Job vacancy: Postdoc Medical History of Utrecht’s Colonial Past – UMC Utrecht (Dutch proficiency required)
The University Medical Center Utrecht is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the role played by the Utrecht University Medical Faculty in the Dutch colonial past, with a focus on the period from 1815 to the present.
In 2023, the Netherlands commemorated the formal abolition of slavery in 1863. This event has prompted extensive research into the history of slavery and colonialism, and the involvement of Dutch municipalities, provinces, churches, banks, companies, and other institutions.
Preliminary research has revealed that many individuals and institutions in Utrecht – directly or indirectly – benefited from slavery. Utrecht University seeks to investigate whether this was also the case for the university and its individual faculties. This research focuses on the Medical Faculty, part of the UMC Utrecht. The main research questions are:
- What was the role of the Utrecht Faculty of Medicine in the Dutch colonial order?
- To what extent did the discourse and practices of Utrecht’s (bio)medical scientists change after decolonization?
- To what extent does the colonial past still influence contemporary education and research? And to what extent does it affect the relationships between the Netherlands and its former colonies?
The postdoc will be closely assisted by two research assistants based in Paramaribo and Yogyakarta, who are supervised on-site by Dr. Maurits Hassankhan (Paramaribo) and Prof. Bambang Purwanto (Yogyakarta). In Utrecht, the postdoc will be supported by a project-specific advisory committee, which maintains close contact with a UU committee and a national committee. During the project, you will travel twice to Paramaribo and twice to Yogyakarta for on-site consultations.
The final product of the project will be a report answering the three main research questions. If possible, each of the three questions will also be addressed in separate articles.
A small portion of your time will be dedicated to teaching medical history.
You bring:
- A PhD in (medical) history, anthropology, or sociology
- Proficiency in Dutch
- Affinity and experience with at least one of the two countries where the research will take place (Suriname or Indonesia) is a plus
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written, in Dutch and English (as evidenced by publications)
- Good organizational skills and the ability to work independently
- A collaborative mindset (as evidenced by previous projects)
- Experience in teaching, for example, demonstrated by a BKO (Basic Teaching Qualification) or partial certificates
- Demonstrated sensitivity to the narrative of the colonial period
- A proven interest in equity and justice in global health
Deadline for applications: 8 October 2024
For more information on this vacancy and how to apply please visit this website.
