Student Assistent Afterlives of Slavery - Meertens

Student Assistant (0.4 FTE, 8 months)

The Meertens Institute has a vacancy for a student assistant (0.4 FTE, 8 months) for the "Afterlives of Slavery" project.

What does the position entail?

Afterlives of Slavery is a project about the continuing impact of slavery on the present. The "continuing impact" of slavery refers to the lasting consequences of slavery, particularly for the descendants of enslaved people and their communities. Previous research shows that these continuing impacts can manifest in the form of racial inequalities and trauma, but also in a disrupted relationship with the ancestors. This leads many descendants to investigate their family history, sometimes due to psychological problems, sometimes to learn more about their origins. At the same time, for many, ancestors are also spiritual beings who can play an active role in the present. In other words, ancestors are complex phenomena that create both immanent (physical, mental) and supernatural (spiritual) connections with the past. Although there is growing interest in ancestors, no research has yet been conducted on their role in healing processes. In this project, you will work with the project leader, a Winti priestess, a psychiatrist, and the Association for Surinamese Genealogy to develop an ethnographic method for conducting this ancestral research holistically.

Together with the project leader, you will select and interview a series of 15 experts in the fields of religion (for example, Winti and Brua), psychology/psychiatry, and genealogy. You will assist with the transcription and analysis of the interviews. You will also support the project leader in organizing a two-day retreat with (some of) these experts, a symposium, and a workshop. You will contribute to two articles for academic journals.

What are our requirements?

You are enrolled as a student in anthropology, religious studies, cultural studies, gender studies, sociology, psychology, or related disciplines in the Netherlands. You have experience and an affinity with qualitative social science methods (particularly ethnography and qualitative interviewing).

You are interested in colonial and slavery history and its impact.

You work carefully, accurately, and independently, and you enjoy working in a team.

Apply?

For applications, please include a resume and a cover letter (max. 2 pages).

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Markus Balkenhol (markus.balkenhol@meertens.knaw.nl).

Applications are open until October 3, 2025. Interviews will be held in the week of October 13.

About Meertens
The Meertens Institute, together with the International Institute of Social History and the Huygens ING, is part of the KNAW Humanities Cluster. This is a partnership in which research in the humanities (history, ethnology, literature, linguistics) is carried out using advanced methods, in which computer science plays an important role.

The Meertens Institute is a national institute for research and documentation of the Dutch language and culture, and language and culture in the Netherlands. It consists of the research groups Ethnology and Variational Linguistics, both of which hold leading positions in international research on everyday language and culture.

Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is 2.925 and the maximum salary is 2.981 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale SA cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment). 

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.