Fully-funded PhD position in Literary Studies: Literature and Well-Being (1.0 FTE) (V25.0198)

Fully funded PhD position in Literary Studies in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, working on the project UPLIFT: Using the Potential of Literature for Thriving: Sustainable leisure reading and writing practices in Dutch social settings.

This PhD project offers an opportunity to apply academic knowledge of literature to a study of how reading and (creative) writing practices in community settings can be best implemented to facilitate a sense of well-being. The successful candidate will acquire valuable research and teaching experience, gain networks in literary studies and in the “Arts and Health” field, and contribute to the organisation of conferences and symposiums.

The PhD Project
In recent years, Dutch society – like many of its similarly developed counterparts – has been struggling with the challenges facing the healthcare system arising from factors that include not only aging populations but also the prevalence of young people with mental health problems and of widespread stress and burnout among healthcare workers.

One of the possible strategies for addressing some of these challenges involves using literature-based leisure activities, which can now rely on an increasing body of research on engagement with literary texts and their effects on various aspects of human well-being (also known as thriving, flourishing or “eudaimonia”). However, while previous studies have yielded a wide array of conceptualizations and insights, research on this complex issue still suffers from a lack of sufficiently detailed conceptual models, from a paucity of insight into the eudaimonic effects of specific literary forms (e.g. in terms of genre, plot, point of view), and from relatively little knowledge on attractive, effective and sustainable practices (e.g. reading aloud, group discussions, guided creative writing).

To address these knowledge gaps, the proposed PhD project aims to answer two overarching questions: (1) How can a range of leisure-time engagements with literary texts help reduce threats to well-being and facilitate thriving among specific social groups? (2) How can local experiences with literary engagements be used for constructing a conceptual framework about the eudaimonic potential of literary engagement which is more sensitive to textual and practical differences than existing ones? These questions will be answered by investigating the perceived effects of various text types and activities used in reading- and writing-based interventions designed and administered by the PhD candidate.

Under the joint supervision of Professor Julia Kühn, Dr Tekla Mecsnóber and Dr Ann Hoag in the Modern English Literature chair group, the successful candidate will develop their own focus within the parameters of the project. Broader interdisciplinary context and expertise will be provided through the SAPIENS research group of the Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG), the “Arts and Health” group within the Groningen Centre for Health & Humanities (GCH2), and through experts of Arts in Health Netherlands.

The successful candidate will be asked to

• Conduct research independently.
• Design, implement and participate in literary activities for community and care environments.
• Liaise with members of Arts in Health initiatives, facilitators, and participants.
• Observe professional standards of conduct and all relevant regulations in project-related activities and contexts.
• Promote the project at academic conferences and assist with conference organization.
• Teach on related Bachelor’s and/or Master’s programmes (from year 2).
• Transform research into publishable material and produce a dissertation.
• Complete the PhD in the specified timeframe (4 years).

Organisation
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 34,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: It belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor's programmes and over 35 Master's specialisations. Our research, which is internationally widely acclaimed, covers Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, Linguistics, and Media and Journalism Studies.

• A Research Master’s or Master’s degree in any area related to the project (e.g. Literary Studies, or the field of Arts in Health, psychology, health care or other relevant fields).
• Excellent academic writing skills in English.
• Excellent (native or near-native) reading, writing and oral skills in both English and Dutch.
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Willingness to conduct research and collaborate with members of Arts in Health initiatives.
• Enthusiasm for organising and engaging in reading and (creative) writing activities with a variety of participants.
• Awareness of institutional environments and empathy.
• Familiarity with creative writing practices, empirical and/or quantitative methods or cognitive approaches may be an advantage.

In accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, the University of Groningen offers you

• A salary of € 2,901 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,707 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position.
• A holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income.
• An 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance.
• A temporary 1.0 FTE appointment for a specified period of four years. The candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After six months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued.
• The PhD candidate is expected to conduct a total of 0.4 FTE teaching spread over the second, third and fourth year of their appointment.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Willingness to move and reside in the Netherlands.

The appointment will commence on 1 September 2025 or 1 October 2025. We allow 3 months from selection in case of VISA applications.

Applications should be made in English and contain the following materials

• A short statement (c. 1,000 words), explaining your motivation for applying, emphasising what knowledge and skills you could bring to this project.
• An outline of max 1,000 words with your own research proposal within the wider frame of this project, including your own research ideas and a brief discussion of potential theoretical and/or methodological frameworks.
• A curriculum vitae.
• Copies of Master’s diploma (if available) and list of master’s grades.
• Copy of Master’s thesis (if available; if not, please indicate when it will be supplied).
• A writing sample of maximum 3,000 words (a copy of an essay or other academic text that you feel best represents your work).
• Contact details of two academic referees (no letters of recommendation are needed for the application process).
• In case your master’s degree is not in English, please include a language certificate.
• In case your master’s degree is not in Dutch and Dutch is not your first language, please provide a short description of your Dutch language skills using the self-assessment grid of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

For more information on the application documents, you can consult this page: https://www.rug.nl/research/gradschool-humanities/phd-programme/phd-admission/guidelinesexternalphds/3.-documentation?lang=en

Please send in your application as two PDF files (one for the MA thesis, and one for all other documents). You may apply for this position until 30 April 11:59pm / before 1 May 2025 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Interviews with selected candidates will be held on Wednesday 14 May 2025.

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and the European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code.

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