Postdoctoral researcher: Tourisms intersection with slavery and colonial heritage in the context of cultural memory politics Wageningen • Wageningen University & Research

Join a dynamic interdisciplinary team exploring the intersection of tourism, slavery, and colonial heritage within cultural memory politics. As a postdoctoral researcher, you'll collaborate on impactful projects, contribute to academic publications, and support PhD/MSc students. Enjoy benefits like sabbatical leave, a December bonus, and access to campus sports facilities. Work in an international environment with growth opportunities on the greenest campus in the Netherlands. Keep reading to explore the growth opportunities this position offers.

Your job

Do you want to contribute to a critical understanding of how tourism intersects with slavery and colonial heritage in the context of increasing cultural memory politics? Do you have a background in cultural geography, tourism studies, cultural anthropology, heritage studies, cultural studies, memory studies, cultural sociology, museum studies and/or other related disciplines? Do you enjoy the challenge of academic writing and publishing? In addition to English, do you speak any of Dutch, French, German or Portuguese? Would you like to be part of a dynamic and vibrant interdisciplinary team carrying out research on important social issues?

We are seeking a highly motivated, innovative and creative postdoctoral candidate to join our team on fixed term 24 months contract (0.8FTE).  This position is funded through the Wageningen University Starter-and Incentive Grant.  The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong, Associate Professor at the Cultural Geography Chair Group, who is PI of the recently ended NWO Veni Project – ‘The Embodied Absence of the Past: Slavery, Heritage and Tourism in the Ghana-Suriname-Netherlands Triangle’ – as well as PI of the recently started ERC Starting Grant Project – ‘Frictions of Space: the generative tensions of slavery and colonial heritage tourism’. Together, you will work together on finalising the curation, analysis and write up of data from the NWO Veni project.
This position also offers opportunities for personal scientific growth by contributing to the advancement of research, providing support and collaborate with PhD/MSc students and taking up teaching opportunities. The successful candidate will be involved in writing proposals and publishing new and existing research at the intersection of cultural geography, tourism studies, cultural memory studies and other related areas.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• lead or contribute to the analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data
• lead or contribute to co-authored academic articles
• lead or contribute to writing scientific proposals
• collaborate with and support to PhD/MSc thesis students
• lead or contribute to (co)-organize academic events such as workshops, seminars, international conferences and other public events.
• assist with teaching on appropriate courses through guest lectures based on your research expertise.

The preferred starting date is 1 September 2025
Your qualities

This project draws on different disciplines from the social sciences and humanities, including cultural geography, tourism studies, anthropology, cultural studies, heritage studies, memory studies, cultural sociology, media studies, museum studies and other related disciplines. Postdoctoral candidates are not expected to be experts in all disciplines but should possess broad curiosity, ability to navigate multiple fields, and enthusiasm for cross-disciplinary learning and development. We are looking for motivated, collaborative, and flexible team members who have good writing skills and enjoy publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

You are/have:

• demonstrable relevant (fieldwork) research experience in the broad topic area;
• a good scientific track record, including peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage;
• background in and experience with innovative qualitative research methods in the social sciences and humanities;
• a very strong and well-developed analytical and writing skills with a clear and persuasive style of writing;
• excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (C1 level);

You also possess:

• a PhD degree in social sciences or humanities, preferably in geography, tourism studies, anthropology, cultural studies, heritage studies, memory studies, cultural sociology, media studies, museum studies and/or other related disciplines.
• good organizational and communication skills
• a good knowledge of one of the languages of Dutch, German, French or Portuguese will be a plus

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1 .

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Cultural Geography Chair Group (GEO) chaired by Prof. Edward. Huijbens, and part of the Centre for Space, Place and Society. GEO is committed to social theory in all its spatial articulations. The group advances creative, critical-constructive scholarship through exploring the ecological and social challenges facing all life on earth.

You will be a member of the FRICTIONS team, which is led by Dr. Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong, who will also be your daily supervisor throughout this fixed term employment.
We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.378,- and € 5.331,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.
Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong, Assistant Professor, telephone +31-317-482428  or by e-mail: via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina. 

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Edgar Tijhuis, corporate recruiter, via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
To apply, please send the following documentation via the ‘apply now’ button:

• your motivation letter;
• your CV, with two references;
• a sample of your academic work – e.g. thesis, research paper or published article;
• a brief research idea (max. 1,500 words). In this research idea you should explain how you would design and develop a potential idea for a research grant proposal in the broad subject area, considering your own expertise, experience, and intellectual interests and the fit with the Cultural Geography Chair Group.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 30 June 2025. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in July 2025.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.
We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.