Assistant Professor in Conservation and Museum Studies

Welcome to Maastricht University! 

At Maastricht University, we value the study of heritage in all its facets, recognizing it as a dynamic field that encompasses artistic, cultural, social, historical, and material dimensions. Our approach is inherently interdisciplinary, bringing together perspectives from the humanities, social sciences, and beyond to address complex questions about the past and its relevance in the present. We place strong emphasis on collaboration with relevant partners, including academic institutions, cultural organizations, policymakers, and local communities. Through these partnerships, we aim to generate knowledge that is both academically rigorous and socially engaged, contributing to the sustainable preservation, interpretation, and innovation of arts and heritage in an international context. You will join an international academic community where critical thinking, collaboration, and curiosity drive everything we do – and where your perspective, expertise, and skills help students and colleagues engage thoughtfully with today’s most pressing challenges. 

 

Assistant Professor in Conservation and Museum Studies

• Our goal: We aim to strengthen our expertise in museum studies, the conservation and curating of contemporary art, and conservation theory and ethics.
• Your colleagues: You will join the Literature and Art department, the research program Arts, Media, and Culture (AMC), and the research institute Maastricht Center for Arts and Culture, Conservation, and Heritage (MACCH).

The position and profile
We offer a Sector Plan position in the field of Cultural Heritage and Identity. At the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS), research and education in this area cover a range of topics, including digital heritage, 3D collection management, the creative economy, and music and landscape heritage. The new position will focus on the conservation of contemporary art and issues relevant to contemporary museum studies, such as decision-making in museums, artists’ legacies, long-term custodianship, and the decolonization, queering, and cripping of conservation curricula. With this position in Conservation and Museum Studies, we also aim to further contribute to the themes identified in the Nationale Wetenschapsagenda Erfgoed 2026-2030 (NOE).

What you do
You will contribute to the teaching in a variety of BA and MA programs at FASoS, such as the BA program in Arts and Culture and the minor and MA specialization Arts and Heritage. Teaching tasks include tutoring, coordinating, and lecturing courses, as well as supervising internships and BA and MA theses. You will engage in field-leading research in the areas of conservation and museum studies, publishing in leading journals, presenting at conferences, and organizing research activities. At FASoS, teaching and research duties follow the regular division of 60% teaching and management and 40% research. The research time can be extended through external fundraising at the national and European level. FASoS is a collaborative environment, and you are expected to actively collaborate with colleagues from across departments in interdisciplinary teaching and research activities, especially the colleagues in Sector Plan positions related to Cultural Heritage and Identity. You contribute to the goals and deliverables of this Sector Plan, in collaboration with partners at the local and national level.

What you bring 
We’re not looking for checkboxes; we are interested in who you are and what you bring. 

• Expert in conservation and museum studies. Your research focuses on the conservation of contemporary art and relates to contemporary strands in museum studies, for instance professional ethics and care, and inclusive practices.
• Interdisciplinary thinker. You connect theoretical and societal debates with more empirical research, such as through an ethnographic approach that includes fieldwork driven by collaboration with institutions and museum visitors.
• Experienced researcher. You have a growing publication record, appropriate to your career stage, in internationally recognized venues, and are motivated to develop collaborative grant proposals.
• Engaged scholar. You actively share your insights beyond academia and collaborate with relevant partners and stakeholders in the Maas-Rhein Euregion, the Netherlands, and beyond.
• Inspiring teacher. You have demonstrated experience in course coordination, teaching innovation, and thesis supervision. You encourage active student participation and value team teaching within our Problem-Based Learning (PBL) system. You are willing to obtain the Dutch University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within two years.
• Collegial and community minded. You contribute to our academic environment through openness, collaboration, and a willingness to take on shared responsibilities.
• Multilingual communicator. You have excellent command of English (C1 level, written and spoken). Non-Dutch speakers are expected to acquire an intermediate level of Dutch (B1) within three years.

