Two PhD positions in the History and Methodology of Economics at the Universiteit van Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam
Building on its previous research in the history of econometrics, modelling and measurement in economics, the History and Methodology Group of the Faculty of Economics and Business at the UvA is starting a new project. A recently awarded innovational research grant (VIDI) from the Netherlands Science Foundation (NWO) will enable us to write a history of observational practices in economics. We invite applications for Two PhD positions in the History and Methodology of Economics at the Universiteit van Amsterdam full time vacancy number 07-5043 For both internal and external candidates

The project will investigate the observational technologies and practices economists use and used to identify their objects of study and to investigate their nature. The project will link these technologies and practices to three different sites of observation, each of which has its own particular history: the ‘armchair', the ‘observatory' and the ‘laboratory'. The PhD candidates will be expected to write a historical and comparative study on one of the last two mentioned sub-projects.

We ask:
The position is open to excellent students with a Master's or equivalent in Economics, Cognitive Psychology or other social science, or in the History of the Sciences / Social Sciences. The students should have or be ready to acquire knowledge of historical and ethnographical methods of research.

We offer:
An inspiring international research environment. Our group maintains regular contacts with the Economic History Department and the Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Sciences at the LSE in London and at The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin, and with the Economics Department at Duke University and the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan in Paris.

More information
Inquiries about the project should be directed to Dr Harro Maas (email: h.b.j.b.maas@uva.nl, website http://www1.fee.uva.nl/pp/hmaas/). A brief description of the project is available by clicking on the PDF attachment below. An extensive description is available on request. For more information about the Amsterdam History and Methodology Group, see http://www.fee.uva.nl/hme/.
Appointment

The selected PhD candidates will be given full-time contracts for one year (starting 1 February 2008), which will be concluded by an evaluation. Upon positive outcomes, the contracts will be extended for a further three years. The students will be expected to complete their PhD theses by the end of their appointments. The gross monthly salary will range from €1,956 in the first year to €2,502 in the fourth year. The students will spend an extended period at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin.

Job application
Candidates should submit a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, a reflection on the sub-project of interest (max. 2000 words), a transcript of courses taken (including grades) and two letters of recommendation. Application packages should be sent to: Universiteit van Amsterdam, Personnel Department, attn J.J. Bast, Roetersstraat 11, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Applications may also be emailed to applications-feb@uva.nl. Please include the job reference number. The deadline for applications is 1 December 2007.

Attachments
A History of Observation in Economics, brief description
http://www.uva.nl/vacatures/object.cfm/objectid=EB2B351A-1321-B0BE-68D5B71BD2B658DC/download=true history of observation, brief description.pdf/ 19 KB

Refer to
History and Methodology Group http://www.fee.uva.nl/hme/ Salary scales
Collective Employment Agreement (CAO-VSNU) (Dutch language)
http://www.vsnu.nl/web/show/id=44822/langid=43


Harro Maas
Dept. of Economics, Room E9.09
University of Amsterdam
Roetersstraat 11
1018 WB Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Tel: 00 31 20 525 4263
Fax: 00 31 20 525 4254
email: H.B.J.B.Maas@uva.nl
http://www1.fee.uva.nl/pp/hmaas/