Assistant Professor in Visual and Medical Anthropology

Are you a visual ethnographer exploring questions in medical anthropology through film Do you want to join one of the largest anthropology departments in Europe with a vibrant visual and medical anthropology community

Join Us!

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam has an excellent reputation in both research and teaching and is home to a lively academic community. The Department currently has an opening for an Assistant Professor who combines research and teaching in Visual and Medical Anthropology and has a proven track record in both fields. This position is embedded in the programme group Health Care and the Body.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment and strongly encourage applications from candidates from groups historically underrepresented in Dutch academia.

What are you going to do

You will actively contribute to the department and its teaching and research programs in particular in Visual and Medical Anthropology.

The position will require you to:

• develop and teach general specialist and methodology courses in our Bachelor and Masters programs particularly in the fields of visual and medical anthropology and supervise undergraduate and graduate students;

• develop carry out and supervise anthropological research participate in international research networks and develop a line of research in collaboration with other researchers working at the department;

• acquire and help to acquire external funding for research (also alongside junior researchers);
• engage in activities in the public sphere and in other arenas outside academia;
• take on academic service tasks within the department.

What do you have to offer

Essential criteria:

• a PhD degree and some experience as a postdoctoral researcher or (junior) faculty member;

• a strong track record in visual and medical anthropology;
• experience as ethnographic / documentary filmmaker;

• a proven track record in high-quality teaching at Bachelor and Masters level and ability to teach theoretical and methodological courses in visual and medical anthropology;

• the potential to acquire research funding from external sources (for instance Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research the European Research Council);

• excellent knowledge of spoken and written English;
• working proficiency in the Dutch language or the willingness develop this within two years;
• a commitment to academic service including management tasks in the department.

Desirable qualities:

• expertise in one of the following areas within medical anthropology: mental health; disability; reproductive health; or pharmaceuticals;
• expertise in one of the following areas within visual anthropology: media anthropology; anthropology of sound; history of ethnographic film; sensory ethnography;
• a proven commitment to public anthropological engagement with non-academic actors.

What else do we offer you

• We offer an employment contract of 38 hours per week for one year with a probationary period of two months. If you prove to be a good fit and financial and organizational circumstances remain unchanged the contract will be converted into a permanent employment agreement.
• We hope you will be able to start by 1 September 2026.

• Your salary depending on your relevant experience and qualifications ranges between 4728 to 6433 gross per month based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement the 30 % ruling may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

You will work here

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam is an independent creative innovative and international community characterized by an open atmosphere and genuine engagement with academic colleagues as well as with the communities we study. The department offers specialist Masters programmes in Visual Anthropology and in Medical Anthropology and Sociology alongside an Applied Anthropology Masters track.

You will be based in the programme group Health Care and the Body. This group is a centre of excellence in medical anthropology research and teaching and a hub for collaboration and methodological innovation on health-related topics at the intersection of science and society. We are a close-knit community dedicated to making academia a more supportive and inclusive place valuing social interaction and peer support as much as academic excellence. We provide collegial support and structured departmental resources including peer-to-peer consultation and mentorship.

We highly value the wide-ranging perspectives and scholarship that diverse scholars bring to our department. Our active DEI Committee monitors the departmental climate with regard to diversity equity and inclusion organizes related events and ensures that a diversity advocate serves on every hiring committee.

If this vacancy speaks to you but you are uncertain whether you meet all requirements please do get in touch with us or simply apply.

If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the role we look forward to receiving your application. Your application should include combined in one PDF:

• a concise statement of motivation (600 words max.);
• an academic curriculum vitae (maximum three pages) including a filmography with active links to the works and a list of publications;
• a teaching statement (400 words max.);
• a statement outlining your research plans (400 words max.);
• a statement outlining your experience with or ideas on how to incorporate diversity and inclusion in teaching and research (400 words max.);
• contact information for two academic references (no letters of recommendation in this stage).

You can apply via the red button until Sunday 29 March 2026 (23:59 CET). The first round of interviews will take place online on 20 and 21 April 2026. The second round will take place on-site on 11 and 13 May 2026.

In case of equal qualifications internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates.

For questions about the vacancy you can contact:

• Prof. Anouk de Koning Department Chair