PhD Position in Early Modern Religious Debates Public Sphere

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in the Low Countries many public religious debates were organized between, for example, Calvinists and Mennonites, or Catholics and Lutherans. Their written reports constitute an under explored treasure of information about the religious dynamics following the Reformation and the development of a public sphere.

A PhD position is available within the NWO-funded project“In Search of the Truth, in Search of Adherents”. This interdisciplinary project investigates early modern religious debates in the Dutch language.

As a PhD candidate, you will investigate early modern religious debates using digital humanities methods and tools. You will analyse how participants drew on classical and ecclesiastical traditions, examining how different religious groups appropriated and used these traditions to support their arguments and distinguish themselves from their opponents. In addition to conducting your own research, you will contribute to the preparation of a critical edition of early modern Dutch-language debates.

You will also help develop and refine methods and tools for producing digital critical editions, making them more effective and widely applicable.

You will work closely with a second PhD candidate in the project, whose research focuses on the rhetorical and argumentative strategies employed by participants in religious debates and the role of these debates in the emergence of a public sphere. Together, the two PhD projects will offer complementary perspectives on the practices, intellectual traditions, and wider cultural significance of early modern religious debate.

This position offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of digital humanities and religious history, combining historical research with the development and application of digital methods. A full description of the project is available upon request.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research and write a PhD dissertation, as well as academic articles.
• Contribute to knowledge exchange and public engagement activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of a critical edition of early modern Dutch-language religious debates.
• Help develop, refine, and improve methods and tools for producing digital critical editions.
• Contribute to the activities of the research group, research section, and department.
• Participate in relevant courses and training offered by the Graduate School and NOSTER.

• A research master's degree in a humanities discipline, such as digital humanities, religious history, church history, history, or philosophy.
• Demonstrable proficiency in digital humanities methods and tools, including hands‑on experience in applying computational or data‑driven approaches to humanities research.
• The ability to independently select, apply, and critically evaluate digital methods and tools in addressing historical research questions.
• Knowledge of early modern Dutch religious history.
• The ability to read, interpret, and analyse relevant early modern sources.
• The ability to collaborate across disciplines and contribute actively to a research team.
• An excellent command of both Dutch and English.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VUAmsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for abetter world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offeryou:

• a salary of € 3.204,00 (PhD) and maximum € 4.051,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full‑time employment
• an employment contract of initially 18 months. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years.

The starting date of the contract will be April 1, 2027.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and…