Maria Lexhagen

The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) at Erasmus University Rotterdam invites applications for a fully funded PhD position as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network, HERITOUR. This interdisciplinary network explores collaborative synergies between cultural heritage and tourism, focusing on hybridisation, sustainability, resilience, and democratisation. The successful candidate will join a vibrant international consortium including Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Stavanger, Middle East Technical University, University of Aruba, Mid Sweden University, and University of Granada. This PhD project critically investigates how ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities are represented within European heritage tourism, with a special focus on sites shaped by popular culture and media. The research will analyse how film, television, literature, music, games, and digital platforms construct tourism imaginaries—shared narratives that define heritage, visibility, and belonging. The project draws on media studies and critical heritage studies to examine how representation, regulation, and access intersect in heritage tourism, and how governance frameworks and risk-management logics shape inclusion and exclusion at heritage sites. Methodologically, the project employs multi-sited qualitative ethnography at selected media-related and popular-culture heritage sites across Europe and its overseas territories. It will explore how minority narratives are framed, contested, or marginalised within interpretative strategies, diversity policies, and everyday management practices. The research aims to reconcile heritage protection with social justice through participatory and reflexive approaches to heritage management. The position is embedded in Work Package 4 “democratisation” and is supervised by Prof. Stijn Reijnders and Dr. Naomi Oosterman (Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Prof. Maria Lexhagen (Mid Sweden University). The doctoral candidate will benefit from secondments at Cas di Cultura (Aruba) and KORDER (Türkiye), as well as intensive training schools and seminars organised by the HERITOUR consortium and the Erasmus Research Institute for Media, Culture, History and Society (ERMeCHS). Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the European or Caribbean territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the start date (1 September 2026), unless as part of compulsory national service or refugee status procedure. Candidates must not already possess a doctoral degree. A (research) master's degree or equivalent in a relevant social sciences or humanities discipline (such as cultural heritage, sociology, tourism studies, media studies, anthropology, or related fields) is required. Familiarity with and interest in qualitative research methods, independent thinking, critical analytical skills, strong collaboration abilities, and excellent oral and written English (CEFR C1) are essential. Motivation to conduct high-level research and publish internationally is expected. The position offers a gross monthly salary of €3,059–€3,881 (full-time, 38 hours/week) for three years, in accordance with the Dutch CAO-NU, plus 8% holiday pay, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, pension contributions, paid leave, and additional benefits. The start date is 1 September 2026. The ESHCC provides a supportive, diverse, and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for professional development, work-life balance, and international collaboration. To apply, submit a completed and signed Declaration of Honours, a motivation letter (max. half A4), your CV with publication list (if applicable), a brief research idea (max. 300 words), and names/contact details of two potential references by 19 April 2026 via the official EUR application portal. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview in May 2026. The position welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and identities.

PhD opportunity at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) for a project on minority representation in European heritage, tourism and media . The position is part of the HERITOUR Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, which explores how cultural heritage and tourism can collaborate more effectively through democratic, sustainable, and regenerative governance. The research project focuses on how ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities are represented within European heritage tourism, especially at sites shaped by film, television, literature, music, games, and digital platforms . It uses media studies , critical heritage studies , and qualitative ethnography to examine how tourism imaginaries, policy, representation, access, and site governance interact. The project is embedded in Work Package 4 on democratisation . Supervision is by Prof. Stijn Reijnders , Dr. Naomi Oosterman (both Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Prof. Maria Lexhagen (Mid Sweden University). The successful candidate will also complete secondments at Cas di Cultura (Aruba) and KORDER (Türkiye) . Eligibility highlights: applicants must have a relevant research master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences or humanities (for example cultural heritage, sociology, tourism studies, media studies, anthropology, or related fields), must not already hold a PhD, and must satisfy the MSCA mobility rule (limited prior residence/activity in the Netherlands/Caribbean territories). Strong English (C1), qualitative research experience, collaboration skills, and motivation to publish are required. Funding includes a salary/living and mobility allowance of €3,059–€3,881 gross per month on a full-time basis, plus a possible family allowance . The contract is for three years . Deadline: 19 April 2026 . Apply via the Erasmus University Rotterdam vacancy page and consult the HERITOUR project website for the broader network and related openings.

