The Department of World Archaeology of the Faculty of Archaeology is looking for an

Assistant Professor (‘UD’) Archaeology of West Asia

Profile

We seek a talented Assistant Professor (0.8 fte) to reinforce the Faculty’s well known research and education in the Archaeology of West Asia between ca 10.000 and 300 BCE.

Embedded at one of the leading archaeology institutes, the holder of this position will complement existing research expertise on the archaeology of West Asia, in geographic or temporal focus, or both. The candidate will be a strong and original researcher. The research of the candidate should articulate with heritage themes and aspects of archaeological sciences, to strengthen the Faculty’s research community. Candidates with an active research focus on the archaeology of West Asia, as manifested in publications, research projects, and fieldwork projects, are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in Archaeology, have a strong early career research record, combined with evidence of teaching experience, and a talent for grant acquisition. Applicants should have at least 3 years of post-PhD work experience and be comfortable with teaching a range of classes. The position will contribute to the breadth of the Faculty of Archaeology teaching programmes, from intro-level regional and comparative undergraduate courses as well as specialized graduate seminars, geared to foreground the Faculty’s research on the Archaeology of West Asia. Participation in general courses, such as archaeological method and/or theory, may also be asked.

The position requires fluency in English. If the applicant does not speak Dutch, they will be expected to acquire a good command of Dutch, i.e. level B1, within two years of the start of the appointment.

Key tasks

• Delivering lectures and tutorials for the World Archaeology department, including intro and upper-level classes, in both the Bachelor and Master courses;
• Supervising Bachelor and Master students as well as Teaching Assistants;
• Designing and conducting independent research in the archaeology of West Asia;
• Acquiring research funding through national or European funding agencies;
• Taking on roles in the administrative duties of the Faculty.

Selection criteria

• A PhD in the archaeology of West Asia;
• A strong research portfolio and the ability to develop into a research leader in the field;
• A promising track record in obtaining research funding and willingness to prepare grant proposals for relevant funding schemes (e.g., ERC, Horizon Europe, NWO);
• Preferably has a fieldwork project that could be embedded at our Faculty;
• Demonstrable teaching experience (evaluations) and willingness to further professionalise teaching skills;
• Excellent command of English. If the applicant does not speak Dutch, they will be expected to acquire a good command of Dutch, i.e. level B1, within two years of the start of the appointment;
• The candidate is willing to contribute to the success of the Faculty of Archaeology and will take on administrative tasks;
• Demonstrable merit in interdisciplinary and innovative scientific research, as evidenced by a number of scientific publications;
• The possession of a University Teaching Qualification (e.g. BKO) or being prepared to obtain it within three years.

More specifically, we seek candidates with the following qualifications:

• The Department is seeking candidates who demonstrate excellence in teaching and research and who have already made their mark in the Archaeology of West Asia.
• The Department is seeking candidates with an area of expertise that is distinct, yet aligns with current research lines at the Faculty of Archaeology.
• The new colleague should be a team player with a collaborative, supportive and problem-solving attitude who is able to fit into and work in a multidisciplinary team.

Our Faculty
The future of the past begins at Leiden University. The Faculty of Archaeology is internationally leading for its research, home to a broad array of specializations and notable for its strong connection between teaching and research. Home to over 500 students in the multidisciplinary world of Archaeology, the Faculty, and its researchers from all areas of the archaeological field, determine the future of archaeological research. More information about our university and our faculty can be found at: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/archaeology

We offer

• candidates will be appointed in accordance with the Collective Agreement of Dutch Universities, initially for a period of one year, with the expectation of being offered a permanent position after positive evaluation;
• the salary will be dependent on previous qualifications and experience, and ranges between € 3974.- to € 5439.- gross per month on a full-time basis (pay-scale 11);
• Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

Diversity
Leiden University attaches great importance to diversity and therefore welcomes applications from people who are currently under-represented at Leiden.

Applications are particularly welcome from minority ethnic candidates.

Information
For more information about the content of this vacancy, please contact Quentin Bourgeois, Associate Professor in European Prehistory and Chair of the Department of World Archaeology, q.p.j.bourgeois@arch.leidenuniv.nl. More information about Leiden University can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en.

Apply
You can apply via the 'Apply' button. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2023. Applications can be addressed to Josephine Say, Management Assistant at the Department of World Archaeology.

Please attach the following additional documents as one PDF file, stating the job number above:

• A cover letter containing your motivation to apply for this position;
• A CV and list of publications;
• Two recent articles (ideally as links to freely available online publications);
• An overview of your experience with (World) Archaeology courses (max. 1 page), together with a detailed syllabus of the most relevant course;
• If available, the results of the student evaluation of that course;
• A summary of your research profile and plans (max. 1 page)
• A list of 5 selected top publications where you briefly highlight how these align with your research profile);
• The names and contact addresses of two academic referees, at least one of whom may not be the thesis supervisor or your current employer. Letters of recommendation are not necessary at this stage.

The first round of interviews will be scheduled in November or December. Selected candidates will initially be invited for an online interview. We kindly request that you be available (online) during this period.