General Information

Located at the Faculty of Humanities at the Universiteit van Amsterdam, the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA) brings together scholars active in literature, philosophy, visual culture, religious studies, film and media studies, and argumentation theory. Specialists in their own respective fields, they share a commitment to working within an interdisciplinary framework and to maintaining a close connection with contemporary cultural and political debates within society at large and with the cultural institutions outside of the narrow confines of the academic world. Within ASCA they have joined forces to provide a stimulating environment for scholars, professionals, and graduate students both from the Netherlands and abroad.

2012 ASCA PhD Fellowships

Applications are invited for several PhD fellowships at the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis, tenable from September 1, 2012, for a period of up to 4 years. PhD fellows will be employed by the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Amsterdam and receive a monthly salary. ASCA PhD fellows receive a tuition waiver, and have free access to the program of ASCA, NICA and the Graduate School for Humanities in Amsterdam.

Applications should include a description of the proposed research project (max. 2000 words), a full academic CV, and a list of MA grades. Applicants must have a completed MA degree in a relevant field before the start date of the fellowship.

Previous contact with ASCA or its members is not necessary, and international researchers are encouraged to apply. It is the responsibility of ASCA to match successful applicants with an appropriate and qualified supervisor, and we request that you do not specify a potential supervisor at this stage. Proposed projects can be relevant to either one or more specific ASCA projects or to the ASCA program as a whole.

1. Proposal:
The proposal should be concise (max. 2000 words) and address the project's aims and scope, its contribution to scholarship, and its methods (theoretical approach, objects of research, etc). It should be divided into the following categories:

• Provisional title
• Name of candidate
• Summary of 250 words
• Central issues/aims
• Methods
• Objects of research
• Work plan for four years
• Importance for ASCA

2. Academic CV:
The CV should contain full address and contact details, previous education, previous university (or relevant) employment, conference presentations, and publications.

3. MA Scores:
It is not necessary to submit an officially certified list of MA scores. A scan of the list is sufficient. Applicants must have completed all relevant coursework and examinations for the MA by September 2012. If the list of scores is not yet complete, please submit an overview of your scores at the time of application.

Completed applications should be submitted as one PDF file (please do not send multiple attachments) via email before December15th, 2011, 1 p.m. (CET) to: Dr. Eloe Kingma, ASCA, asca-fgw@uva.nl

Late applications will not be accepted.

Procedure:
The applications will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of ASCA members representing the five constellations of the ASCA program: Mediality, Argumentation, Globalization and Migration, Identity, and Cultural and Social Critique.  The committee will make a selection of approximately 8-10 candidates to invite for a 20 minute interview in Amsterdam. Short-listed applicants will be asked to submit a sample of their academic writing (max. 6000 words, for example part of the MA thesis) in advance of the interview.

Final selections will be made immediately following the interviews.

Joining the program as an externally funded PhD candidate

1. Read the ASCA Research Program on the website and decide how your project fits in or contributes to the program. N.B. It is not necessary to fit into only one of the projects, the proposal may relate to more than one projects.

2. Choose a supervisor from the senior members at ASCA ("prof. dr.") on the basis of the information provided in the research program, and under "Members" and in the "Annual Reports" on the website. Contact her/him by sending an e-mail and a first short draft of your proposal (max. 1000 words).

3. Rewrite the proposal according to the advice provided by the supervisor and the guidelines below.

4. Ask your supervisor to write a short statement confirming her/his commitment to the project and an argumentation of how the project contributes to the ASCA program (max. 250 words).

5. Send the proposal, including a c.v., your complete address, and a copy of your passport, together with your supervisor's statement by e-mail to the ASCA office.

N.B. It is important that the length of the proposal does not exceed 2000 words and that it is written in English!

In the Netherlands, scholars are expected to prepare specific proposals, in which central questions, aims, theoretical premises, concepts, the corpus to be studied and proposed methods are described in some detail. General outlines are considered too undeveloped and therefore turned down almost immediately. This requirement is based on the idea that candidates have completed an MA and that the PhD is the core activity and goal of the student.

 The proposal should be divided into the following categories:

- Provisional title
- Name of candidate
- Name of supervisor
- Summary of 250 words
- Central issues/aims
- Methods
- Objects of research
- Work plan for four years
- Importance for ASCA