Erasmus University Rotterdam PhD Candidate Position 2026: Study the Transimperial History of Women’s Work
Erasmus University Rotterdam offers a fully funded PhD opportunity to investigate the transimperial history of women's work between 1600 and 1900. Successful candidates will join the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication to combine archival research with computational methods.
Overview
Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is offering two fully funded PhD candidate positions within the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC). The research project investigates the transimperial history of women's work between 1600 and 1900, examining how European colonial expansion influenced ideas and practices surrounding women's labour. Researchers will choose between two historical cases: Pernambuco or Atlantic Africa. The position combines traditional archival research with digital humanities and computational methods, such as handwritten text recognition and natural language processing.
Eligibility
- Hold, or expect to complete before the starting date, a research master's degree or another relevant master's degree in fields such as History, Gender Studies, Digital Humanities, or related disciplines.
- Demonstrate excellent command of English.
- Have strong knowledge of at least one additional language relevant to the chosen historical case (e.g., Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, French, or Danish).
- Show interest or experience in colonial history, gender history, women's history, and digital or computational research methods.
Benefits
- Gross monthly salary ranging from €3,204 to €4,051 based on a full-time appointment.
- Initial one-year contract with potential extension for an additional three years, providing a four-year doctoral trajectory.
- Comprehensive employment benefits under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU), including pension arrangements, work-life balance support, and parental leave.
- Opportunities for teaching, conference participation, and publishing peer-reviewed research.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their application online through the official vacancy portal. A complete application package must include:
- An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- An academic writing sample, such as a master's thesis excerpt or a paper engaging with primary sources.
- A motivation letter of no more than 1,200 words detailing relevant experience, choice of historical case, language skills, and the identification of two archives they intend to consult.
Deadline
The application deadline is 20 September 2026.