Researcher in Social Sciences (VU University of Amsterdam)

Your function The five-year project “An Anthropology of the Material World in Ancient Mesopotamia” (AMW), funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) Vidi Grant and led by Dr. Shiyanthi Thavapalan, examines how craftspeople, scientists and artists in Mesopotamia knew the material world and how they conveyed this knowledge through material and textual culture. AMW is looking for researchers interested in the following core topics: How minerals and plants were conceptualized and categorized in Mesopotamian written, visual and material cultures (ca. 2000-330 BCE) Assyrian and Babylonian ideas about the relationships between human beings, nature and knowledge The role played by technologies, tools and theoretical models in people’s attempts to understand and explain the world Assyrian and Babylonian ideas about innovation, ingenuity and sustainability For topic 2, we are looking for a PhD student to undertake 4 years of research, starting no later than 1 January 2026. Your duties conduct independent research and write a dissertation, analysing cuneiform and artistic traditions that throw light on the biophysical and social entanglements between humans and their material environment contribute to the joint publications and outreach activities of the AMW team and work closely with the PI, post-doc and research assistants in the team co-organize a workshop with the AMW team in 2027 complete the mandatory 30 ECT PhD training courses at the VU Amsterdam and national research school Your profile a Master’s degree in Assyriology, Ancient Near Eastern Languages & Cultures or Ancient Near Eastern History excellent knowledge of Akkadian, cuneiform and Near Eastern visual culture familiarity with the literature and academic conversations of Material Culture Studies, Cultural Anthropology, STS Studies, History of Science and/or History of Technology would be an advantage interest in engaging in interdisciplinary and collaborative research a track record of working independently and as part of a team, with good organisational and communication skills fluency in English and reading knowledge of German and French. Dutch would be an advantage We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements. What do we offer? a challenging position in a socially engaged organisation the opportunity to be part of a dynamic and international team of researchers connected to the Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, and to acquire experience in teaching, supervision and mentoring at the VU a starting salary of € 2.901,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.707,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment a full-time position (1,0 FTE). Your contract will initially last 12 months. After satisfactory evaluation, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 4 years We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples: 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) optional model for designing a personalized benefits package discount on (and occasionally exclusive access to) theater performances and courses at the Griffioen Cultural Center About us Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities A better understanding of ourselves and social communities, values and meaning, through social sciences and humanities. That is the aim of The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. No single discipline can do this alone. The SSH disciplines are characterised by an open way of thinking and the natural urge to seek coherence and connection. The faculty consists of nine academic departments within three schools: School of Religion & Theology (SRT), School of Social Sciences (SSc) and School of Humanities (SH). Are you interested in joining Social Sciences and Humanities? You become part of a dynamic academic community with approximately 900 staff members, over 5,000 regular students and more than 5,000 course participants. In an inspiring and collegial environment, we work together on education and research with impact. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education. Diversity Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding. We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services. Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community. Interested Applicants should submit a letter of motivation (max. two pages), CV, academic transcripts and writing sample (e.g. MA thesis). Interviews will be scheduled for the second week of September 2025. Employment will become effective in late fall 2025 but not later than 1 January 2026. Applications received by e-mail will not be considered. Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Socioloxy

Your function

The five-year project “An Anthropology of the Material World in Ancient Mesopotamia” (AMW), funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) Vidi Grant and led by Dr. Shiyanthi Thavapalan, examines how craftspeople, scientists and artists in Mesopotamia knew the material world and how they conveyed this knowledge through material and textual culture. AMW is looking for researchers interested in the following core topics:

How minerals and plants were conceptualized and categorized in Mesopotamian written, visual and material cultures (ca. 2000-330 BCE)
Assyrian and Babylonian ideas about the relationships between human beings, nature and knowledge
The role played by technologies, tools and theoretical models in people’s attempts to understand and explain the world
Assyrian and Babylonian ideas about innovation, ingenuity and sustainability

For topic 2, we are looking for a PhD student to undertake 4 years of research, starting no later than 1 January 2026.

Your duties

conduct independent research and write a dissertation, analysing cuneiform and artistic traditions that throw light on the biophysical and social entanglements between humans and their material environment
contribute to the joint publications and outreach activities of the AMW team and work closely with the PI, post-doc and research assistants in the team
co-organize a workshop with the AMW team in 2027
complete the mandatory 30 ECT PhD training courses at the VU Amsterdam and national research school

Your profile

a Master’s degree in Assyriology, Ancient Near Eastern Languages & Cultures or Ancient Near Eastern History
excellent knowledge of Akkadian, cuneiform and Near Eastern visual culture
familiarity with the literature and academic conversations of Material Culture Studies, Cultural Anthropology, STS Studies, History of Science and/or History of Technology would be an advantage
interest in engaging in interdisciplinary and collaborative research
a track record of working independently and as part of a team, with good organisational and communication skills
fluency in English and reading knowledge of German and French. Dutch would be an advantage

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

a challenging position in a socially engaged organisation
the opportunity to be part of a dynamic and international team of researchers connected to the Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, and to acquire experience in teaching, supervision and mentoring at the VU
a starting salary of € 2.901,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.707,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
a full-time position (1,0 FTE). Your contract will initially last 12 months. After satisfactory evaluation, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 4 years

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

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)
optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
discount on (and occasionally exclusive access to) theater performances and courses at the Griffioen Cultural Center

About us

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

A better understanding of ourselves and social communities, values and meaning, through social sciences and humanities. That is the aim of The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. No single discipline can do this alone. The SSH disciplines are characterised by an open way of thinking and the natural urge to seek coherence and connection.

The faculty consists of nine academic departments within three schools: School of Religion & Theology (SRT), School of Social Sciences (SSc) and School of Humanities (SH).

Are you interested in joining Social Sciences and Humanities? You become part of a dynamic academic community with approximately 900 staff members, over 5,000 regular students and more than 5,000 course participants. In an inspiring and collegial environment, we work together on education and research with impact.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Applicants should submit a letter of motivation (max. two pages), CV, academic transcripts and writing sample (e.g. MA thesis). Interviews will be scheduled for the second week of September 2025. Employment will become effective in late fall 2025 but not later than 1 January 2026.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Socioloxy

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