Professor of Architectural and Urban History

Faculty/Services: Faculty of Humanities 

Educational level: PhD 

Function type: Academic Staff 

The Faculty of Humanities employs just under 1,000 employees, and approximately 8,000 students study there. The faculty consists of eight departments: Philosophy, Dutch Studies, Media Studies, Art and Cultural Studies, History, European Studies and Religious Studies, Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, Modern Foreign Languages and Cultures, and Literature and Linguistics. Each department is composed of capacity groups, which consist of one or more professors and a number of employees who work in the relevant field. 

The Department of Art and Cultural Studies has a vacancy for a full professorship in: 

Architectural and Urban History 1,0 FTE (permanent position) 

What will you do? 

Context of the chair

The Professor of Architectural and Urban History is affiliated with the Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH) and the Arts and Culture department (more specifically the Art History chair group). The basis for the chair is the historical approach of architecture from an art history perspective: this is of fundamental importance in order to ensure the necessary broad Humanities outlook for interdisciplinary research and teaching within and outside the UvA. In addition, the perspective will be broadened to include urban history, with special attention in the research dedicated to the experience of the urban environment; a more international interpretation that does not yet exist in the Netherlands. The new colleague to be appointed will therefore have architectural history experience with an added focus on contemporary urban history and urban design history, as well as the interplay between the built and natural environment, in which environmental history experience (the role of the historical city in its natural environment) is extremely desirable. The focus in this regard will be on a historical perspective that can be linked to modern-day problems of the urban and architectural living environment. This means that expertise in various approaches to the built environment, for example based on experience of the living environment (perception of the environment) will be expected. 

The professor will be responsible, in particular, for teaching in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Art History, as well as in the Bachelor in Global Arts, Culture and Politics. The professor will play a significant role in both the teaching for the Master’s track Stadsgeschiedenis (Urban History) within the department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies and for various other degree programmes. In addition, the new professor is expected to undertake administrative tasks. 

The chair will provide a strong starting point for the aforementioned collaborations within the University, but also with researchers and external institutions, such as Arcam, Het Nieuwe Instituut, the Cultural Heritage Agency, urban authorities and NGOs. The professor is expected to play a leading role in these types of collaborations. 

Teaching

The professor will first be responsible for the Architectural History components within the Art History capacity group (capaciteitsgroep Kunstgeschiedenis). Architectural History is one of the four chair groups within the Art History capacity group, in addition to Medieval Art History (Middeleeuwse kunstgeschiedenis), Art History of the Early Modern Period (Kunstgeschiedenis van de nieuwere tijd), and Modern and Contemporary Art History (Moderne en hedendaagse kunstgeschiedenis). Approximately a quarter of the compulsory curriculum of the BA is therefore provided by the Architectural History chair group. In addition to these components, Architectural History also provides three successful BA specialisations, which can also be taken as electives (see also Minor):  Ontwerpen voor de moderne stad (Designing for the Modern City); Dit is Amsterdam: identiteit en beeldvorming in kunst en architectuur (This is Amsterdam: identity and perception in art and architecture) and Reparatie en imitatie. Over het gebouwde erfgoed in het ‘eigentijdse’ Amsterdam. Over het gebouwde erfgoed in het 'eigentijdse' Amsterdam. (Repair and imitation. About the built heritage in ‘contemporary Amsterdam). 

Secondly, the professor will make an important contribution to the minor Architectuur en Stedenbouw (minor in Architecture and Urban Planning). This is taken annually by approx. 20 students (mostly Human Geography, Urban and Regional Planning, and Geography students, in addition to students from other studies, including English, Economics, Communication Science, Philosophy, Sociology and Anthropology). The minor also provides a basis for the interdisciplinary Master’s track Stadsgeschiedenis (Urban History, department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies: approx. 5 minor students move on to this track annually. Finally, the professor will play an important role in the BA programme Global Arts, Culture and Politics, particularly the major in Sustainability). 

Research

The professor will conduct research within the research school Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH). It is important for the research school that the professor’s research ties in with the new methodological and theoretical developments within architectural history that also considers, in addition to the built environment, the urban perception of the environment from a social perspective and sensory experience. An additional expertise in the interplay between the built and natural environment is desirable. The new professor will take a central position within the Centre for Urban History within ASH. This centre has developed into an important pillar within ASH for interdisciplinary research into the history of the city from antiquity to the present day, with approximately 35 staff members from various disciplines. The professor is expected to assume a connecting and guiding role within this centre. In addition, the professor will be responsible for setting up broad interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers within the Faculty of Humanities (FGw) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA), for example with Urban Studies within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG), leading to individual or group applications for research financing (ERC, NWO, NWA, etc.). In addition, an international orientation (with corresponding network) is desirable in order to guarantee the leading role of the chair in Amsterdam within a field that is increasingly globally oriented. 

