This is a unique opportunity to be part of TWO ERC projects!
SevenFrontiers and Trifecta are teaming up to gain a deeper understanding of commodities trade through computational methods, and we are looking for a savvy PhD candidate to make this happen with us.
The aim of the ERC-funded SevenFrontiers project is to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the immense transformative effects of commodity frontiers in the Global South that fed the rise of early industrial capitalism, in the decisive years between the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the opening of the Suez Canal in in 1869. For further information see: https://iisg.amsterdam/nl/blog/erc-grant-sevenfrontiers-project
Your task will be to map commodity trade in the seven most exported commodities from the Global South in these years (sugar, cotton, coffee, tea, precious metals (gold/silver), opium, and cereals). This will be done through automated reading of digitized newspapers and other relevant documents in search for trade-related data (prices, volumes, qualities, transactions and actors). You will develop and evaluate language and semantic web technology to identify and trace these concepts and to study the impact of digital processing tools on the hermeneutical practice of historical research.
You will conduct your research under the supervision of Prof. Ulbe Bosma (IISH) and dr. Marieke van Erp (head Digital Humanities Research Lab (DHLab) of KNAW Humanities). At the IISH you will be part of larger team of a postdoctoral researcher, 2 PhD researchers and student assistants. You will also work with the TRIFECTA team in adapting and advancing their tooling for the SevenFrontiers project. You will therefore also be part of DHLab and the TRIFECTA team.
What you bring to the table:
- an open-minded and collaborative attitude towards doing groundbreaking digital humanities research;
- a firm grasp on computational methods and a willingness to achieve proficiency in historical research methods or as a historian a willingness to achieve proficiency in computational methods;
- a finished MA in history or a related field or MSc in language technology, semantic web or a related field by the starting date of the project;
- an excellent command of English;
- proficiency in one or two other project languages such as French and Spanish is a bonus.
What we offer:
- a fun and inspiring research environment;
- a salary and secondary benefits (in the Netherlands, PhD candidates are employees);
- a supervision and support structure beyond your core supervisors (HuC has PhD coordinators and you will benefit from working closely with other PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers);
- workplaces in multiple monumental buildings (both IISH and DHLab are housed in buildings where some of the history you are investigating actually happened);
- the opportunity to become a digital humanist.
For more information
Please contact: Prof. Ulbe Bosma, ubo@iisg.nl
Application procedure
Please submit a cover letter that includes a motivation on why you want to work on this project, a 1-page research statement and a CV with the names of two references. Submit your application via the recruitment system. Application deadline: 1 July 2025.
