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Vacancy title: Postdoctoral researcher: Genealogies of ‘humanity’ in Islamic charity’
The project, “Entangled Universals of transnational Islamic Charity”, a European Research Council-funded Consolidator Grant (ERC-CoG), led by Dr. Radhika Gupta, and hosted by Leiden University’s Institute of Cultural Anthropology & Development Sociology, is looking for a postdoctoral fellow working at the intersection of the Anthropology of Islam, Religious Studies, and Islamic Studies. This is a two-year fully funded position with a possibility for extension.

The project investigates how transnational Islamic charities are positioning themselves as universalist projects by claiming humanity as their constituency. As the lines between charity, philanthropy, humanitarianism and development have become blurred, transnational Islamic charity has become entangled with Western humanitarianism and neoliberal welfare regimes, reconfiguring conceptions of humanity. One of the key objectives of the project is to undertake research on conceptions of humanity and cognate concepts (human, humane, humanism) in Islamic traditions to understand ideas and ideologies of human worth, dignity, duties, rights, and obligations in Islamic charity.

What you will do
You will undertake textual and ethnographic research on key concepts, thinkers, and genealogies of conceptions of humanity in the Islamic discursive tradition as they relate to Islamic charity and citations from the Quran and Hadith by transnational Islamic charities.

• Identify and research key texts by thinkers in the Islamic discursive tradition that illuminate concepts of humanity and Islamic charity with the objective of writing two peer-reviewed articles and/or a monograph
• Undertake comparative work with the PI of the project on conceptions of humanity and the human between western enlightenment and secularized discourses of humanity and Islamic thought and traditions
• Do ethnographic research on citations from the hadith and Quran by Islamic charitable networks
• Conduct joint fieldwork with the PI in transnational Islamic charities headquartered in the Gulf
• Participate in meetings and proceedings of the project (e.g. reading groups, co-writing initiatives) and the wider activities of the Institute of Cultural Anthropology & Development Sociology
• Co-organise and participate in academic and public events related to the project
  

Where you will work
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences consists of five institutes: Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Political Science, and Psychology. The faculty has approximately 7000 students and 1000 staff members. Within the institutes, not only education is provided but also groundbreaking research is conducted that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of human behaviour and societal structures. What makes our faculty unique is the diversity of research topics, the various styles of teaching, and the way professional support is organized; this provides you with the opportunity to explore and develop your interests and expertise. Visit our website for an impression: Welcome to the Leiden Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences - Leiden University.

Leiden University's Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (CADS)
Leiden University's Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology concentrates on 'global vulnerability and social resilience'. The institute has three main themes: diversity, sustainability, and digitalisation. CADS is dedicated to making a real-world impact, not just studying change, but also working with communities to promote positive change through education and research. We use a unique approach that blends qualitative, quantitative, audiovisual, and digital methods based on ethnographic fieldwork.

With our unique blend of interdisciplinary interests, comparative regional studies, and social science research methods, we emphasize our role in the extensive collaborative network within Leiden University. In both our research and education, we engage in extensive interdisciplinary and international networks.

What you bring

• A PhD degree in Sociocultural Anthropology (with research on Islam), Religious Studies, or Islamic Studies
• Ability to read and speak Arabic
• Excellent research skills that combine textual and ethnographic research
• Ability and enthusiasm for independent and collaborative research
• Good command of English (speaking and writing)
• Teamwork and organisational skills

To apply, please submit (deadline 15 June 2025)

• CV (max. 3 pages)
• Cover letter, outlining your motivation for this position (max. 2 pages)
• Research proposal (max. 2 pages)
• Names and contact details of two referees

If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if do you not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application!

What we offer
Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

You can expect an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• An employment contract for 38 hours per week, initially for a period of two years, with the possibility of extension for one to two years. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary of a minimum of € 3378 and a maximum of €5331 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (scale 10);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop and a mobile telephone (if applicable for the position).

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden

What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

Want to apply or find out more?
If you want to apply straight away, click the application button.
If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Dr. Radhika Gupta at r.gupta@fsw.leidenuniv.nl. You can apply until 15 June 2025; applications will be processed within a month.

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden

• We believe mobility is very important. That is why we are also publishing this vacancy internally. In case of equal suitability, we will give priority to the internal candidate.
• A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this. #LI-Hybrid

Apply now