From June 1, 2013, the Economic and Social History Section, Institute for History of the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University will be appointing a full-time PhD, for four years, within the ERC-funded Starting Grant project "Fighting Monopolies, Defying Empires 1500-1750: A Comparative Overview of Free Agents and Informal Empires in Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire" under the supervision of Dr Cátia Antunes.

This comparative project will answer the general question: how did free agents in Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire react to the creation of colonial monopolies (royal monopolies and chartered companies) by central states in the Early Modern period? This collective project will answer this question by looking at the role individuals played in the construction of what has been called ‘informal empires’, which are understood as a multitude of self-organized networks operating world-wide, which had as their main goal the safeguarding of their personal, social and economic advantages, regardless of (and in spite of) state intervention.

This PhD position is situated within a team of thirteen researchers directly and indirectly involved in the project. Team members are expected to work together by openly sharing questions, hypotheses and results and by participating in open discussions of each others’ work.

The Economic and Social History Section is a dynamic research group with broad interests, enthusiastic researchers and lecturers with outstanding track records and is successful in attracting national and international research grants.

Tasks:
- Writing a dissertation in English within four years;
- Submitting research results for publication in international peer-reviewed academic journals (either individually or co-authored);
- Presenting papers at conferences and workshops;
- Co-organizing conferences and workshops;
- Teaching undergraduate courses in the third and fourth year of appointment;
- Actively participating in project discussions and working as a peer reviewer for the team;

Requirements:
- MA degree in Early Modern Economic or Social History, History of European Expansion, Global History or World History;
- Fluency in English, broad knowledge of Danish and Swedish (knowledge of French, German, Portuguese or Spanish will be a great advantage);
- Experience in working with Early Modern Danish and Swedish archival sources;
- Willingness to work in an international and highly competitive environment;
- Willingness to utilize a comparative history framework, with a focus on questions relating to an “East/West” divide;
Ability to work both independently and as part of the team.

Conditions of employment:
The position of Ph.D. student is full-time for maximally four years. Initially the employee will be contracted for one year. An extension of three years is possible after positive evaluation of capabilities and compatibility.

Remuneration for a full working week will be € 2.042,- gross per calendar month in the first year, increasing to a maximum of € 2.612,- gross per calendar month in the fourth year and is in accordance with the current pay scales as indicated in the “CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten”. An appointment with Leiden University includes a pension build-up and facilitates other benefits such as an annual holiday premium of 8% and an end-of-year premium of 8.3%.

For more information, please contact Dr Cátia Antunes: c.a.p.antunes@hum.leidenuniv.nl)

General Information
Project: http://www.hum.leiden.edu/history/research/projects-mgi/fighting-monopolies-erc.html

Section of Economic and Social History: http://www.hum.leiden.edu/history/organisation/staff/staff-sections.html#economische-en-sociale-geschiedenis

Institute for History: http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/geschiedenis

Applications:
Letters of application should be submitted in English and include a:
- Cover letter;
- Statement of Purpose, which will: state the ways in which your experience and knowledge would aid the team in achieving the goals of this project, the type of contribution your research will make to the theoretical premises of the project and explain how you see your role as a researcher in a comparative, interdisciplinary and international project;
- Curriculum vitae and a list of publications (if applicable);
- Copy of the MA thesis;
- Proof of English language proficiency for non-native English speakers or those without an undergraduate degree obtained in The Netherlands or an English-speaking country. (IELTS 7.0 or lower will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, e.g. in the case of other compensatory factors such as unique experience and expertise);
- List of (maximum) two referees to your application (with full postal addresses, telephone numbers and emails). Referees will be contacted directly by the search committee.

Please quote the vacancy number in your application and send it electronically to: vacaturesgeschiedenis@hum.leidenuniv.nlbefore March 15, 2013. All requested documents should be sent in pdf format.

An interview with the search committee is part of the procedure. Long listed candidates will be interviewed through Skype. Short listed candidates will be interviewed at Leiden University. Interviews will be held during the month of April 2013.