Show Listing

Postdoc Description
The postdoc will be part of a research team of one PhD student and a senior researcher focusing on absorption in film (University of Amsterdam), and one PhD student and a senior researcher examining absorption in literature (Utrecht University). The postdoc will work at the Research Institute for History and Culture (Faculty of Humanities, Utrecht University).

Central to the project are the mechanisms that underlie absorption. We want to know what it is in the text or film (e.g., absence or presence of visual and sonic stimulation, character features shown in film or described by an omniscient narrator) that makes it absorbing.

The aim of the postdoc's research is to make a comparative analysis of film and literature and the kinds of absorbing experiences they afford. Furthermore, it will be investigated how absorption relates to aesthetic experiences. Finally, it will be examined how experiences of absorption are associated with after-effects these experiences may generate (e.g., a sense of well-being, future media choices, appreciation of life, feeling inspired, persuasion). The research the postdoc will be involved in is both qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative in nature (experiment, survey).

Since we are working closely together as a team, we are looking for candidates who function well in such contexts. Also, considering the research plan, we select candidates who are already well-trained in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Requirements

PhD Psychology or equivalent with experience in research in emotions provoked by narrative texts, works of art, media, music.



Conditions of employment

We offer a full-time position to a maximum of 2 years, with a gross monthly salary in the range between € 3.195- and maximum € 4.374,- gross per month on a full-time basis depending on experience and qualifications. The chosen candidate will be offered an initial contract for 1 year beginning January 2012, which, upon positive evaluation, will be extended with one more year.

Utrecht University offers a pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% per year and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities.

Organisation

Utrecht University is one of the largest and most prominent centers for research and education. With almost 7,000 students and close to 900 staff, the Faculty of Humanities offers a stimulating, dynamic working environment. Our educational and research programs focus on language, culture, history, the arts, literature, media, philosophy and theology, from the Ancient World to the present. Key areas are interdisciplinary work and international cooperation, excellent quality of research and education, and the use of new media. Research takes place in four institutes:

• Research institute for History and Culture (OGC);

• Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS (UiL OTS);

• ZENO (Leiden-Utrecht research institute for philosophy);

• Research Institute for Theology and Religious Studies (INTEGON).

The Utrecht University Graduate School of Humanities guarantees the high quality of education for research master’s and PhD students.

Research Institute for History and Culture

Over 300 researchers are employed by the Research Institute for History and Culture (OGC). The research of OGC is divided into eleven groups: classical antiquity, medieval culture, cultural history, media studies, music history, art history, (early) modern literature, Oriental studies, international political history, socio-economic history and women's studies. Some of this research, namely the contract research, is done on behalf of third parties. Internationalization has a high priority within the OGC. It has exchange contracts with a number of foreign universities including UCLA in the United States.

Additional information

On the website of the Research Institute for History and Culture you will find more information on the project: http://www.uu.nl/faculty/humanities/EN/research/researchinstitutes/ogc/research/researchprogrammes/mediaandperformancestudies/research/Pages/VarietiesofAbsorption.aspx

If you are interested you can receive detailed information including the project proposal from the Research Institute for History (ogc@uu.nl). Further information can be provided by the project leader (f.hakemulder@uu.nl) and co-projectleader (e.s.h.tan@uu.nl).