Arjen Boin. As a PhD candidate, you will investigate how societies have responded to various crises—including pandemics, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks—by analysing patterns of continuity and change in crisis responses over the long term.
The research combines traditional historical source analysis with advanced digital methods, such as crisis event detection, computational narratology, and semantic modelling. You will work with large-scale corpora from databases and digital collections, including newspaper archives, policy documents, and media sources. The project aims to map the emergence, circulation, and transformation of crisis narratives, and to understand how these narratives have influenced governmental and citizen actions.
A key aspect of the position is the integration of qualitative interpretation and quantitative analysis, linking insights from history and computational humanities. You will develop your own research approach, critically reflecting on the possibilities and limitations of digital methods in historical research. The results of your dissertation will directly inform the Adapt! project, and you will actively collaborate with consortium members, participate in living labs, and contribute to the CASA database of crisis narratives.
Your responsibilities include conducting archival research in the Netherlands and abroad, contributing to the database of historical crisis narratives, presenting research at national and international conferences, assisting with dissemination activities, and publishing peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. The position offers a full-time contract initially for 18 months, with extension to four years upon successful assessment. The salary ranges from €3,059 to €3,881 per month, with additional benefits such as holiday pay, year-end bonus, pension scheme, parental leave, and flexible employment terms under the CAO NU. Utrecht University also provides professional development opportunities, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities.
Applicants must have a completed Master's degree in History, academic-level proficiency in English, and preferably another European language. Experience or affinity with digital techniques in historical research is required, along with the ability to work independently and collaboratively, translate academic insights for a broad audience, and conduct theory- and data-driven research. The university values diversity and strives to create a safe and inclusive environment for all staff and students.
To apply, submit your CV, cover letter, contact details of two referees, and a self-written text or paper via the 'apply now' button. The application deadline is 26 April 2026, interviews will be held on 21 May 2026, and the preferred start date is 1 September 2026. For more information, visit the Utrecht University website.
