2 PhD positions in transnational business history at Maastricht University

In cooperation with the Centre for the Social History of Limburg (SHCL) and the Centre for the Regional History of Limburg (RHCL), the Department of History in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers two PhD positions in transnational business history. Transnational business history should be understood in a broad sense, including social, economic, political, cultural and environmental aspects. The empirical emphasis of the projects is on two companies based in the Dutch province of Limburg, which – each in their own way – had a broad transnational outlook.

  1. The atelier Glasschilderkunst F. Nicolas en zonen in Roermond (NL) (1855-1968) and the revival of stained-glass production in Western Europe in the 19th and 20th century (1 fte)

This project NV Glasschilderkunst F. Nicolas en zonen, sedert 1940 Max Weiss, focalizes on a company based in Roermond, producing stained-glass that found its way to churches and public and private buildings in the Netherlands, Belgium and other countries. The archives of the company have recently been catalogued and partly digitized.

The focus and approach of the project will be determined – within the parameters sketched above – by the candidate and the supervision team in the first months after the appointment. Comparative perspectives, for example with other companies or environments, are strongly encouraged. The academic background and interests of the PhD candidate will play a major role in this.

The researcher will be based at Maastricht University, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and undertake a 6-month secondment at the Sociaal Historisch Centrum voor Limburg (Centre for the Social History of Limburg) SHCL, the Netherlands and/or the Regionaal Historisch Centrum voor Limburg (Centre for the Regional History of Limburg), the Netherlands.

Candidates are expected to possess

  • A (research) master’s degree in history or a related field;
  • Excellent (passive) knowledge of Dutch;
  • Outstanding writing skills;
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Supervision team:
Supervisor: Nico Randeraad, Associate Professor, Interim Director Social History Centre for Limburg, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University
Co-supervisor: Ad Knotter, Endowed chair, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University
External supervisor: Joep Leerssen, chair of Modern European Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Amsterdam

 

  1. Mining at the border: the transnational space of the Domaniale Mijn in the 19th and 20th century (1 fte)

This project centres around the Domaniale Mijn, a mining company operating on the border of Dutch and German territory between Kerkrade and Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle). The archives of the company have recently been catalogued and partly digitized.

The focus and approach of the project will be determined – within the parameters sketched above – by the candidate and the supervision team in the first months after the appointment. Comparative perspectives, for example with other companies or environments, are strongly encouraged. The academic background and interests of the PhD candidate will play a major role in this.

Candidates are expected to possess

  • A (Research) Master degree in History or a related field;
  • Excellent (passive) knowledge of Dutch and of German;
  • Outstanding writing skills;
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

The researcher will be based at Maastricht University, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and undertake a 6-month secondment at the Sociaal Historisch Centrum voor Limburg (Centre for the Social History of Limburg) SHCL, the Netherlands and/or the Regionaal Historisch Centrum voor Limburg (Centre for the Regional History of Limburg), the Netherlands.

Supervision team:
Supervisor: Nico Randeraad, Associate Professor, Interim Director Social History Centre for Limburg, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University
Co-supervisor: Ad Knotter, Endowed chair, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University
External supervisor: Ben Gales, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen

For more information on the LIMES PhD Program, co-funded by the European Union, see the program website, http://limes.maastrichtuniversity.nl/vacancies. Any inquiries about the position or the project may be addressed to the supervisor (n.randeraad@maastrichtuniversity.nl).