Description
Postdoctoral Researcher in Interethnic Social Networks (1.0 FTE)
Job description
As part of the ERC Consolidator project 'Bridges in social networks:
Harnessing dual identity to improve interethnic relations', we are looking for
a postdoctoral researcher for four years, starting September 1, 2022.
The Postdoc will work at the European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic
Relations (ERCOMER) at the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science.
ERCOMER has a strong research track record in interethnic relations with a
particular focus on ethnic identity formation, international migration,
cultural diversity, labour market discrimination, and interethnic networks. It
is part of the Dutch research school Interuniversity Center for Social Science
Theory and Methodology (ICS).
Project description
The postdoctoral Researcher will implement a sequential mixed-methods design
to understand how perceptions of social networks and dual identifiers'
position in them develop. The Postdoc will start by conducting in-depth
interviews with an ethnically diverse sample of college students to reveal how
people make sense of others' ethnicity and relationships in social networks.
These insights will be used by the research team to design and evaluate a new
software to measure people's perceptions of others' ethnicity and their social
networks (e.g., friendships) in quantitative surveys (e.g., Stark &
Krosnick, 2017). The Postdoc will then use methodological triangulation in a
longitudinal school study to test if self-reported friendships, perceptions of
such friendships, and actual interaction patterns (e.g., Grantz et al.,
2021) predict the perception of other people's ethnicity.
The postdoctoral Researcher will work together with Dr Tobias Stark
(principal investigator) and Dr Zsófia Boda (Advisory Board; University of
Essex) and be a member of the ERC team which also includes three PhD
students. Apart from 0.8 FTE research time, the Postdoc will spend 0.2 FTE on
managing the larger ERC project.
Grantz, K. H., Cummings, D. A. T., Zimmer, S., Vukotich, C., Galloway, D.,
Schweizer, M. Lou, Guclu, H., Cousins, J., Lingle, C., Yearwood, G. M. H., Li,
K., Calderone, P., Noble, E., Gao, H., Rainey, J., Uzicanin, A., & Read, J. M.
(2021). Age-specific social mixing of school-aged children in a US setting
using proximity detecting sensors and contact surveys. Scientific Reports ,
11 (1). https: // doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81673-y.
Stark, T. H., & Krosnick, J. A. (2017). GENSI: A new graphical tool to
collect ego-centered network data. Social Networks , 48 , 36–45.
https: // doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2016.07.007.
Core tasks include:
conducting and analysing in-depth interviews;
collaborating with programmers to develop a new software to measure
people's perceptions of other people's ethnicity and their social
networks;
evaluating the new software with a Randomized Controlled Trial among
college students;
collecting and analysing a combination of position data (Bluetooth/GPS),
self-reported social networks, and perceived social networks to detect how
perceptions of social networks and dual identifiers' position in them
develop;
reporting results at conferences and in articles in peer-reviewed
journals;
project management.
Qualifications
We are looking for a postdoctoral Researcher with:
a PhD in the field of sociology, (social) psychology, educational
science, anthropology, or related fields;
experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods (you should
be an expert in one method and have some experience with the other);
an interest in social network analysis;
theoretical expertise in intergroup relations, integration and/or
migration research;
a track record appropriate to the stage of their career, and an obvious
curiosity and enthusiasm for academic research;
a professional attitude and conduct that includes organizational
sensitivity, integrity, pragmatism, and good communication skills;
independent thinking and a hands-on mentality;
excellent collaborative skills;
high proficiency in English (C2 level). Proficiency in Dutch is an
asset, but is not required.
Offer
We offer a four-year position (1.0 FTE, including 0.2 FTE project management
of the ERC project). The initial appointment will be a full-time employment
contract for one year, starting September 2022, with an extension of three
years after a positive evaluation. The gross salary - depending on previous
qualifications and experience - ranges between €2,846 and €5,230 (scale 10-11
according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month
for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of
8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University
offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement
scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions
(multiple choice model). For more information: working at Utrecht
University.
About the organization
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in
executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht
University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major
societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open
Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties
in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology,
educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences,
psychology, and sociology. Research and teaching activities are concentrated
in five areas: Behaviour in Social Contexts, Child and Adolescent Studies,
Cognitive and Clinical Psychology, Education and Learning, and Methodology and
Statistics. More than 5,600 students are enrolled in a broad range of
undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural
Sciences has some 850 faculty and staff members, all providing their
individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to
the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues.
Additional information
For additional information, please contact Dr Tobias Stark by email:
t.h.stark@uu.nl.
Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with
a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. To apply, please upload your
motivation letter, the contact information of two referees about your previous
work, and a full curriculum vitae via the 'application' button below.
The application deadline is
30/05/2022
