5 Vacancies in the ERC Research Project 'From Made in China to Created in China'
4 PhD and 1 Postdoc Positions
The Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis of the Faculty of Humanities is looking for four PhD and one postdoctoral candidates in the fields of Media Studies, Cultural Studies or Area Studies. The candidates will be part of the European Research Council (ERC) funded project 'From Made in China to Created in China: A Comparative Study of Creative Practice and Production in Contemporary China' (ChinaCreative).
Project Description
ChinaCreative explores the histories, meanings and implications of creativity in the context of China. With its emergence as a global power, China aspires to move from a 'made in China' to a 'created in China' country. Creativity and culture have become a crucial source for innovation and financial growth, but are also mobilised to promote a new and open China to both the citizenry and the outside world. They are part of what is termed China’s 'soft power.' This project aims to analyse claims of creativity in different cultural practices, and to analyse how emerging creativities in China are part of tactics of governmentality and disable or enable possibilities of criticality. Using a comparative, multi-disciplinary, multi-method and multi-sited research design, the postdoc project focuses on 'fake' (shanzhai) art in Dafen art village in Shenzhen. Four other PhD projects analyse (PhD 1) contemporary art, (PhD 2) calligraphy, (PhD 3) independent documentary cinema (all in Beijing), and (PhD 4) Hunan Satellite Television (in Changsha). Methods involve a combination of visual and aesthetic analysis, ethnography, mobile methods and cultural mapping. The candidate will be based in Amsterdam and conduct at least ten months of fieldwork in China.
Four PhD Candidates in Asian Cultural Studies or Closely Related Discipline
Requirements
- An MA , MPhil or MSc degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences with excellent results
- Excellent written and spoken English (IELTS certificate of qualification 7,0) and proficiency in Mandarin (and/or demonstrable research experience in China)
- Outstanding research qualities manifested in a high-quality MA thesis or equivalent independent research project
- Ability and willingness to carry out empirical research and spend extended periods both in China and in The Netherlands
- Keen interest in interdisciplinary research methods and approaches
- Ability and willingness to work in a team
Appointment
The selected PhD candidates will be appointed full-time (38 hours per week) for a period of four years at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Amsterdam. The appointment is initially for a period of one year; contingent on satisfactory performance it will be extended by a maximum of three additional years leading to the completion of a PhD thesis. The gross monthly salary (on a full-time basis) will range from € 2.083 during the first year to € 2.664 during the fourth year, in accordance with the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch universities.
Job Application
Applications should include, in a single PDF file:
- A detailed letter of intent stating your motivation for this position, including a motivation for one of the four subprojects
- A full academic CV and a list of MA grades
- A copy of your MA thesis or another relevant writing sample
- For non-native speakers: IELTS certificate or equivalent
- Two letters of recommendation.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to write a short statement presenting their ideas for the project. Applicants must have completed all relevant coursework and examinations for the MA by January 2015. If the list of scores is not yet complete, please submit an overview of your scores at the time of application.
Postdoctoral Researcher in Asian Cultural Studies or Closely Related Discipline
Requirements
- A PhD degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences
- Excellent written and spoken English (IELTS certificate of qualification 7,0) and proficiency in Mandarin (and/or demonstrable research experience in China)
- Outstanding research qualities manifested in a high-quality PhD dissertation
- Ability and willingness to carry out empirical research and spend extended periods both in China and in The Netherlands
- Keen interest in interdisciplinary research methods and approaches
- Ability and willingness to work in a team
Appointment
The selected Postdoc will be appointed full-time (38 hours per week) for a period of four years at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Amsterdam. The appointment is initially for a period of one year; contingent on satisfactory performance it will be extended by a maximum of three additional years leading to the completion of a monograph. The gross monthly salary (on a full time basis) will range between € 3.037 and € 3.601 depending on experience and qualifications, in accordance with the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities.
Job Application
Applications should include, in a single PDF file:
- A detailed letter of intent stating your motivation for this position
- A full academic CV including a list of publications
- A copy of your PhD dissertation or another relevant writing sample
- For non-native speakers: IELTS certificate or equivalent
- Two letters of recommendation
Applicants must have completed their PhD by January 2015. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to write a short statement presenting their ideas for the project.
Submission
Please submit your application to asca-FGW@uva.nl before 15 August 2014. Candidates will be interviewed in September 2014. The subject of the e-mail message and the attachment must consist of the text 'ChinaCreative + applicant's last name'.
No agencies please
Further Information
For more information on the research project ChinaCreative and the selection procedure, please contact the principal investigator Prof. Jeroen de Kloet (E: B.J.Dekloet@uva.nl).