The Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University invites applications for a fully funded International PhD Position in Socio-Environmental Breathing and Suffocation to the talented candidates.
Applicants must hold a master’s degree in a relevant discipline within the Humanities or Social Sciences, such as Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Environmental Humanities, or related fields. Candidates should have experience in critical research or activism addressing social, environmental, or geopolitical inequalities and demonstrate strong academic writing skills in English.
Universiteit Utrecht Information
Established in 1636, Universiteit Utrecht (Utrecht University) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Utrecht (population range of 250,000-499,999 inhabitants). Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, Nederland (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Netherlands), Universiteit Utrecht (UU) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Universiteit Utrecht (UU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 383 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.
Offered Benefits
The PhD position is fully funded for 48 months, with a gross monthly salary ranging from €2.901 to €3.707, depending on qualifications. Additional benefits include:
- Full funding for fieldwork travel and accommodation.
- Travel funding for knowledge exchange visits and small conferences.
- A pension scheme, parental leave, and flexible employment terms.
- 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
In addition, Utrecht University offers professional development opportunities, leave schemes, sports and cultural activities, and access to discounts on software and IT products. Employees are encouraged to continue investing in their growth.
Selection Schedule
- Invitation to first interview: 1 February 2025
- First interview (online): 7 February 2025
- Second interview (in-person, in Utrecht): 14 February 2025
- Start date: Ideally 1 April 2025, with flexibility for visa and relocation processes.
Application Process
To apply, send the following documentation via the university’s application portal:
- CV
- A writing sample (e.g., a chapter from your thesis, a final paper, or a published article)
- Contact information for two references
- A motivation letter (up to 1500 words) addressing the following questions:
- What motivates you to do PhD research?
- What intervention would you like to make in the current socio-political-environmental conjuncture?
- How do you understand breathing and suffocation as research topics?
- What theories/activist/artistic practices have influenced you, and how would you link them to planetary respiration and asphyxiation?
- What specific issues would you like your PhD project to address?
- How would you describe your preferred research practice?
- How do you work both individually and as part of a team?
Established in 1636, Universiteit Utrecht (Utrecht University) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Utrecht (population range of 250,000-499,999 inhabitants). Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, Nederland (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Netherlands), Universiteit Utrecht (UU) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Universiteit Utrecht (UU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 383 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.