PhD Position in Infrastructural Ideologies in the EU, Russia, and China

Are you looking for a challenging position in a dynamic setting? The Amsterdam School for Regional, Transnational and European Studies (ARTES)currently has a vacant PhD position as part of the critical infrastructure lab, led by main researcher Niels ten Oever, PhD. ARTES is one of the five Research Schools within the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR).

What are you going to do?

You will write a PhD thesis under the supervision of Dr. Niels ten Oever. You will use advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods to interrogate the geopolitics that play out in the reordering of material communication infrastructures of China, Russia, and the European Union.

Transnational communication networks have existed since 1865, but at the beginning of inter-state conflicts submarine cables would be cut. Currently, internet cables circle the globe and China, Russia, and the European Union are interconnected through the internet. Neither the war in Ukraine nor tensions between the US and China have changed that. This research will examine how the EU, China, and Russia seek to inscribe their norms and values by shaping informational flows and controls in their respective communication networks while maintaining interconnectivity with other networks. The research analyses the target countries’ policy-industry-research-implementation pipeline, to understand how their information networks take shape.

The PhD researcher will engage in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of policy documents, technical documents, mailing lists, and network measurements and validate their findings through elite interviews.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• submission of a PhD thesis within the period of appointment;
• conducting research on infrastructural ideologies and the structuration of internet infrastructures;
• gathering and analysing of policy documents, technical documents, and research papers;
• interviewing policy makers, civil society experts, equipment manufacturers, and network operators;
• presenting intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
• publishing two peer-reviewed articles;
• participating in meetings of the lab and developing a shared database;
• participant observation during industry conferences and workshops;
• co-organising knowledge dissemination activities.
• (Co-)teaching courses at the BA-level in the 2nd and 3rd year of the appointment (max. 0,2FTE per year)
• assisting with administrative responsibilities related to the project (ca. 10% of the time), such as the organization of workshops, conferences, or other project events.
• Participation in the Research School and Faculty of Humanities training programmes.

What do you have to offer?

You will be part of the critical infrastructure lab at University of Amsterdam. You are passionate about engaged research, enjoy working in a multidisciplinary academic team, and are interested in engaging with policy makers, engineers, and researchers. You thoroughly like theory and theory-development, but you enjoy it most when you see it in action. You are inspired by working in a cross-cultural environment, are enthusiastic about collaborative knowledge production. You are excited about following infrastructures from the sea to roofs, from code to solder, and from PCB to fibre and are equally eager to don an orange critical infrastructure lab overall. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty of Humanities with the goal of obtaining the degree of PhD.

Your experience and profile

Candidates need to have the following qualifications:

• a completed Master's degree in political science, communication sciences, science and technology studies, media studies, international relations, European studies, or a related field. You may apply if you have not yet completed your Master's degree only if you provide a signed letter from your supervisor stating that you will graduate before 15 August 2024;
• excellent research skills demonstrated by an outstanding Master's thesis and a demonstrable capacity to develop a track record of publishing in high-ranking journals and/or with leading presses;
• a strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research;
• enthusiasm for communicating academic research to non-academic audiences;
• good command of English;
• ability to read and speak Russian and/or Chinese.

Please note that if you already hold a doctorate/PhD or are working towards obtaining a similar degree elsewhere, you will not be admitted to a doctoral programme at the UvA.

What can we offer you?

We offer a temporary employment contract for the period of 48 months. The first contract will be for 16 months, with an extension for the following 32 months, contingent on a positive performance evaluation within the first 12 months. The employment contract is for 38 hours a week. The preferred starting date is 01 September 2024.

Your salary, depending on relevant experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges from € 2,770 up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. Favourable tax agreements may apply to applicants moving from abroad. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

What else do we offer?

• PhD candidates receive a tuition fee waiver;
• PhD candidates have free access to courses offered by the Graduate School of Humanities and the Dutch National Research Schools;
• excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;
• an inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam;
• an enthusiastic and professional academic team.