The School of Religion and Theology in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam seeks to hire a Ph.D. Student. The position is part of the NWO-funded Vidi-project The Art of Dying in Islamic Traditions (600-1800). This five-year project (July ’26- June ‘31) led by dr. Pieter Coppens investigates how Muslims have historically envisioned the good death, which bodily, sensory, and emotional norms were at play, and which legal and ethical concerns they had. It seeks to show when and how these norms and concerns have changed throughout the centuries among religious exemplary figures, rulers, and common people.
This PhD position specifically focuses on the death of rulers. It collects and analyzes deathbed stories of Caliphs, Sultans, kings, governors and the aristocracy of Islamic societies. It identifies major changes throughout the centuries in the distinct ethic and praxis of dying of these rulers, based on, for example, biographical dictionaries, chronicles, mirrors for princes, works of etiquette (adab), and court poetry.
General tasks and responsibilities for the PhD position:
- to write a PhD dissertation (in English) on the topic of the death of rulers in Islamic history
- to publish research results in the form of an article or book chapter
- to present academic papers at conferences, both national and international, and to participate in research seminars
- to help in the organization of expert meetings and an edited volume within the context of the research project
General requirements for the PhD position:
- an MA or equivalent degree in Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, History, or cognate disciplines
- knowledge of at least one primary Islamicate language (preferably classical Arabic, but Persian or Ottoman will also be considered, depending on the candidate’s research idea)
- proficiency in English (spoken and written) as well as the ability to work with secondary literature in modern European languages
- experience and affinity with digital methods, sensory history and history of emotions are commendable
- ability to work independently and willingness to work in a research team, with good organizational and social skills
The VU strives to be a diverse employer and make positions accessible to applicants with disabilities. As per the Participation Act, this job opening has been created. Hence, we warmly welcome applicants with employment limitations covered under the job agreement to apply. We promise to offer the utmost support and direction.
What do we offer?A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:
- a salary of € 3,059.00 (PhD) and maximum € 3,881.00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
- an employment contract of initially 18 months; if there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years.
The starting date of the contract will be January 1, 2027.
- a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
- solid pension scheme (ABP)
- contribution to commuting expenses
- optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
€3059 - €3881 monthly