The newly appointed professor is further expected to have knowledge of contemporary, innovative and digital research methods, which provide insight into issues about the digital built environment, the digital city (also an important theme within the MA track Urban History) and the living environment, and to collaborate with researchers in Creative Amsterdam: An E-Humanities perspective, and the 4D-Research Lab. 

It is expected that the professor to be appointed will be able to enthuse and mentor young researchers; that the professor will have experience in PhD supervision and be able to contribute to creating a safe and stimulating environment for PhD candidates. The professor will also bear responsibility for actively recruiting PhD candidates by means of submitting grant applications in the Netherlands and abroad. 

Leadership

The professor to be appointed will preside over the Architectural History chair group with five staff members, which will include two lecturers, a professor by special appointment and two assistant professors, and will have to perform administrative duties at the level of the educational administration (programme director BA of MA), research organisation (e.g. research director of ASH or the national research school for art history) and/or at departmental level (capacity group chair Art History, departmental chair Arts and Culture). Expansion of the administrative capacity is needed within these various levels. Given the desire to create an environment for employees and students that is safe and inclusive, it is of vital importance that the professor to be appointed possesses organisational sensitivity and exercises leadership that is appropriate in this regard. 

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• teaching Architectural and Urban History, including supervising Bachelor’s and Master’s theses;
• contributing to innovation and improvement of the curriculum in the field of Architectural and Urban History;
• addressing research themes and projects within the chair group and research groups;
• actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, on national as well as European level;
• carrying out HR responsibilities within the Architectural History chair group;
• carrying out administrative and management tasks within the Department and Faculty. 

What expertise do we require of you? 

Successful candidates for the position are expected to meet the following requirements.

You:

• hold a PhD in Architectural History or a related academic field;
• have an excellent international academic reputation and publication profile, which match the research themes of ASH;
• have an affinity with inclusive, polyphonous historical scholarship and digital methods;
• are an experienced and engaged teacher at all levels of academic training;
• have expertise in developing and renewing teaching programmes at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels;
• can show a track record of applying for/acquiring external research funding;
• have experience with attracting and supervising PhD projects and junior researchers;
• have proven management and leadership qualities and are a dedicated administrator;
• have a broad national and international network with academic and cultural institutions;
• have an affinity with outreach and knowledge exchange beyond academic settings;
• have a Dutch Basic Teaching Qualification, or a willingness to acquire one within the first two years of your appointment;
• have a good command of Dutch and English. If you are not fluent in Dutch, you have a willingness to pass the State Exam Dutch as a Second Language (NT2), programme II within two years of the employment contract. The Faculty will assist in this process. 

Please also check the document ‘Information about chairs at the Faculty of Humanities’ for more information. 

We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and are especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and/or service, to this mission. We particularly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. 

Our offer 

The appointment will be permanent. The gross salary will normally conform to professorial scale 2, between €6,099 and €8,881 gross per month (€85,117 - €123,943 per annum, including 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year payment) on a full-time basis (38 hours per week) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU). In certain cases, however, different terms of employment may be offered. 

Curious about our organisation and attractive fringe benefits, such as a generous holiday arrangement and development opportunities? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam. 

About us 

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 42,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity. 

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in the field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes. 

Any questions? 

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact (during office hours):

• for questions about the profile: Prof. Kati Röttger, chair of the Department of Art and Cultural Studies;
• for procedural questions: Charlotte Jalvingh, secretary of the selection committee. 

Job Application 

Do you recognise yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application, addressed to The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Marieke de Goede. 

You can apply online via the link below. Applications in Dutch or English, including a motivation letter, a detailed CV and a list of publications, should be submitted as a single PDF file. 

The response period will close on 26 April 2023. Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered. 

Applications will be received by a selection committee headed by the chair of the Department of Art and Cultural Studies, Prof. Kati Röttger. Following a procedure which may involve a formal leadership assessment and a trial lecture, the committee will make its final recommendation to the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. The first interviews will be held around June 2023. 

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity. 

No agencies please.