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The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) invites applications for a

Postdoctoral researcher within the project The Poetics of Olfaction in Early Modernity (POEM) (0.9 fte, 2.25 years)

The Postdoc will be working within the Open Competition M research project The Poetics of Olfaction in Early Modernity, which is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), runs from 1 September 2023 until 1 September 2027, and is directed by Jan van Dijkhuizen (Universitair hoofddocent at Leiden University).

The project
This project examines the richly variegated ways in which early modern literary writers put the language of smell – or olfaction – to literary use. We refer to this as the ‘poetics of olfaction’: how and to what ends did they evoke smell sensations? What meanings did they attach to smell perception, and to individual scents and smells? How did the volatile and elusive nature of olfaction help authors to explore complex concepts? Our main geographical focus is on early modern England and the Dutch Republic as illuminating case studies for the poetics of olfaction in early modern literature.

Subproject
The specific focus for this Postdoc project will be on the language of olfaction in early modern Dutch literature; this can include drama and poetry in their various manifestations, but also, for example, emblem books, devotional and other religious literature, ego documents, prose fiction and travel literature. We encourage the Postdoc researcher to analyse literary evocations of smell in dialogue with (a) conceptualizations of olfaction in other early modern cultural domains, such as natural philosophy or theology; and (b) modern-day neuroscientific and philosophical understandings of olfaction.

Key responsibilities

• You will conduct research on the language of olfaction in early modern literature in Dutch;
• You will contribute one chapter to the proceedings of the project conference (see below); co-author the introduction to the conference proceedings; and publish one standalone article in a peer-reviewed journal;
• You will co-organize the project conference (scheduled for January 2026) and co-edit the conference proceedings;
• You will present a paper at the project conference;
• You will take part in a lesson project for secondary schools on the language of olfaction in Dutch literature from the Middle Ages to the present day;
• For the conference, conference proceedings and lesson project, you will collaborate principally with Jan van Dijkhuizen and Inger Leemans (VU Amsterdam / KNAW), with whom you will also have regular project meetings;
• You will contribute to the research profile, and participate in the intellectual life, of LUCAS;
• Depending on needs and project progress, this position may involve some teaching and/or thesis supervision in one or more of the BA and MA programmes offered by LUCAS.

Your profile

• You hold a PhD in a relevant discipline, awarded by the time of appointment.
• You have demonstrable experience of carrying out research in early modern culture;
• You have a very good reading ability in early modern Dutch, enabling you to embark on the primary research for this project right away;
• You possess analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing;
• You have demonstrable experience of publishing in English;
• You have proven time management skills;
• You are an independent thinker and a team player;
• You have an affinity with the aims, values and strategy of LUCAS;
• You possess the following competences: conceptual skills, presenting, result orientedness, cooperation, organisational sensitivity.

International candidates are encouraged to apply but must be willing to relocate to the Netherlands for the duration of the project.

The organisation
The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University is a unique international centre for the advanced study of languages, cultures, arts, and societies worldwide, in their historical contexts from prehistory to the present. Our faculty is home to more than 6,000 students and 800 staff members. For more information see: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/.

The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) is one of the seven Academic Institutes of the Faculty of Humanities. The institute hosts a range of academic disciplines, clustered around a key research theme: the relationships between the arts and society. Our members study cultural production over the course of two millennia, from classical antiquity to our contemporary world, and teach in programmes ranging from Classics and Book History to Modern Literature, International Studies and Art History. Strengthened by our diversity, LUCAS members are uniquely placed to study the broad concept of the arts, with its rapidly changing ideas, aesthetics, and theories of cultural production. Through research, teaching and outreach, the Institute aims to deepen our understanding, both inside and outside academia, of the cognitive, historical, cultural, creative, and social aspects of human life.

As an academic community, we strive to create an open and welcoming atmosphere, stimulating everyone to get involved and contribute, and connecting scholars from different fields and backgrounds.

Terms and conditions
We offer a 0.9 FTE position as postdoctoral researcher for 2.25 years. The appointment will start on 1 June 2025. The salary is in accordance with the collective salary agreement of the Association of Dutch Universities (CAO) and depending on qualifications and experience. The gross monthly salary is € 4.060,- (scale 10.4) to € 4.537,- (scale 10.7) for a full working week.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information, see https://www.workingat.leiden.edu/.

Diversity & inclusion
Fostering an inclusive community is a central element of the values and vision of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.

Information
Enquiries can be made to the PI of the project, Jan van Dijkhuizen (j.van.dijkhuizen@hum.leidenuniv.nl).

Questions about the procedure can be directed to Jennifer Dijkman (im-lucas@hum.leidenuniv.nl). Information about LUCAS can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/geesteswetenschappen/centre-for-the-arts-in-society; for information about Leiden University, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en.

Applications

Please submit your application via the online recruitment system, via the blue button at the top of this page, no later than 1 April 2025. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Your application should include:

• A letter of motivation (max. 2 A4);
• A (short) CV including education, employment history, publications, and organisational experience (max. 2 A4);
• A proposal for a short contextualized case study to be explored in more detail in the subproject (max. 2 A4). This could be, for example, a short poem or a passage from a play, read in dialogue with contextual material (taken from the domain of natural philosophy, for example).
• Names, positions, and email addresses of two referees (no reference letters); please list these on your cv rather than entering them separately into the system.

(Online) interviews will take place in the week of 14 April.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.

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