Postdoctoral Researcher Socio-Cultural Aspects of Rural-Urban Interactions
Solliciteer nuPostdoctoral Researcher Socio-Cultural Aspects of Rural-Urban Interactions
Are you interested in the spatial and socio-cultural interactions between the rural and the urban, how these relate to representations and senses of rural and urban places, and how life course and generational differences may influence this? And would you like to conduct research in an interdisciplinary consortium of Dutch universities, universities of applied sciences and societal partners? Then this postdoc position is perfect for you.
Postdoctoral Researcher Socio-Cultural Aspects of Rural-Urban Interactions
Solliciteer nu
What are you going to do?
The Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen is looking to appoint a postdoctoral researcher “Socio-Cultural Aspects of Rural-Urban Interactions”. The position is embedded in the NWO KIC research project Fertile Soils for future generations: integrated spatial strategies and effective governance for coherent rural-urban regions. Fertile soils addresses different aspects of rural-urban relations, related to the landscape services they provide. Landscape services are ecosystem services that are offered and consumed within one landscape, such as food production, recreation, biodiversity, flood protection, water retention, space for living, space for economic activities, social cohesion and regional identity. The project consists of 7 work packages. The postdoc Socio-Cultural Aspects of Rural-Urban Interactions is embedded in WP4. WP4 aims to investigate how interactions between rural and urban are experienced in people’s daily lives, how they envision these interactions to be in the future, and how this can contribute to a sense of connectedness to the place and/or a regional identity.
At the Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FSS) the research team includes Tialda Haartsen (professor rural geography, WP4 lead), Charlotte Oosterhuis (PhD, WP4), Jesse Lindenhovius (PhD, WP3), Koen Salemink (supervisor, WP4), Martijn van der Heide and Gunnar Mallon (supervisors, WP3). WP4 also consist of Kristin Zlatanova-Panova (PhD), Jasper de Vries and Marlies Meijer (supervisors) from Wageningen University. FSS is also region-coordinator of the Fertile Soils region Hogeland – city of Groningen. As postdoc, you will perform some of the WP4 research tasks, in close collaboration with the other team members and with the consortium partners in the project.
These tasks include:
- Investigate rural-urban interactions and socio-cultural meanings of urban and rural areas.
- Explore current and future needs in rural-urban interactions (e.g. regional identity and sense of place) from an intergenerational and life course perspective through representative survey, interviews, and focus group discussions with young societally active groups.
- Relate and integrate the WP4 findings to the other WPs.
- Write academic and popular publications about these research activities.
- PhD supervision.
- Be the contact person for the region Hogeland-Groningen.
- Perform some occasional teaching duties in one of the participating faculties.
Who are you?
Our ideal candidate has:
- A PhD degree in a field of study relevant to the topic of the project (e.g. human geography, rural studies or sociology). Completed or to be completed in the near future.
- Strong conceptual thinking skills and a proactive and a proactive and independent work attitude.
- Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods.
- Publications in international peer-reviewed academic journals that testify of your interest in aspects of rural-urban relations.
- The skills to present academic analyses to varied audiences including scientific professionals and policy makers. Also, you are comfortable building and maintaining a professional network to regional and national policy makers that are affiliated or relevant to the research that you are performing.
- A fluency in English (reading, writing, speaking).
- A fluency in Dutch, as some of the data gathering will take place in this language.
What can you expect from us?
- In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 4.051 (salary scale 10.3) up to a maximum of € 4.763 (salary scale 10.6) 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 temporary appointment of 0.7 FTE for 35 months or 0.8 FTE for 31 months. Intended starting date: as soon as possible, but no later than 1 January 2027.
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.
De Faculteit Ruimtelijke Wetenschappen (FRW) is een interdisciplinaire faculteit die veel impact heeft op maatschappelijke vraagstukken als klimaat, brede welvaart, bevolkingskrimp, gezond ouder worden en duurzame energie. Met ongeveer 100 medewerkers en ruim 100 promovendi werken we elke dag aan actueel en relevant onderwijs en onderzoek op het gebied van planologie, demografie en geografie. Wij zetten ons met ons onderzoeksprogramma TRACE (Transformations, Communities, and Environments) in voor internationaal georiënteerd, interdisciplinair onderzoek. Met twee bachelor- en zeven masteropleidingen biedt de faculteit brede opleidingsmogelijkheden aan zo’n 1100 studenten van over de hele wereld. De Faculteit Ruimtelijke Wetenschappen speelt een cruciale rol in het begrijpen en vormgeven van de leefomgeving van de toekomst. We werken voor én met de maatschappij. Ons motto is: we are making places better together. Wil je meer weten? Kijk dan op rug.nl/frw
You will be based at the Cultural Geography Department of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen. The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.
Additional information:
https://www.rug.nl/frw/?lang=en
https://www.rug.nl/frw/organization/medewerkers/cultural-geography?lang=en
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Application procedure
Nadat je jouw sollicitatie hebt ingediend, ontvang je een bevestiging per mail.
De selectiecommissie beoordeelt je sollicitatie en laat je zo spoedig mogelijk weten of je wordt uitgenodigd voor een gesprek.
We leren elkaar graag beter kennen tijdens een eerste gesprek, dat zowel online als op locatie kan plaatsvinden.
Mogelijk plannen we nog een tweede gesprek met je in. Dit gesprek kan, afhankelijk van de functie, worden aangevuld met een assessment of gastcollege.
Na een positief gesprek, nemen we samen de arbeidsvoorwaarden door. Als alles rond is, heten we je van harte welkom bij de Rijksuniversiteit 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.
The job interviews will be on Wednesday 7 October 2026.
For information for the Fertile Soils research proposal you can contact the Secretariat, email address: secrcg-eg@rug.nl
Please do not use the e-mail address(es) for applications.
Do you have any questions or need more information?
-
Questions about the content of the job?
Tialda Haartsen
Full Professor
T.Haartsen@rug.nl -
Questions about your application process?
Jeannette Brondsema
Management/Office-assistant
J.T.Brondsema@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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