2 Postdocs 'Transnational Encounters and Inequalities in the Wellness Industry in Southeast Asia'

Are you interested in joining an interdisciplinary team to study transnational mobilities and wellbeing in Asia? Passionate about ethnographic research? Self-motivated and ready to learn new research skills?

Job description:

The Department of Society Studies is looking for two postdoctoral researchers to undertake in-depth ethnographic research on transnational encounters and inequalities in the wellness industry in Southeast Asia. You will be part of a new European Research Council-funded project entitled ‘WELL-ASIA: The Pursuit of Wellness in Southeast Asia: New Encounters and Inequalities in an Emerging Industry’. You will be part of a team conducting fieldwork on the transnational encounters and inequalities in the wellness industry in Singapore, Ubud, and Chiang Mai.

Specifically, we are looking for:

• 1 postdoctoral researcher to carry out ethnographic fieldwork in Chiang Mai, Thailand; and
• 1 postdoctoral researcher to carry out ethnographic fieldwork in Ubud/Bali, Indonesia.  

WELL-ASIA investigates the expanding and lucrative wellness industry in Southeast Asia, and the transnational mobilities and inequalities associated with it. The region has long been a crossroads of multiple healing traditions and practices. These practices are being increasingly commercialized in a global post-pandemic context as people around the world seek experiences to improve their physical and emotional wellbeing through practices such as yoga, meditation, spa and detoxifying therapies, and sound healing. WELL-ASIA adopts a multi-dimensional focus on the uneven interactions between those who labour in the industry (local and migrant workers in wellness and hospitality establishments, as well as wellness entrepreneurs); those who seek and consume wellness experiences (including tourists and ‘lifestyle migrants’); and the local communities involved (e.g. gig workers, café owners, land developers, tour guides, religious communities, neighbourhood and environmental associations).

Each postdoctoral researcher will examine these encounters and interactions in Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) and Ubud (Bali, Indonesia), respectively. In addition to the two postdocs, the project team consists of the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Megha Amrith and a PhD researcher (both focusing on Singapore), a project manager, and research assistants. The team will jointly address the project’s larger conceptual questions through reading groups, workshops, and collaborative writing projects.

The tasks include:

• Developing a fieldwork plan, taking into consideration ethics and data management procedures of the Faculty.
• Ethnographic fieldwork (including interviews and participant observation) in Chiang Mai or Ubud over a period of nine months.
• Archival research on healing labour and analysis of visual materials representing the wellness industry.
• (Co)authoring publications and co-editing collaborative publications (e.g. peer-reviewed journal articles, journal special issues, book chapters).
• Participating in group meetings and contributing to the organization of events and workshops.
• Collaborating with a filmmaker on a documentary film (together with the project team) and working with visual and digital methods.
• Presenting work-in-progress at international workshops, conference panels and to colleagues within the Faculty.

Requirements

We are looking for someone who is excited and motivated to undertake postdoctoral research in a team environment for a period of up to 36 months. The position requires residence in Maastricht or the surrounding region (except for the fieldwork periods). Specifically, we are looking for someone who has:

• A completed PhD degree in Anthropology, Geography, Sociology or related interdisciplinary fields around transnational mobilities, development or Southeast Asian studies.
• Demonstrable experience with and passion for qualitative research methods, particularly ethnographic fieldwork.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Advanced English language competency (speaking and writing for academic contexts).
• Excellent organizational skills and motivation to meet project milestones/deadlines.
• Enthusiasm to contribute to a collaborative team environment and to shared goals.
• Experience and/or interest in learning and working with visual, creative, and multimodal methods.
• (desirable, not required) Working knowledge of relevant regional language for fieldwork in Chiang Mai or Bali.

What we offer
As a Postdoc at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 11 according to UFO profile Researcher, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €4537,00 and €6209,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive assessment, an extension of up to 24 months will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 
   

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences FASoS is a close-knit community of approximately 250 staff members and 2100 students. During breaks and before meetings, you can often find us at our favourite local coffee spot Bandito Espresso.  
 

Communication lines within our faculty are short and colleagues are always ready to assist each other. FASoS consists of a highly international student population and a significant part of our staff comes from abroad. Our faculty offers four bachelor programs, eight masters programs and two research master programs that are all characterized by their interdisciplinary approach.
 

Our research institute studies societies and cultures as they have developed in the modern and contemporary periods. We adopt a radically interdisciplinary approach, analysing the interconnections between Europeanization, globalization, scientific and technological advancement, political change, and cultural innovation. 
 

In addition to teaching and research, our colleagues enjoy expressing themselves creatively. They create podcasts, write poetry as well as fiction. 
 

Working at FASoS means working in a challenging yet informal environment. We believe in crafting your own career path and are always ready to help you in making the most of your job. For more information about FASoS, you can visit our website FASoS
 

Department

The postdocs will be embedded in the Department of Society Studies at FASoS. This Department brings together scholars with knowledge and expertise in the interdisciplinary fields of Science, Technology and Society studies (STS) and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development research. The postdocs will also be a member of the Globalisation, Transnationalism, and Development (GTD) research group. Researchers in the GTD research programme work on topics such as the transnational production and circulation of knowledge, and transnational migration and mobilities. In both spaces, there is strong expertise in ethnographic methodologies and opportunities for cross-disciplinary exchange in a lively and supportive environment. 

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Megha Amrith at megha.amrith@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. Do you have any questions regarding the procedure, please contact Manon Souren-Huppertz (Recruiter) at manon.souren@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 

Applying?

Or are you already convinced and ready to become one of our postdoctoral researchers in the WELL-ASIA project? Apply now, no later than 14 September 2025. 

Please upload/provide:

• Your CV (max. 3 pages)
• Motivation letter (max. 2 pages) clearly addressing your motivations and fit with the respective position in terms of skills, experience, and aspirations.
• A writing sample (e.g. one PhD thesis chapter or a published article)
• Contact information of 2 referees (e.g. PhD supervisor) 

Please clearly specify whether you are applying for the Chiang Mai or Ubud postdoc position. 

The first interviews preferably take place in late October. The second interviews will preferably be held around two to three weeks later. The expected start date is February 2026. 
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a sample research task before the interview. A reference check will be part of the application procedure. 

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.