PhD – Outer Space and Colonialism – Netherlands

The Department of Geography, Planning and Environment is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to explore the social, technological and cultural dimensions of space exploration and colonisation. If you have a strong background in social sciences or humanities, with a particular interest in the study of outer spaces, they want to hear from you! You will have the opportunity to conduct independent research, participate in collaborative projects, and contribute to the geography of outer spaces.

The research is funded by an incentive grant and will be conducted under the supervision of Dr Alana Osbourne.

Dr Osbourne’s research explores the link between extractivism, colonialism and outer space. It departs from the observation that mining on earth is essential for devising the technology to go into space. Simultaneously, outer space quarrying is pitched as a solution to earthly resource scarcity. Yet, both on earth and in space, the extraction of natural resources is rooted in Euro-American colonialism. Focusing on earthly and alien rock displays in museums, her project shows how, far from being a closed historical chapter, colonial logics of resource mining extend into the future and beyond our orbit. A sub-part of the project explores the relationship between oceans and outer spaces as seafaring was crucial to colonial expansion and to the development of technologies used for space voyage. Studying colonial continuities through rock and maritime exhibitions, the project shapes debates around the ‘decolonisation’ of museum collections, mining and space travel.

To complement this research project, you will be expected to design and conduct an original, rigorous ethnographic study exploring the connections between terrestrial and extraterrestrial colonial endeavours. The project is intended to be flexible, allowing you to shape it according to your specific interests and conduct the research independently.

Based on your fieldwork, and in collaboration with Dr Osbourne, you will engage with critical, timely and decolonial conceptual frameworks. You will write and co-author scientific articles and complete a PhD dissertation within four years. You will also participate in conferences, workshops, seminars and other scholarly activities, and contribute to the teaching programme of the department of Geography, Planning and Environment (about 10% of your contract).

Requirements

• You demonstrate a passion and aptitude for research.
• You have proven interests in colonial processes and at least one of the following themes: the social sciences of outer space; ocean spaces; extractivism.
• You have an MA in Human Geography, Anthropology, Black Ecologies, Blue Humanities, STS or a related field.
• You have a critical take on colonial continuities.
• You have relevant empirical research experience, including experience with conducting fieldwork, ethnography or other relevant qualitative methodologies.
• You have an excellent command of written and spoken English, as evidenced by a writing sample.
• You are a proactive team worker with good project planning skills.

Benefits

• They will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Organization/Company – Radboud University.

Research field – Geography » Human geography

                         Geography » Social geography.

Research profile – First Stage Researcher (R1).

Country –Netherlands.

Application Deadline – 21 Aug 2025 – 21:59 (UTC).

More information: Euraxess.

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