POSITION: University Lecturer Digital China, Leiden University
Via: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/vacancies/2021/q4/21-585-10083-university-lecturer-digital-china
Deadline: 14 December 2021
The faculty of Humanities, Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS) is looking for a University Lecturer Digital China (1,00 FTE)
Vacancy number: 21-585 10083
The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University invites applications for a fulltime University Lectureship in digital China. As University Lecturer, you will hold a position within the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS), which has the ambition to be a leading centre for the study of digital China. Your expertise will complement the existing portfolio at Leiden in pursuit of that goal. In addition to conducting research, you will teach courses in the institute’s relevant BA programmes, the newly established undergraduate minor in disinformation studies, and the (Res)MA Asian Studies and MA International Relations. You will supervise BA and MA theses in all these programmes.
We invite applications from scholars with a strong background in humanities and social science research and teaching, with a focus on area studies and the digital processes that shape the Chinese-speaking world. In your research, you should demonstrate an ability to combine methodological approaches ranging from qualitative to computational research techniques and integrate such approaches with an emphasis on area studies, driven by linguistic knowledge, cultural and historical expertise, and a general curiosity for diverse human interactions in digital spaces. You should be able to communicate this focus to a wide audience and should demonstrate an ability to engage with students and colleagues of Asian studies more broadly, including pre-20th century humanities.
Key responsibilities
- Conduct original research and regularly disseminate the results through appropriate channels.
- Teach courses in digital media, cultures, technologies, and communications at BA and MA level, including methods courses and potential coding and data analytics skills.
- Teach courses on Chinese societies, with attention to regional and transnational interactions.
- Acquire external project funding.
- Co-supervise PhD research.
- Actively contribute to the development of the curriculum of Asian Studies in the context of broad programmes that connect to digital technology and society, such as the minors in disinformation and in digital humanities.
- Take on administrative duties in the institute’s area studies programmes such as the BA Chinese Studies.
- Take the initiative to connect disciplinary expertise with area knowledge, both in course work and in thesis supervision.
- Represent the field to external audiences and media.
Requirements
- A completed PhD degree in area studies, media or communication studies, digital humanities, cultural, political, or social studies, or a similar relevant field. Candidates nearing completion of their PhD will be considered.
- A research and publication record commensurate with career stage.
- A strong foundation in digital studies and digital methods (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed), and an ability to teach digital methodologies to students at all levels and across the humanities.
- Working knowledge of at least one programming language for data analytics is highly desirable.
- A vision for the further development of Chinese Studies in the context of contemporary digital developments in Asia.
- A commitment to high-quality teaching practices, and a wide teaching scope in terms of content.
- A commitment to high-quality research, publication, and dissemination.
- A strong affinity with, and capacity for, teamwork in a multicultural environment, and a commitment to creating and nurturing an open, inclusive environment for staff and students.
- Expert knowledge of the language, culture, and history of China.
- An excellent command of English. All MAs are offered in English, as are many relevant minors, and English may be used in the BA Chinese Studies as well.
- If the successful applicant does not speak Dutch, they are expected to complete language training offered by the University Academic Language Centre. LIAS will make resources available to this end.
Our organisation
The Faculty of Humanities is rich in expertise in fields such as philosophy, religious studies, history, art history, literature, linguistics and area studies covering nearly every region of the world. With its staff of 995, the faculty provides 27 master’s and 25 bachelor’s programmes for over 7,000 students based at locations in Leiden and in The Hague. For more information, please see the website.
Leiden Institute for Area Studies is comprised of a School of Asian Studies and a School of Middle-Eastern Studies, with international staff and student populations. The institute is committed to a present-day vision of area studies, integrating disciplinary and regional-historical perspectives on a solid foundation of excellent language skills. Current staff in LIAS has expertise in the fields of Anthropology, Archaeology, Art Studies, Buddhist Studies, Film Studies, History, International Relations, Language Pedagogy, Law, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Material Culture Studies, Performance Studies, Philology, Philosophy, Political Economy, Religious Studies, Sociology, and Visual Culture Studies.
The section of Chinese Studies at the LIAS is a vibrant community of scholars devoted to researching and teaching the languages, cultures, and societies of the Chinese speaking world. Research and teaching are strongly supported by the outstanding collections of the Asian Library of Leiden University. The closely affiliated Leiden Asia Centre is the nation’s leading platform for policy-oriented academic research on contemporary Asia.
Terms and conditions
We offer a fulltime, temporary position for 18 months, be taken up as soon as possible, but no later than 1 August 2022. Upon good performance, the postion will be converted into a permanent position.
Salary range from € 3807.- to € 5211.- gross per month (pay scale 11), in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).
Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses(8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More information can be found at the website.
Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If the successful applicant does not already possess this qualification or its equivalent, he/ she must be willing to obtain this Qualification within two years.
Diversity
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.
Information
Enquiries can be made to dr. Florian Schneider, associate professor of Modern China Studies, at f.a.schneider@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Applications
Please submit online your application no later than 14 December 2021 via the blue button in our application system.
Applications should be in English. Please ensure that you include the following documents in a single PDF document named ‘FAMILY NAME – Given name –and in this order:
- A letter of motivation including a personal vision for the study of Digital China, the future of this field, and the possibilities to relate the field to research and teaching in area studies
- A CV including education and employment history, publications, and courses taught to date and planned;
- A research agenda with clear potential for applications to funding bodies such as NWO and ERC (max. 2 pages);
- A teaching statement (1 page);
- A course description (intro + outline of 12 two-hour weekly sessions) on a topic of choice in digital media, culture, or politics, aimed at second-year BA students in Chinese Studies (students at this level have elementary Chinese-language reading skills);
- A course description (intro + outline of 12 two-hour weekly sessions) on a topic of choice in digital media, culture, or politics, aimed at MA-students Asian Studies;
- Names, positions, and e-mail addresses of three referees (no reference letters).
The online interviews with shortlisted candidates are tentatively scheduled for the 2nd and/or 3rd week of January 2022
Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated