Postdoc position One Size Fits None: matching engagement to context
Apply nowPostdoc position One Size Fits None: matching engagement to context
Dutch national policy and legislation has high expectations of “bottom-up” provisioning systems for essential services, such as care and energy, where citizens take active roles in the set-up and functioning of an initiative. This requires local civil servants to engage citizens in policy design, implementation, and governance on a broad range of topics as established by, for example, the Climate Agreement, the Environment and Planning Act, and the Act to strengthen participation at the local level. While there is no shortage of public participation approaches policy makers can use to structure their citizen engagement interventions, systematic knowledge of which approach works best, when, where, and for whom is lacking. Hence, in their efforts to engage citizens, local civil servants run the risk of flying blind, lacking insight into which, if any, are the most adequate tools in their local context – for the specific community, specific problem at hand, at the given level of policymaking, and in the given social, economic, historical, and cultural conditions. The research you conduct in this postdoc project will help ameliorate this situation.
Postdoc position One Size Fits None: matching engagement to context
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What are you going to do?
In this project, you will help remedy the situation described in the introduction by developing theory and conducting research into the effectiveness and the opportunities, costs, and risks of various public participation approaches. Research activities will consist of literature reviews, case analyses, stakeholder interviews, and the collection and analysis of primary and secondary empirical data from local communities in which public participation approaches have been conducted or are considered. Your work will build on and contribute to the interdisciplinary (e.g., sociology, psychology, law, human geography, planning, transition studies) literature on public participation in decision making. Based on your research, you will develop and test a Local Engagement Decision Tree (LEDT) that policy makers can use to choose and tailor the adequate citizen engagement approach, fitting for local context. To make this LEDT practice-proof, you will, together with your supervisors, set up and run a Community of Practice (CoP) comprised of relevant stakeholders, who reflect on the project progress and provide input along the way. In addition to these research tasks, you will also be assigned occasional teaching duties in one of the participating faculties.
Who are you?
We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:
- A PhD degree in environmental psychology, sociology, law, human geography, planning or a related discipline;
- A relevant publication record demonstrating your ability to publish international academic publications, preferably in top-tier peer-reviewed journals;
- Experience with data collection with human subjects (e.g., interviews, surveys, focus groups), processing, and analysis
- A clear interest (and possible experience) in collaborative interdisciplinary and intersectoral research;
- Excellent command of the English language;
- Ability to conduct theoretically relevant research with an eye for application in policy and in practice;
- Ability to work independently and manage joint research activities;
- A team player with strong communication skills;
- Demonstrable competences as conceptual capacity, environment orientation, presenting and result orientation.
Command of Dutch language is an advantage.
What can you expect from us?
- In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 3.706 up to a maximum of € 5.760 (schaal 10) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
- 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
- End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
- Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
- A 3-year contract as a postdoctoral researcher.
Where will you be working?
At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.
The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences (GMW) excels in research and teaching in the areas of behaviour, thinking, learning, and participation in society. More than 4,500 students and approximately 650 staff address social questions and challenges that people experience in daily life. Our core focus is on individual and societal resilience and how to strengthen it. We focus on current themes such as health and wellbeing, sustainable living, learning and development, inclusive society, safe and healthy upbringing, and work and collaboration. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, visit rug.nl/gmw.
While you will be based at the Faculty of BSS, this postdoc position is a joint effort of prof. dr. Jacob Dijkstra (BSS), prof. dr. Goda Perlaviciute (BSS), dr. Lea Diestelmeier (Faculty of Law), and prof. dr. Tialda Haartsen (Faculty of Spatial Sciences). Your precise placement at either the Department of Sociology or the Department of Environmental Psychology (or a combination of both) will be determined together with you upon your hiring. Collaboration with the Law and Spatial Sciences faculties will be a central part of your work.
Additional information
Environmental Psychology Group: https://epgroningen.nl/
Department of Sociology: https://www.rug.nl/research/department-of-sociology/
Cultural Geography Section: https://www.rug.nl/frw/organization/medewerkers/cultural-geography
Energy Law Section: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/organisatie/vakgroepen/bedr-eur-bel/els/?lang=en
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Sollicitatieprocedure
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.
The selection committee assesses your application and you will be notified as soon as possible whether you are invited for an interview.
We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.
We may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.
After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!
Interested?
Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway.
Please add the following documents to your application:
-
CV
-
cover letter
Do you have any questions or need more information?
-
Questions about the content of the job?
Jacob Dijkstra
Associate Professor
J.Dijkstra@rug.nl -
Questions about your application process?
Josse van Geffen
Management/Office-assistant
J.van.Geffen@rug.nl
Information about applying
When scheduling meetings, we will take your schedule into account as much as possible.
The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy.
Acquisition is not appreciated.
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP Application Code.
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