PhD Position in JUST PRACTICES: Artistic Research, Curating and Climate Justice
Institution: University of Amsterdam (UvA)
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities – Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture (AHM)
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Project: JUST ART: Creating Common Grounds for Climate Justice through Artistic Research
Contract: Full-time (38 hours/week), 48 months (initial 16 months + 32 months upon positive evaluation)
Start Date: 1 September 2026 (preferred)
Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 gross per month (scale P) + 8% holiday allowance + 8.3% year-end bonus
Application Deadline: 13 March 2026
About the Project
Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position on museums, curating and multispecies justice, as part of the NWO-funded consortium project JUST ART: Creating Common Grounds for Climate Justice through Artistic Research.
JUST ART is a six-year research programme on climate justice and artistic research across the Caribbean and European parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Led by the University of Groningen and funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the consortium includes five Dutch universities, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), and four universities of applied sciences.
The project explores how artistic practice and artistic research can generate new forms of knowledge and action in response to the climate crisis. It brings together artists, researchers, campaigners and communities to develop diverse strategies of climate justice through creative practice.
This PhD is one of ten doctoral projects within the wider JUST ART programme.
Research Focus
Within the broader theme of artistic research and climate justice, this doctoral project investigates curatorial practices and multispecies justice, with a particular focus on museums and cultural spaces in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Multispecies justice foregrounds the interests of nonhumans — including animals, plants, forests, rivers and ecological systems — in claims for justice. It challenges political, legal and cultural frameworks to account for more-than-human life.
The project will combine theoretical and practice-based research and may include:
- Investigating current approaches to multispecies justice within and beyond the cultural field
- Engaging with artists, curators and cultural practitioners in the Netherlands and internationally
- Co-creating a new curatorial intervention modelling multispecies and climate justice approaches in arts and culture
The exact scope of the project will be developed in dialogue with the selected candidate and supervisors.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct original doctoral research on curating and multispecies justice
- Write and submit a PhD dissertation within the period of appointment
- Publish at least one peer-reviewed article
- Present research at workshops and conferences
- Contribute to JUST ART publications and knowledge-sharing platforms
- Participate in consortium workshops, writing retreats and collaborative activities
- Engage with societal partners and support knowledge exchange initiatives
- Participate in Research School and Faculty PhD training programmes
- (Co-)teach BA-level courses (maximum 0.2 FTE per year in years 2–3)
PhD candidates will also take part in seminars hosted by Dutch National Research Schools such as NICA or OSK.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should have:
- A completed Master’s or Research Master’s degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Cultural Studies, Heritage Studies, Artistic Research or a related field
- Demonstrated research excellence (e.g. Master’s thesis)
- Strong theoretical grounding combined with applied knowledge of curating
- Experience with (co-)curating projects related to climate and ecology
- A collaborative attitude and interest in team-based research
- Excellent written and spoken English (Dutch desirable)
- Strong communication and presentation skills
Prior knowledge of multispecies justice frameworks is desirable.
Please note: Candidates who already hold a PhD or are currently enrolled in a doctoral programme are not eligible.
Contract & Benefits
- 48-month employment contract (16 months + 32 months upon positive evaluation)
- Monthly gross salary from €3,059 (year 1) to €3,881 (year 4)
- 8% holiday allowance + 8.3% year-end allowance
- Tuition fee waiver
- 232 vacation hours per year (full-time basis)
- Pension scheme (ABP)
- Access to Graduate School and National Research School courses
- Professional development and training opportunities
- International academic environment in central Amsterdam
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via the University of Amsterdam’s official application portal before 13 March 2026.
For full details and application instructions, please visit the official vacancy page on the University of Amsterdam website.