Postdoc Position: Contemporary Arab Thought

Arab societies have witnessed tremendous shifts over the past decade-and-a-half. From the high hopes nurtured during the Arab Spring to the violent wars in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Gaza, the Arab public has experienced a period of immense upheaval.

These societal developments are echoed at the intellectual level. As a younger generation of intellectuals from various backgrounds – writers, artists, podcasters, journalists and academics – is entering the fray, their work will no doubt reflect these experiences. Reacting to the widely sensed disconnect between the intellectuals of the pre-2011 era and the ideals of the revolutions, many are seeking to break with the 20th century debates about how to balance the demands of (Western) modernity with the need to preserve cultural authenticity. Disillusioned by the discrepancy between the West’s liberal, democratic values and its policies in the region, Arabs are looking for alternative ideas and frames for understanding themselves, their societies, and their place in the world.

At the same time, the centres where intellectual work is taking place are shifting. The growing confidence of the Gulf states is translating into state-sponsored cultural projects that attract academics and artists from around the world and specifically from other Arab countries. Additionally, as many from the Arab world have sought refuge abroad, Arab thought is no longer exclusively made in the Arab world. Using modern technologies, it has become easier than ever to build global networks of intellectuals who can enter a common conversation as easily from Berlin as they can from Baghdad.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will research these changes as they are happening. You will look at a particular aspect of contemporary Arab thought since 2011 of your choosing and use it as a lens for taking in the broader developments in intellectual as well as political and social life in the Arab world. In cooperation with the project coordinator, Harald Viersen, you will strive to publish at least one peer-reviewed article exploring this burgeoning field and work towards preparing a grant application that will allow for more in-depth future study.

Postdoc Position: Contemporary Arab Thought

Arab societies have witnessed tremendous shifts over the past decade-and-a-half. From the high hopes nurtured during the Arab Spring to the violent wars in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Gaza, the Arab public has experienced a period of immense upheaval.

These societal developments are echoed at the intellectual level. As a younger generation of intellectuals from various backgrounds – writers, artists, podcasters, journalists and academics – is entering the fray, their work will no doubt reflect these experiences. Reacting to the widely sensed disconnect between the intellectuals of the pre-2011 era and the ideals of the revolutions, many are seeking to break with the 20th century debates about how to balance the demands of (Western) modernity with the need to preserve cultural authenticity. Disillusioned by the discrepancy between the West’s liberal, democratic values and its policies in the region, Arabs are looking for alternative ideas and frames for understanding themselves, their societies, and their place in the world.

At the same time, the centres where intellectual work is taking place are shifting. The growing confidence of the Gulf states is translating into state-sponsored cultural projects that attract academics and artists from around the world and specifically from other Arab countries. Additionally, as many from the Arab world have sought refuge abroad, Arab thought is no longer exclusively made in the Arab world. Using modern technologies, it has become easier than ever to build global networks of intellectuals who can enter a common conversation as easily from Berlin as they can from Baghdad.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will research these changes as they are happening. You will look at a particular aspect of contemporary Arab thought since 2011 of your choosing and use it as a lens for taking in the broader developments in intellectual as well as political and social life in the Arab world. In cooperation with the project coordinator, Harald Viersen, you will strive to publish at least one peer-reviewed article exploring this burgeoning field and work towards preparing a grant application that will allow for more in-depth future study.

Postdoc Position: Contemporary Arab Thought

Arab societies have witnessed tremendous shifts over the past decade-and-a-half. From the high hopes nurtured during the Arab Spring to the violent wars in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Gaza, the Arab public has experienced a period of immense upheaval.

These societal developments are echoed at the intellectual level. As a younger generation of intellectuals from various backgrounds – writers, artists, podcasters, journalists and academics – is entering the fray, their work will no doubt reflect these experiences. Reacting to the widely sensed disconnect between the intellectuals of the pre-2011 era and the ideals of the revolutions, many are seeking to break with the 20th century debates about how to balance the demands of (Western) modernity with the need to preserve cultural authenticity. Disillusioned by the discrepancy between the West’s liberal, democratic values and its policies in the region, Arabs are looking for alternative ideas and frames for understanding themselves, their societies, and their place in the world.

At the same time, the centres where intellectual work is taking place are shifting. The growing confidence of the Gulf states is translating into state-sponsored cultural projects that attract academics and artists from around the world and specifically from other Arab countries. Additionally, as many from the Arab world have sought refuge abroad, Arab thought is no longer exclusively made in the Arab world. Using modern technologies, it has become easier than ever to build global networks of intellectuals who can enter a common conversation as easily from Berlin as they can from Baghdad.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will research these changes as they are happening. You will look at a particular aspect of contemporary Arab thought since 2011 of your choosing and use it as a lens for taking in the broader developments in intellectual as well as political and social life in the Arab world. In cooperation with the project coordinator, Harald Viersen, you will strive to publish at least one peer-reviewed article exploring this burgeoning field and work towards preparing a grant application that will allow for more in-depth future study.

Postdoc Position: Sensorimotor Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Technology at the Donders Institute

As a junior postdoctoral researcher you will participate in a consortium project called ’Smart technologies for personalised home care for neurological paediatric patients (RE:HOME)’. This project, involving partners from France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, is funded by Interreg North-West Europe (NWE), a European Territorial Cooperation programme contributing to a better quality of life and well-being of all NWE citizens. The aim of the RE:HOME project is to build and test a rehabilitation platform that enables home rehabilitation in a safe and controlled way through personalised feedback and monitoring of health data, rehabilitation progress and quality of life. For more information, see here.

Within this project, you will be involved in developing algorithms for monitoring and assessing perception and motor behaviour in the hospital and home setting, with an emphasis on sensorimotor integration within the perception-action cycle. Patient studies will be performed to explain human functioning, understand disorders and test new technologies.

You will collaborate closely with colleagues from the Donders Institute and the Sint Maartenskliniek, a rehabilitation hospital in Nijmegen and a partner within the consortium. Your responsibilities may also include some management, mentoring (PhD, MSc and BSc), and teaching-related tasks.

Postdoc Position: Sensorimotor Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Technology at the Donders Institute

As a junior postdoctoral researcher you will participate in a consortium project called ’Smart technologies for personalised home care for neurological paediatric patients (RE:HOME)’. This project, involving partners from France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, is funded by Interreg North-West Europe (NWE), a European Territorial Cooperation programme contributing to a better quality of life and well-being of all NWE citizens. The aim of the RE:HOME project is to build and test a rehabilitation platform that enables home rehabilitation in a safe and controlled way through personalised feedback and monitoring of health data, rehabilitation progress and quality of life. For more information, see here.

Within this project, you will be involved in developing algorithms for monitoring and assessing perception and motor behaviour in the hospital and home setting, with an emphasis on sensorimotor integration within the perception-action cycle. Patient studies will be performed to explain human functioning, understand disorders and test new technologies.

You will collaborate closely with colleagues from the Donders Institute and the Sint Maartenskliniek, a rehabilitation hospital in Nijmegen and a partner within the consortium. Your responsibilities may also include some management, mentoring (PhD, MSc and BSc), and teaching-related tasks.