What we offer 

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• An 18-month contract with the prospect of a permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between €4,728 and €6,433 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. 
• 29 vacation days (based on a full-time contract), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to partially work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas. 
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with. 
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities. 
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 
FASoS is a close-knit, international community of thinkers, doers, and connectors. We provide interdisciplinary education in the humanities and social sciences, and our research examines societies in transition. Our work focuses on themes such as European integration, digitalization, governance, culture, and societal change through the arts. Creativity, collaboration, and curiosity are central to how we work. FASoS is informal, diverse, and small-scale – with room to grow, explore, and shape your own academic path.

About the Literature and Art department
The expertise of the colleagues in the Literature and Art Department spans a wide range of disciplines, including art and literary studies, media and cultural studies, the digital humanities, heritage and memory studies, cultural industries and cultural policy, gender and diversity studies, and sociolinguistics. Most of its staff members are affiliated with the research program AMC and many contribute to MACCH and the Center for Gender and Diversity. The department delivers teaching capacity to most notably the BA and MA Arts and Culture and the BA Digital Society and MA Media Studies: Digital Cultures at FASoS. It also offers an extensive catalogue of courses at the liberal arts program of University College Maastricht. Our teaching highlights different methods of analysis like narrative, visual, and discourse analysis, (digital) ethnography, and design thinking.

Interested?
Do you want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Contact Prof. Dr. Aagje Swinnen (chair of the Literature and Art department) at a.swinnen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

You can apply directly using the button below.  

Please upload the following documents 

• Your PhD degree certificate;
• A full CV (including a complete list of publications with clear differentiation between peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications and an overview of teaching experience, funding acquisition, management experience, and outreach activities);
• A motivation letter (2 to 3 pages); 
• A research & teaching statement; 
• Teaching evaluations (if available); 
• A writing sample (preferably a published article or book chapter); 
• The contact information of up to three academic referees (including e-mail, phone number, and relationship to the applicant). 
•  

Your motivation letter and research and reaching statement should include the following elements  
Clearly explain why you are a strong fit for the position of Assistant Professor in Conservation and Museum Studies at FASoS and how you meet the expectations for a tenure-track appointment at our university. Please address the following elements: 

1. Motivation and fit 

• Explain your motivation for applying to our department and faculty;
• Describe how your expertise in conservation and museum studies aligns with our existing strengths, research themes, and curriculum;
• If applicable, indicate your interest in contributing to interdisciplinary initiatives, research groups, or societal impact activities. 

 
2. Research profile and agenda 

• Summarize your research background, including your main areas of specialization (AOS) and competence (AOC) within conservation and museum studies;
• Highlight your most significant contributions to date (e.g., published papers, book projects, working papers);
• Provide a concise overview of your research agenda for the next 3–5 years, including planned publications, funding applications, and potential collaborations (make connections with MACCH, the Sector Plan, and the NOE);
• If relevant, briefly describe experience with grant acquisition, research leadership, or societal engagement. 

3. Teaching experience and philosophy 

• Outline your teaching experience, including courses taught, levels (BA/MA), formats (lectures, seminars), and responsibilities (course coordination, assessment); 
• Describe your teaching philosophy, especially how you engage students in questions related to the conservation of contemporary art and museum studies, and support an inclusive learning environment; 
• Indicate which courses in our curriculum you feel prepared to teach and what your contributions could be to further develop these courses; 
• Mention any experience with supervising theses, mentoring students, or co-developing new courses. 

4. Contribution to Academic Community 

• Describe your experience with academic service, such as committee work, organizing workshops or conferences, peer review, or departmental contributions;
• If applicable, mention experience fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

5. Contact Information and referees 
Provide your full contact details and include links to: 

• Your ORCID profile or other relevant links
• The names of up to three academic references who can speak to your qualifications for the vacancy.  

The application deadline is 22 February 2026.
The first interview round is planned on 23 or 24 March and the second interview round will take place on 21 April 2026. 

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow. 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

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. We encourage you to apply for this position.