Vacancy: Postdoctoral Researcher on “Women Migrants in Postwar Germany” (Maastricht University)

Job Description 
The History Department is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to undertake in-depth research on women’s migration and work. You will be part of a new European Research Council-funded project entitled FeMMiWork: Women Migrants from the Northern Mediterranean and Work in Postwar Northwestern Europe. 

Using a transnational lens, FeMMiWork investigates the experiences of women who migrated from Italy, Yugoslavia, and Turkey to France and Germany in the 1950s-1960s and who engaged in paid work. In spite of their large numbers, their labour has been largely erased by policymakers and forgotten by researchers who focused on male labour migration. Drawing on archival sources and oral history, the project aims to understand what role paid work played in migrant women’s life trajectories, and in shaping relations with their communities of origin and destination. The project also aims to make the histories of these women visible by creating a ‘counter-archive’ using documents, oral histories, and creative writing. 

The postdoctoral researcher will focus on Germany as a destination society and place of work for migrant women. You will be part of a team which also includes a Principal investigator (focusing on France as a destination society and place of work, and on women from Yugoslavia), and two PhDs (focusing on women from Italy and Turkey.) 

Tasks include: 

• Documenting and analyzing policies that were relevant to understanding the life trajectories of working women who had migrated from the northern Mediterranean to Germany. 
• Researching published reports and grey literature concerning the presence of women migrants and their labour. 
• Assisting other project team members with identifying and collecting relevant archival materials in Germany. 
• Assisting the Principal Investigator with developing collaborative work methods, including designing the virtual research environment and counter-archive, and setting up the oral history work package of the project. 
• Overseeing the implementation of the project’s data management plan. 
• Participating in group meetings and contributing to the organization of events and workshops. 
• Presenting work-in-progress at international workshops, conference panels and to colleagues within the Faculty. 
• Working with the principal investigator on two project outputs (co-authored articles comparing France and Germany as destination societies and places of work.) While project work takes priority, additional publications are encouraged. 

Requirements 
We are looking for someone who is excited and motivated to carry out postdoctoral research for a period of up to 36 months in a team context. The postdoctoral researcher should have an interest in experimenting with innovative research methods, including digital humanities collaborative tools, and creative writing as research.  The position requires residence in Maastricht or the surrounding region (except for the fieldwork periods). Specifically, we are looking for someone who has: 

• A recently completed PhD in History, Sociology, or related interdisciplinary fields such as migration studies. 
• Demonstrable experience with and passion for archival research, and interest in the oral history methodology. 
• Strong analytical and writing skills. 
• Excellent organizational skills and motivation to meet project milestones/deadlines. 
• Enthusiasm for contributing to a collaborative team environment and to shared goals. 
• Advanced English language competency (speaking and writing for academic contexts). 
• Fluent knowledge of the German language 
• (desirable, not required) Working knowledge of Italian, or languages spoken in Turkey or the former Yugoslavia is an asset. 

To learn more and apply, go to: https://vacancies.maastrichtuniversity.nl/job/Maastricht-Postdoctoral-Researcher-on-Women-Migrants-in-Postwar-Germany/822627202/.