Postdoctoral Researcher on Women Migrants in Postwar Germany

Are you interested in joining a collaborative team to study women’s migration from Southern Europe and Turkey to France and Germany in the post-World War II era, and the role of work in their trajectories? Passionate about archival research and research innovation and collaboration? Self-motivated and ready to learn new research skills? 

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. 

What we offer
As Postdoctoral Researcher on Women Migrants in Postwar Germany 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 Onderzoeker 3, with corresponding salary, based on experience, ranging from 4537,00 to 6209,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, there is an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 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 20 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 PhD will be embedded in the History Department 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 PhD 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 Brigitte Le Normand at b.lenormand@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new postdoctoral researcher on women migrants from the northern Mediterranean in post-war north-western Europe? Apply now, and no later than 1 September 2025 for this position. Candidates should ideally be prepared to start in November, and no later than January 2026.

Please upload/provide:

• Your CV (max. 2 pages)
• Motivation letter (max. 2 pages) specifically addressing your fit with the project
• A writing sample (e.g. chapter from dissertation or published article) 
• Contact information of 2 referees (e.g. PhD supervisor) 

The first interviews preferably take place around mid-late September 2025. The second interviews (if necessary) will preferably be held around two weeks later. 

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a sample research task. 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.