"Postdoctoral Researcher on Women Migrants in Postwar Germany"

Job Summary

The History Department is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to conduct in-depth research on women’s migration and work. This role is part of the European Research Council-funded project FeMMiWork, which examines women’s migration from Southern Europe and Turkey to France and Germany in the post-World War II era, focusing on the role of paid work in their trajectories.

Responsibilities

• Document and analyze policies relevant to the life trajectories of working women who migrated from the northern Mediterranean to Germany.
• Research published reports and grey literature concerning the presence of women migrants and their labor.
• Assist other project team members with identifying and collecting relevant archival materials in Germany.
• Assist the Principal Investigator with developing collaborative work methods, including designing the virtual research environment and counter-archive, and setting up the oral history work package.
• Oversee the implementation of the project’s data management plan.
• Participate in group meetings and contribute to the organization of events and workshops.
• Present work-in-progress at international workshops, conference panels, and to colleagues within the Faculty.
• Work with the principal investigator on two project outputs (co-authored articles comparing France and Germany as destination societies and places of work).

Qualifications and Requirements

• A recently completed PhD in History, Sociology, or related interdisciplinary fields such as migration studies.
• Demonstrable experience with and passion for archival research, and interest in oral history methodology.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and motivation to meet project milestones and deadlines.
• Enthusiasm for contributing to a collaborative team environment and shared goals.
• Advanced English language competency (speaking and writing for academic contexts).
• Fluent knowledge of the German language.
• (Desirable) Working knowledge of Italian, or languages spoken in Turkey or the former Yugoslavia.
• Interest in experimenting with innovative research methods, including digital humanities collaborative tools and creative writing as research.
• Residence required in Maastricht or the surrounding region (except for fieldwork periods).

What the Employer Offers

Employment at Maastricht University includes good employment conditions with a salary ranging from €4537 to €6209 per month based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week. Additional benefits include an 8.0% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus, an employment contract for 12 months with possible extension up to 36 months, flexible working hours, possibility to work partly from home, 29 vacation days plus 4 additional public holidays per year, and opportunities for personal and professional development through training programs.