2 year Postdoc researcher in the anthropology of marine conservation in Indonesia

The Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) is looking for an enthusiastic early career post-doc researcher in the anthropology of marine nature conservation in Indonesia. The position is for 1 year, with the intention of extension with a second year, depending on performance.

• Scientific/Non-scientific: Academic staff
• Institute: KITLV
• Location: Leiden
• Minimum hours per week: 32
• Contract duration: 1 year

Your workplace

The postdoc will apply ethnographic methods to study the governance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Eastern Indonesia, with a specific focus on the impact of tourism.

This project approaches MPAs as complex social-ecological institutions, in which ecological health, local livelihoods, governance, economic activities, and place-specific contestations of power, authority, and world views intersect. MPA governance involves a multitude of local, national and international actors and stakeholders, who have different views about the relationship between people and their marine environments. Tourism, in this context, is a double-edged sword. It may bring local groups in, allowing for alternative sources of MPA funding and livelihood strategies within a broader paradigm of sustainability and local agency, or it may drive stakeholders apart when the development of MPAs leads to exclusion of certain groups when economic opportunities are monopolized or appropriated, or fail to materialize.

The aim is to develop distinct local cases to analyse various understandings of the role of MPAs and the ways in which different forms of environmental knowledge clash or synergize in the context of marine conservation. Actively involving local academic and non-academic partners, the postdoc will study the nature of these tensions and interactions and how they might be overcome to produce more effective, just, and inclusive forms of MPA governance.

This position is part of a research project titled “TIDE-MPAs: Tourism Impact Dashboard for Social-Ecological-System Resilience in Marine Protected Areas.” This project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology and led by Dr. Lisa Becking (Naturalis Biodiversity Center) and Beginer Subhan (IPB University). As a transdisciplinary and co-creative project, TIDE-MPAs seeks to synergize between marine science, social science, and practical work in marine conservation in Indonesia and the Caribbean. The postdoc will be the main researcher in a Work Package on local knowledge and authority in MPAs coordinated by Dr. David Kloos and Dr. Sikko Visscher (KITLV). They are also expected to work closely with the postdoc researcher/project coordinator at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, and to synergize with project staff in Indonesia and collaborating NGOs.

What you will be doing

• Carrying out autonomous ethnographic field research in one or more locations in Eastern Indonesia (specifically Maluku and/or West Papua).
• Leading at least two publications on the subject of local knowledge and governance in Marine Protected Areas.
• Supporting collaboration with key stakeholders in the broader project, including academic stakeholders, NGOs, and local partners.
• Contribute to an MPA tourism impact dashboard and tailored policy guidelines together with MPA managers, conservation professionals, and community leaders.
• Helping to organize and support joint fieldwork, workshops, consortium meetings and project events, together with the PIs and the coordinating Postdoc at Naturalis.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a talented, enthusiastic and committed cultural or social anthropologist, or a social scientist with proven experience with ethnographic methods. You are grounded in, or have affinity with, the field(s) of environmental anthropology, political ecology, and/or Science & Technology Studies. You are able to work autonomously and independently, but you also know when to seek help when necessary. You enjoy collaborating with colleagues, coordinators, and external partners and are active in maintaining your network. You have an open mind toward other scientific disciplines and non-academic perspectives and concerns.

What you will be contributing

• A PhD-degree in anthropology, political ecology, or a related discipline;
• Experience with carrying out fieldwork in Indonesia;
• Fluency or proficiency in Indonesian language skills;
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills;
• A track record of scholarly publications;
• The ability to take initiatives and solve problems;
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with an open mind for different approaches and perspectives;
• A willingness to travel overseas for extended periods.

A demonstrated experience with the practical field of marine nature conservation and relevant networks in that field are considered advantages. If you do not meet all of the above requirements, but think that you are equipped for this task and a good prospective member of our team, then convince us in your application. We are open to different perspectives.

About the KITLV

The Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV-KNAW) is an Academy research institute. The KITLV conducts interdisciplinary and comparative historical research. Its research focus is Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, with an emphasis on Indonesia and the ‘Dutch’ Caribbean. It is particularly interested in such issues as state formation, violence and citizenship, processes of mobility and the formation of ethnic and national identity. KITLV is active in the humanities, social sciences and comparative area studies and works closely with Leiden University.

Terms of employment

The position is for 1 year, with the intention of extension with a second year, depending on performance. Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is 3.706 and the maximum salary is 5.760 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 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).

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