Research assistant film and migratie (project HomeFrames)

1 - Working at the VUB

For almost 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and connectedness. These values are strongly present on our campuses, in our students as well as our staff. At the VUB, you’ll find a diverse collection of personalities: pure innovators and especially people who are 100% their authentic selves. With about 3.500 employees, we are the largest Flemish-speaking employer in Brussels, an international city with which we are all too happy to be connected, and around which our four campuses are located.

2 - Position Description

ECHO: Media, Culture & Politics research group, part of the Faculty Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, is looking for a part-time (50 or 60%) research assistant for a project on amateur film and migration history.

You will conduct research within the framework of the FWO project ‘HomeFrames: Amateur film, migration and home-making in post-war Belgium’ with supervisors prof. Gertjan Willems (UAntwerp) and prof. Kevin Smets (VUB). This project examines how migrants in post-war Belgium (1944-1974) used amateur film to reflect, construct and make sense of their migrant identities and experiences. The objectives include mapping of amateur films made by migrants (in public and private archives), investigating the production and circulation practices of these films, analysing their representational and stylistic features, and evaluating their cultural heritage value. The project, which will be executed in close collaboration with heritage partners, integrates archival research, crowdsourcing, oral history interviews, film analysis and participatory video research.

Your main tasks are:

• Finding, collecting and processing research data in the form of amateur films in public and private archives. Besides traditional archival research this also involves setting up a crowdsourcing campaign.
• Collecting and processing additional research data such as interviews, oral histories and archived documents.
• Developing and executing a strategy to digitize film materials in collaboration with partner organizations.
• Developing and executing a strategy to explore the contemporary meanings of historical amateur films, through participatory filmmaking in collaboration with socio-cultural partners.
• General administrative and logistical support to the research project.
• A separate vacancy is also available at the University of Antwerp for a PhD researcher within this project. You can find more details via https://www.uantwerpen.be/nl/jobs/vacatures/ap/. Candidates interested in both positions are welcome to apply for both roles.

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• At the starting date, you hold at least a bachelor degree specialising in audiovisual arts, film, cultural studies, communication studies, history, archival and information sciences. Holders of a relevant master degree can also apply.
• You have practical experience working with film and/or audiovisual archives.
• You have a strong interest in migration history and heritage.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You have a strong command of at least two of the following languages: Dutch, English, and French. Proficiency in one or more additional languages, such as Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, Portuguese, or Greek, is considered an asset.
• You have strong teamwork skills and can work both collaboratively and independently. You are proactive, take initiative, and open to constructive feedback to enhance your professional growth and research career.
• You have good organisational skills and can collaborate with multiple partners in the heritage field.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague? You’ll be offered a temporary (2 years) part-time contract (50-60%) at a salary linked to Grade 5, 6 or 7, depending on your competences and previous relevant work experience.

The planned starting date is 1 October 2025 with the possibility of adjusting the start date by mutual agreement.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career. As well as this, you’ll enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation and group insurance with guaranteed income;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).  

5 - Interested?

You can apply for this position through https://jobs.vub.be up to and including 24 April 2025. You need to include the following information:

- Your motivation letter

- Your cv and/or portfolio including the names of two potential referees

The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the next step(s) in the selection procedure. Please note the following dates in your calendar: 23 June 2025 (selection interviews, taking place in Brussels).

If you have questions about VUB’s job platform or working at VUB generally, please check this information page or contact rekrutering@vub.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact kevin.smets@vub.be or gertjan.willems@uantwerpen.be.  

6 - For office use

Regulation: externe financiering

Contract: temporary (2 years)

Head unit/faculty: Faculty Social Sciences & Solvay Business School

FTE: part time (50-60%)

Function: Onderwijs- en onderzoeksmedewerker

Pay grade group: 5-6-7

Recrutement type: hiring