"PhD position in the Comparative History of Stamp Duties in the Early Modern Dutch and British Empires (1.0 FTE)"

Are you a motivated researcher with a strong affinity for material culture or paper history, and eager to explore how an innovative form of paper-based taxation shaped early modern political and financial institutions? Would you like to contribute to a comparative study of global empires that considers metropolitan as well as colonial contexts? The University of Groningen invites you to apply for a joint PhD position in History and American Studies.

What are you going to do?

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct original research on the comparative history of stamp duties in the Dutch and British empires. Your work will analyze case studies across the world, exploring how stamp duties shaped governance, economies, and societies.

As a PhD candidate, you will:

• Conduct original research using early modern Dutch and British sources.
• Develop and execute a comparative study of stamp duties in the Dutch and British empires.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences.
• Participate in the academic life of the Faculty of Arts, including seminars, workshops, and public events.
• Contribute to teaching activities (0.4 FTE) in the second, third, and fourth years of the appointment.
• Complete the PhD project within the specified four-year timeframe.

Requirements

This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your academic career in a supportive and internationally renowned research environment. You will have access to extensive archival resources, expert supervision, and a network of scholars working on related topics.

For this PhD position, we are looking for someone who:

• Has a Research Master’s or Master’s degree in History or a related field, preferably with a specialization in the early modern period.
• Demonstrates excellent academic writing and speaking skills in English and (at least) strong reading ability in Dutch.
• Has experience conducting original research in early modern Dutch and English sources.
• Works in a results-oriented manner and can independently set priorities.
• Is familiar with Digital Humanities methods.
• (Optional) Has previous teaching experience.

Conditions of employment

What can you expect from us?

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.