Strengthen the Adapt! project with digital-historical research into the big history of crisis! As a PhD candidate, you will work under the supervision of Prof. Beatrice de Graaf (first supervisor) and Prof. Arjen Boin (second supervisor), in collaboration with the other members of the Adapt! project.
Your job
In this PhD position, you will investigate how societies have responded to a wide range of crises since 1800, including pandemics, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. You will focus explicitly on diachronic research, analysing patterns of continuity and change in crisis responses over the long term.
You will combine historical source research with digital methods to analyse large-scale corpora of textual and/or visual sources. You will work with existing databases and digital collections (such as newspaper archives, policy documents, and media sources) and apply techniques such as crisis event detection, computational narratology, and semantic modelling. In this way, you will map how crisis narratives emerged, circulated, and changed, and how these narratives influenced the actions of governments and citizens.
An important part of the project is the conceptual and methodological linking of insights from history and the computational humanities. You will develop your own research approach in which qualitative interpretation and quantitative analysis reinforce each other. You will also critically reflect on the possibilities and limitations of digital methods within historical research. You will write an innovative dissertation at the intersection of political-cultural history and the computational humanities.
The results of your PhD research will feed directly back into the Adapt! project. You will actively collaborate with other researchers within the consortium and participate in so-called living labs, in which scientific insights are linked to societal issues. In addition, you will contribute to the development and enrichment of the CASA database of crisis narratives.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
- archival research in the Netherlands and abroad;
- contributing to a database of historical crisis narratives;
- presenting research results at national and international conferences;
- assisting with activities to disseminate the project’s findings both within and outside the academic world;
- publishing peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Your qualities
You are a qualified historian who is able to connect new methods to historical questions. You are able to work in an interdisciplinary way without losing a historical focus. You also bring:
- a completed Master’s degree in History;
- proficiency in English at an academic level. Proficiency in another European language is desirable;
- the ability to translate academic insights for a broad audience;
- the ability to do independent theory- and data-driven historical research;
- demonstrable experience and/or affinity with the application of digital techniques in historical research;
- a proactive attitude: you work independently and in teams and actively seek collaboration with other researchers.
Our offer
- a fulltime position, initially for 18 months with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year;
- a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and €3.881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
- 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
- a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.
In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.
About us
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.
The Faculty of Humanities has around 7,000 students and 1,100 staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city centre of Utrecht, where the faculty is located, contribute to an inspiring working environment.
The faculty strives for diversity among its employees and students and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, as can be read in Utrecht University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy.
The core values of the faculty for Humanities are professionalism, transparency, responsibility, connectedness and safety. These values apply to everyone and we uphold these values in our work and in our communication with each other and with others.
You will work at the Department of History and Art History and the History of International Relations section, which has extensive experience in historical research into the handling of crises and conflict. You will become part of the Adapt! consortium and regularly participate in joint meetings in Utrecht. Adapt! brings together scientists, citizens, and policy makers to develop instruments and strategies that help societies navigate through severe crises.
More information
For more information about this position, please contact Sophie Prijs at (s.d.j.prijs@uu.nl).
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.
Apply now
As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.
Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.
Interested in applying? Please submit the following documents via the ‘apply now’ button.
- your curriculum vitae;
- your cover letter;
- the contact details of two referees;
- a self-written text (possibly published somewhere in some form; otherwise a paper will suffice) to demonstrate your research and writing skills.
The interviews will be on the 21st of May 2026. The preferred start date is 1 September 2026.
The application deadline is 26 April 2026.