Two PhD Positions (0.9 FTE) in the transnational history of friendship and disability

Universiteit Leiden -
Leiden

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Vacaturegegevens

Fulltime
€ 3.059 - € 3.881 per maand

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Sabbatical

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Frans
Doctor
Schrijfvaardigheden
Engels
Onderzoek
Master
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Job Description

Two PhD Positions (0.9 FTE) in the transnational history of friendship and disability

Job requisition Id: 16577

Job type: PhD positions

Contract hours min: 34

Contract hours max: 34

Location: Leiden

Applying is possible until: 7 juni 2026

Apply now

2 PhD Positions in the transnational history of friendship and disability

The Institute for History at the University of Leiden invites applications for:

Two PhD Positions (0.9 FTE) in the transnational history of friendship and disability

The PhD candidates will become part of the ERC-funded project “Bridging Minds: Disability and Friendship since the 1960s from a Transnational Moral History Perspective” (DisFriend), led by dr. Paul van Trigt. The expected starting date is 1 September 2026.

Project description

This project will follow and contextualize how influential international organizations and communities in which people with and without disabilities have lived and worked together in countries all over the world, constructed, practiced and strived for friendship as a “moral good” since the 1960s. By analyzing under-investigated archival data, published stories, and by conducting oral history interviews, DisFriend will enrich historiography with the history of overlooked but influential counter-hegemonic internationalisms and a rewriting of the history of community care from the perspective of cognitively disabled people. Moreover, DisFriend’s transnational moral history approach opens a new horizon in research on loneliness of marginalized groups beyond national approaches that only highlight vulnerability.

We are looking for candidates to focus on one of the following subprojects:

Globalizing friendship. The first subproject focuses on the way in which international organizations constructed friendship between people with and without cognitive disabilities as a moral good. It studies the global spread of the idea of friendship from a historical perspective, based on archival materials (publications, minutes, correspondence, and reports) and oral history interviews. It investigates for instance, why L’Arche International was successful in countries such as France and Canada, but rarely started communities in Scandinavia and Latin America. Moreover, it places L’Arche in the context of international disability organizations with other aims and concepts such as human rights and studies how friendship played a role (or not) in the policies of influential organizations such as Disabled People International.

Universalizing friendship. The second subproject investigates how friendship was constructed as a moral good in the international literature since the 1960s. It follows how friendship between people with and without cognitive disabilities was perceived by different experts on cognitive disability and by people from other fields such as disability studies, theology, and philosophy. It could for instance study the relatively well-known case of friendship between the theologian Henri Nouwen and the cognitively disabled Adam Arnett. The subproject follows a critical approach by highlighting who did (not) embrace the idea of friendship, by articulating how the voice of disabled people was (not) heard, and by assessing the broader applicability of such cases. The research will mainly be based on published materials (books, articles, reports).

Key responsibilities

Completion of a PhD thesis within four years;

Participation in meetings of the project research group;

Presentations of intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;

Participation in the training programme of the Graduate School;

Co-organizing workshop and conference.

Requirements for PhD candidates

An RMA or MA in history, held by time of appointment, with an MA thesis of high quality. If the degree is not yet obtained at the time of application, a statement by the applicant’s supervisor should confirm that it will be obtained by time of appointment;
Well-developed research skills including archival research;
Ability to work both independently and as part of an (international) team;
Excellent command of English. If you apply for subproject 1, you need a good command of French or a willingness to learn it. In the case of subproject 2, command of French or other languages is an asset because it enables you to study not only English sources;
Good writing skills;
Interest in the history of friendship and disability and/or the history of internationalisms (subproject 1) and/or intellectual history (subproject 2).

About our organisation

Since its founding in 1575, Leiden University has acquired an international reputation for excellent teaching and research. With its staff of over 800, the Faculty of Humanities provides 26 Bachelors and 27 Masters programmes for over 7,200 students based at locations in Leiden and The Hague.

The Institute for History is the home of a vibrant community of researchers and lecturers with outstanding track records and successful in attracting national and international research grants.

Under the label ‘Global Questions, Local Sources’ scholars affiliated to the Institute combine a deep knowledge of global interactions and of specific localities, regions and states in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. They use comparative, connective and entangled approaches and resort to qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. For more information on the Institute for History: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities/institute-for-history/phd-programme .

Diversity and Inclusion

Leiden University’s Institute for History embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized backgrounds to apply.

Terms and Conditions

We offer a full-time position for initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the thesis, personal capabilities and compatibility the appointment will be extended by a further three years. Salary range from €3.059,- to €3.881,- gross per month (pay scale P, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

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

Information

For more information, contact dr. Paul van Trigt, [email protected]

Applications

Applications should be submitted in English and include a:

Cover letter;

Research proposal (maximum 500 words) which states how you would approach the two subprojects (or one of them);

Curriculum vitae, including publications (if applicable);

Copy of MA thesis.

Applications should be submitted no later than 7 June via the blue button in our application system. Please quote the vacancy number in your application. All requested documents should be sent in PDF format.

An interview with the search committee (planned on 29 June 2026) is part of the procedure. A list of two referees (with email addresses and phone numbers) will be required at a later stage of the application. You do not need to enter details about referees at this stage.

Apply now

Information at a Glance

Faculty / Unit: Faculty of Humanities

Contact with (Name + position): Paul van Trigt

Contact Email address: [email protected]

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2 PhD Positions in the transnational history of friendship and disability

Project description

Key responsibilities

Requirements for PhD candidates

About our organisation

Diversity and Inclusion

Terms and Conditions

Information

Applications

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