Tuesday 3 July 2012

VACANCY: Lecturer/PhD Researcher American Studies (1,0 fte) (212124)

VACANCY: Lecturer/PhD Researcher American Studies (1,0 fte) (212124)
Organisation

The American Studies Department is seeking a lecturer/PhD candidate to service a rapidly expanding undergraduate student body and boost its ambitious research agenda.
The University of Groningen is the only university in the Netherlands to offer a completely independent BA program in American Studies, as well as an MA program in North American Studies. The curriculum is unique in that it is truly interdisciplinary (no monodisciplinary courses) and designed exclusively for American Studies (no cross-listing with other programs). The curriculum is also unique in The Netherlands in that it is entirely delivered in English. The program offers extensive possibilities for doing (under)graduate work and internships in North America.
The Department of American Studies is the national powerhouse for the development of Early American Studies and Hemispheric American Studies in the Netherlands. Groningen's international and internationally renowned American Studies faculty has previously taught at Harvard, Brown, and Louisiana State University (US), University of Glasgow (UK), York University (Canada), Göttingen University (Germany). Our faculty has shaped the way in which American Studies teaching and research is carried out across The Netherlands and beyond. Our courses represent a comprehensive range of fully interdisciplinary theoretical, historical, socio-political, and cultural approaches to North America, with a special focus on three areas: Early American Studies; Hemispheric American Studies; and Media/Popular Culture Studies.
Potential candidates for the position of lecturer/PhD researcher are encouraged to develop and carry out a research project in one of these three areas of specialization.

Job description

This full-time position of lecturer/PhD researcher is a temporary appointment for five years. The successful candidate is expected to spend 40 percent of her/his time on teaching, and 60 percent on a PhD project in one of the research areas in American Studies mentioned above. For legal reasons (related to the different salary scales and job performance requirements pertaining to each position), there will formally be two separate appointments. After the first year of employment there will be an assessment of the appointee's teaching performance and research, on the basis of which it will be decided whether the appointment will be continued.

Candidates are expected to complete a PhD dissertation within the five-year period.

The candidates' eligibility for the position will be assessed on the basis of:

    their potential to carry out PhD research
    quality, originality and relevance of the research proposal
    relevance of the proposal to the Department's research program
    feasibility for the project to be completed within five years.


The successful candidate will be expected to teach within the BA program in American Studies program, for the most part in such areas as popular culture, cultural theory and rhetoric and composition.

The lecturer/PhD candidate will be enrolled in the research training program of the Graduate School of Humanities and will have to complete additional pedagogical training in order to qualify for a "BKO" teaching certificate.

Candidates should submit a research proposal (max. 1500 words, excl. bibliography) which directly relates to the profile of the department as described above.

Qualifications

    MA degree in American Studies, or a related discipline, preferably with honors
    strong motivation to complete a PhD dissertation in five years
    proven research potential
    proven ability to work across disciplines within an interdisciplinary curriculum
    experience with cultural theory, popular culture and rhetoric and composition
    excellent command of spoken and written English (at near-native level)
    demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collegial manner
    prior experience in teaching at university level is preferred.

Conditions of employment

PhD part
The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2,042 before taxes per month in the first year to € 2,612 before taxes per month from the fourth year for a full-time position, excluding 8% holiday pay and 8,3% end-of-year gratification and participation in a pension scheme for employees. After the first year of employment there will be an assessment of the candidate's research performance. Based on this, it will be decided whether the appointment will be continued.

Lecturer part
The University of Groningen offers a salary depending on prior qualifications and work experience starting from a minimum of € 2,379 before taxes per month to a maximum of € 3,755 before taxes per month (salary scale 11) for a full-time position, excluding 8% holiday pay and 8,3% end-of-year gratification and participation in a pension scheme for employees. After the first year there will be an assessment of the candidate's teaching performance. Based on this, it will be decided whether the appointment will be continued.

The starting date for this position is 1 September 2012.

The university is an equal opportunities employer. Because women are still underrepresented in a number of fields, they are particularly encouraged to apply.

The selection procedure may include a guest lecture or presentation.

Application
Applications should consist of:
1. A letter of interest
2. A curriculum vitae (including date and place of birth, details of secondary school education, academic record, and-if applicable-publication details)
3. A copy of the applicant's passport
4. A certified copy of the applicant's university degree certificate (MA or equivalent), as well as a copy of his/her transcript
5. Names, email- and postal addresses of two academic references
6. A research project proposal of no more than four pages (c. 1500 words, excl. bibliography). The proposal should include:

    a short description of the project, its aims and objectives, and provisional thesis
    an analysis of the relevance of the project to the discipline of American Studies
    assessment of the innovative nature of the topic
    an indication of the methodological and theoretical framework and approach
    a proposed timetable for completion of the dissertation
    a working bibliography.


Applications should be sent before 13 July 2012 by means of the application form.

Information

For information you can contact:
Dr W.M. Verhoeven, Prof. of American Culture and Cultural Theory/Head of the American Studies Dept., +31 50 3635838,  w.m.verhoeven@rug.nl

http://www.rug.nl/corporate/vacatures/jobOpportunitiesRUG

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