The International Institute of Asian Studies (IIAS) and the Leiden University Institute of Area Studies (LIAS) invite applications for a one-year fulltime visiting professorship in Korean Studies (modern or contemporary Korea). The professorship has been made possible by the generosity of the Korea Foundation. The Korean Foundation Visiting Professor will combine Humanities and Social Science perspectives on any specialization in modern or contemporary Korea (politics, international relations, economy, history, sociology, anthropology) to engage academic research in the area of his/her specialization and to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in his/her field (courses about broader Korean Studies topics are also possible). The Korean Foundation Visiting Professor will be hosted at the IIAS and will hold a position in the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies. Appointment will be fixed-term from September 2013 through July 2014. The Leiden University aims to employ more women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are therefore especially invited to apply.

Since its founding in 1575, Leiden University has built an internationally recognized record of excellence in teaching and research. Leiden University is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU). Currently, the University has about 17,000 students and 4,000 staff. The Faculty of Humanities consists of the Institutes for Area Studies, Creative & Performing Arts, Cultural Disciplines, History, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. It has about 4,500 students and 900 staff. Staff and students come from all over the world. The Faculty offers some 30 BA programs and 45 MA programs. Its Graduate School annually awards about 70 PhD degrees.

IIAS is a global research and exchange platform based in Leiden, the Netherlands (www.iias.nl). It encourages the multidisciplinary and comparative study of Asia, and actively promotes (inter)national co-operation. IIAS acts as an international mediator, bringing together academic and non-academic partners including cultural, social and policy organisations. IIAS is located at Leiden University. The Institute was jointly established in 1993 by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Leiden University, the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UVA) and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). IIAS runs Asian studies’ largest newsletter. It hosts the secretariats of the International Convention of Asian Scholars (ICAS), the Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) and is a founding member of the European Alliance for Asian Studies (EAAS). IIAS operates a major international postdoctoral fellowship programme. It hosts numerous researchers from various countries, backgrounds and areas of interest. Since 2010, the institute runs three broad thematic clusters under which a number of activities are organized in Europe, Asia and beyond: Asian cities; Cultural Heritage Studies and Global Asian Interactions. Scholars with other specializations are also welcomed to work in/with IIAS. IIAS is interested in involving the Visiting Professor in Korean Studies in its multiple activities of research and dissemination, providing both working space and an opportunity to be globally connected through the institute’s wide range of networks.

LIAS is committed to the integration of disciplinary and regional-historical perspectives, on a solid foundation of excellent language skills. LIAS comprises a School of Asian Studies and a School of Middle-Eastern Studies (http://www.hum.leiden.edu/lias). The Visiting Professor will teach in Korean Studies, Asian Studies, International Studies, and other programs and courses as required, including courses on issues, theories, and methods in Area Studies, on undergraduate and graduate levels.

Current staff in Asian Studies have expertise in the fields of Anthropology, Archeology, Art & Visual Studies, Development Studies, Economics, Film Studies, History, International Relations, Language Pedagogy, Law, Linguistics, Literature, Material Culture Studies, Media Studies, Performance Studies, Philology, Philosophy, Political Studies, Religious Studies, and Sociology. The local research environment includes an excellent library, and is enhanced by the the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), the Leiden University Asian Modernities and Traditions key research area (AMT), the Kern Institute (Indology), the Royal Netherlands Institute for Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), the Van Vollenhoven Institute (Asian Law) and the Museum of Ethnography (MV).

Tasks

Original research and regular dissemination of the results through appropriate channels;
Teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, supervision of BA and MA theses, and contributions to curriculum development;
Supervision of PhD research;
Representation of the field to external audiences and media;
Participation in IIAS activities and interaction with IIAS staff and fellows.

Requirements

A PhD degree in a relevant field (candidates near completion of the degree will be considered);
Research experience in situ;
A publication record that is commensurate with career stage;
Demonstrable commitment to high-quality teaching practice, and wide teaching scope in terms of content;
Demonstrable expertise in one or several Humanities or Social Science disciplines, specialist knowledge of modern Korean culture, and the ability to work from interdisciplinary, transnational, and comparative perspectives;
An interest in either of the IIAS thematic clusters (Cities, Heritage, Global) would be a plus;
An excellent command of Korean (proficiency in other East Asian languages is an advantage);
An excellent command of English. Most MA programs at Leiden University are taught in English, and English may be used in BA teaching as well.

We offer

The position of Korean Foundation Visiting Professor will be funded directly through the Korea Foundation, commensurate with Korean Foundation salary ranges. Candidates from outside the Netherlands will be provided with housing in Leiden by the IIAS.

Applications

Review of applications will commence by 1 June, 2013 and continue until the position is filled or this call is closed. Queries can be sent to Dr. Willem Vogelsang, Office Manager of IIAS (w.j.vogelsang@iias.nl). Applications should be in English, and be submitted to the Korea Foundation Visiting Professor Search Committee at w.j.vogelsang@iias.nl with the items listed below included in this order in *one* PDF named ‘FAMILY NAME – Given name – KF VP 2013’:

A CV including education and employment history, publications, and courses taught
A letter of motivation including a personal vision of Korean Studies
A research agenda
A teaching statement (1 page)
Names, positions and email addresses of three referees (no reference letters).