Call for Applicants
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.
The Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences is a center of knowledge focusing on individuals and society. The faculty studies issues relating to human behavior, the relationships between people, and society as a whole. This includes the study of how people function under normal circumstances, but also of the problems encountered by individuals or groups, and how these can be resolved or prevented.
This Assistant Professor position is situated within the department of Sociology. This department is responsible for teaching at bachelor and (research) master level. The department is member of the Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS) (see: http://www.ics-graduateschool.nl/).
Job description
We are looking for a social scientist with expertise in institutional theory and policy analysis, expertise in research on social networks, and the ability to link this expertise to the study of network processes in communities and organizations in the public and private domain. The candidate also has good theoretical and quantitative skills and affinity, preferably experience, with mixed methods research designs.
The Assistant Professor will play a pivotal role in design and implementation of the new English language master track Social Networks in a Sustainable Society, to be launched by the Department of Sociology in the academic year 2016-2017 as part of the regular one-year master in sociology. The new track teaches state-of-the-art theories and methods on the role of social networks in a wide variety of societal domains, ranging from organizational processes and public sector reform, to problems related to integration of ethnic minorities, sustainable energy production, bullying among children and adolescents, and healthy ageing. Students learn to apply theories about institutions and human behavior to social networks; use state-of-the-art tools and methods to gather and analyze quantitative and qualitative network data; and apply this knowledge to analyze and improve policies and interventions.
The Assistant Professor will also actively contribute to the research line ‘Institutions, Organizations and Sustainable Cooperation’ (seehttp://www.rug.nl/research/department-of-sociology/research/research-themes/sustainable-cooperation), and to the integration of relevant expertise of other research lines at the department of Sociology into the programme of the new master track. The assistant professor will make a dedicated effort to secure external funding through writing grant proposals, and participate in committees, work groups and project teams supporting the Department’s teaching and research programmes.
Qualifications
- a PhD degree in Sociology or a related field in the Social Sciences (public administration, policy studies) with a specialization in at least one of the topics mentioned in the job description
- good teaching skills and experience or affinity with a variety of didactical methods
- in possession of the University Teaching Qualification (or willingness to obtain it within the first two years of employment)
- experience with quantitative (and preferably mixed) methods of collecting and analyzing data
- a relevant publication record with at least 3 first author publications in high quality international peer-reviewed journals over the last 5 years, or an equivalent publication record as a co-author or book author
- an entrepreneurial team player, with good communication and project management skills
- the ability to communicate orally and in written form in English (command of English C1 level) and command of Dutch (Dutch is B2 level) or willingness to learn Dutch.
Conditions of employment
The University of Groningen offers a salary depending on qualifications and work experience. For candidates at the Assistant Professor level, salary ranging from a minimum of € 3,357 (salary scale 11 Dutch Universities) gross per month to a maximum of € 5,223 (salary scale 12) gross per month for a fulltime position, excluding 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees. Favorable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants.
The selected candidate will be appointed for a period of six years, on the condition of a positive mid-term evaluation in the third year of employment. After a positive final evaluation in the sixth year of employment, tenure will be granted for an Associate Professorship. We refer the applicants to consult the criteria of the Tenure Track system (for a complete description, see: http://www.rug.nl/gmw/research/tenure-track). An employment of a minimum of 0.8 fte is possible.
We prefer candidates to start in January 2016.
Application
You may apply for this position before until 5 November / 6 November 2015 by means of the application form (click on “Apply” below on the advertisement on the university website).
Applicants are requested to submit:
- a cover letter including your view on how the applicant’s research and/or teaching may fit into the programme of the department
- an up-to-date curriculum vitae
- a short statement of research accomplishments and future research goals
- sample copies of your research (published papers or papers under review)
- the names and contact details of two references.
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Information
For information you can contact:
Prof. Rafael Wittek, r.p.m.wittek@rug.nl
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