Student-assistant ASCA project

Join this ASCA research project, 'The Future of Modernity and (Non) Modern Futures' and become part of an international team exploring how literature, film, and other art forms can help us to imagine alternative futures. We offer you a 12-month contract that will allow you to gain hands-on experience in research, event organisation, publication and digital project work, and help us create engaging content for our website and social media.

Imagine the future with us!

We're looking for a student assistant for the Starting Grant project Future Modernities and Non-modern Futures, led by principal investigators Irene Villaescusa Illán and Elio Attilio Baldi. Please visit  our website to know about the project, especially the conference we are organising in Amsterdam from 2 to 5 June when you will be needed full time. 

This is what you will be doing

• Provide administrative support for the project conference and other workshops/seminars associated with the project to be held in the Netherlands and abroad (including communication with speakers and other participants, booking of accommodations, venues and catering).


• Maintain project website (with WordPress).


• Assist team members with the gathering of research materials.


• Assist team members with the preparation of publications (e.g. formatting, adjusting reference systems, compiling bibliographies, making index term lists).


• Assist team leaders with general administration of the project, including Dropbox maintenance and archiving.

This is what we ask of you

• You are an MA student at the University of Amsterdam until at least November of 2027.


• You have experience with organizational and administrative work, as well as strong social skills and the ability to work in a team. You have excellent English writing and speaking skills; Dutch, Spanish or Italian in writing and speaking skills are a plus.


• You are well-organized and have experience with website maintenance.


• You have a background or demonstrable interest in literary, cultural or media studies; interest in and knowledge of speculative fiction is a plus.


• You are allowed to work in the Netherlands.

This is what we offer you

Depending on relevant experience, the salary at the start of the employment is between €3,230 to €3,288 gross per month based on full-time employment for a 38-hour working week. In addition, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable.

This is where you will be working

You will be able to work from home but you can also use a flex desk on the 4th Floor of the PC Hoofthuis one of the UvA buildings located on the Spuistraat, no. 134, in the centre of Amsterdam.

Please also read more information about the working location.

For questions about the position or department, you can contact us during office hours at:

Irene Villaescusa Illán, [email protected]  one of the project’s leaders

If you recognise yourself in the profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your application.

The vacancy closes on 24 October 2026. Interviews will take place on 2 November, 2026.

Please include in your application the following information:

• A letter of motivation (max. 1 A4).


• An up-to-date CV including all relevant experience.


• A copy of your BA diploma, including list of grades.


• Name and contact details of one referee.