The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) at Erasmus University Rotterdam invites applications for a PhD position as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network fellowship, HERITOUR – Enhancing collaborative synergies between Cultural HERItage and TOURism. HERITOUR is a multi-university, interdisciplinary project examining how cultural heritage and tourism sectors can collaborate to address shared challenges and reduce negative impacts such as overtourism, environmental degradation, and social disruption. The network includes Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Stavanger, Middle East Technical University, University of Aruba, Mid Sweden University, and University of Granada. This PhD project critically investigates the representation of ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities within European heritage tourism, focusing on sites shaped by popular culture and media exposure. It explores how film, television, literature, music, games, and digital platforms construct tourism imaginaries—shared narratives that define heritage, visibility, and belonging. The research draws on media studies and critical heritage studies to analyze heritage tourism as a mediated, power-laden field where representation, regulation, and access intersect. Using multi-sited qualitative ethnography at media-related and popular-culture heritage sites across Europe and its overseas territories, the project examines how minority narratives are framed, contested, or marginalized within interpretative strategies, diversity policies, and site management practices. The aim is to reconcile heritage protection with social justice through participatory and reflexive approaches to heritage management. The position is embedded in Work Package 4 “democratisation” and supervised by Prof.dr. Stijn Reijnders and Dr. Naomi Oosterman (Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Prof.dr. Maria Lexhagen (Mid Sweden University). Doctoral candidates will undertake two secondments at Cas di Cultura (Aruba) and KORDER (Türkiye), gaining practical experience in heritage and tourism organizations. The role includes conducting PhD research, publishing in international peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences, participating in HERITOUR training schools, and writing a dissertation within three years. Candidates will also engage in seminars and workshops organized by the Erasmus Research Institute for Media, Culture, History and Society (ERMeCHS) and the HERITOUR consortium. Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the European or Caribbean territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the start date (unless for compulsory national service or refugee status). Candidates must not already possess a doctoral degree. A (research) master degree or equivalent in relevant social sciences or humanities disciplines (cultural heritage, sociology, tourism studies, media studies, anthropology, or related fields) is required. Familiarity with qualitative research methods, independent thinking, critical analytical skills, collaboration skills, and excellent oral and written English (CEFR C1) are essential. Motivation to conduct high-level research and publish internationally is expected. The position offers a salary (living and mobility allowance) ranging from €3,059 to €3,881 gross per month (full-time, 38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is for three years, with an additional family allowance available for eligible candidates. Benefits include paid leave, holiday pay, end-of-year bonus, pension contributions, insurance discounts, compensation for travel and home internet, and support for relocation (30%-ruling and Dual Career Programme). The work environment is sustainable, inclusive, and diverse, with opportunities for personal and professional development, access to university library, and networks such as Young@EUR, FAME, and QuEUR. To apply, submit a completed and signed Declaration of Honours (downloadable from www.heritour.eu or the HERITOUR LinkedIn page), a motivation letter (max. half an A4), your CV including publication list, a brief research idea (max. 300 words), and names/contact details of two potential references by 19 April 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview in May 2026 and may be asked to submit a more detailed research plan or give a presentation. Persons of all gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, and citizenships are encouraged to apply and join the EUR community. For further information, contact Dr. Naomi Oosterman at [email protected] or Dr. Bozhidar Ivanov, Project Manager, at [email protected] .

PhD opportunity at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) within the HERITOUR Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network. The project is titled Minority representation in European heritage, tourism and media and focuses on how ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities are represented in heritage tourism, especially through media and popular culture. The research sits at the intersection of communication studies , history , sociology , anthropology , geography , and political science , with a strong emphasis on qualitative ethnography , critical heritage studies, tourism imaginaries, inclusion/exclusion, and governance. The PhD is embedded in Work Package 4 (“democratisation”) and is supervised by Prof.dr. Stijn Reijnders , Dr. Naomi Oosterman , and Prof.dr. Maria Lexhagen . The project includes secondments at Cas di Cultura (Aruba) and KORDER (Türkiye) , plus training schools, conferences, and international collaboration across the HERITOUR consortium. This is a fully funded PhD for 3 years with a monthly salary/living and mobility allowance of €3,059–€3,881 gross , plus benefits and possible family allowance if eligible. The start date is 1 September 2026 . The application deadline is 21 April 2026 . Eligibility highlights: a research master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant humanities/social sciences field; strong interest in heritage, media, culture, or tourism; experience or strong interest in qualitative research; excellent English (C1); and compliance with the MSCA mobility rule. Applicants must not already hold a PhD. To apply, prepare a motivation letter, CV, short research idea, references, and declaration of honour, then submit via the Erasmus University Rotterdam vacancy page.