Assistant Professor Sociology

We are looking for an Assistant Professor with a PhD degree in sociology (or related discipline) who actively contributes to the collaborative development and implementation of an interdisciplinary research and teaching agenda within the sector plan theme Societal Transitions and Behavior Change (STAB). Your research has clear connections to the research agenda of the theme. Your management and teaching will contribute to the Bachelor and Master’s programmes of the Department of Sociology.

What are you going to do?

The position of Assistant Professor combines teaching, research, contributing to societal impact, and service to the academic community.

Teaching contributes to the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of the Department of Sociology (including a faculty-level interdisciplinary research master program), student supervision, and curriculum development of our teaching. Furthermore, the candidate will supervise Bachelor, Master, and PhD students. The ability to teach in Dutch is essential, as a substantial part of the curriculum is offered in Dutch. Teaching may also take place in English and can include hybrid forms of education.

Research in this position contributes to the STAB research program and focusses on the behavioural and social mechanisms through which societal transitions unfold. It examines how individual behaviour, social networks, organizations, institutions, and norms interact across micro, meso, and macro levels to shape the implementation and consequences of policies and interventions in areas such as sustainability, climate change, and inequalities. The successful candidate will develop a research agenda that fits with the profile of the Department of Sociology and connects to ICS, the national-level interuniversity research and training center ICS (Interuniversity Center of Social Science Theory and Methodology) and/or the summit program SOCION (Social Cohesion: Towards a New Fabric of Society), two programmes in which the department plays a central role. We welcome candidates who combine strong sociological theory with empirical research and who are open to collaboration across disciplines. The candidate is expected to develop a research-funding plan allowing her/him to attract external funding in the short/medium term.

Active engagement with societal stakeholders, as well as participation in managerial committees related to the organization of the programmes is expected.

For more information about the research in the sector plan, please visit: https://sshraad.nl/en/sectorplans/

Requirements

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

• A completed PhD in Sociology or a closely related Social Science discipline.
• A clear sociological research profile, demonstrated by a good publication record appropriate to the candidate’s career stage.
• Motivation and ability to contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Experience studying societal challenges relevant for the theme STAB, or a clear motivation to do so.
• Experience with, or willingness to contribute, to societal impact and actively engage with societal stakeholders.
• Potential to attract external research funding.
• Experience and interest in teaching including lecturing, development of courses, internship/thesis supervision.
• Experience with teaching and supervision at different levels (BA, MA), or clear potential to develop this.
• Interest in developing and implementing innovative and inclusive teaching practices.
• Relevant teaching qualifications (such as the University Teaching Qualification) or willingness to acquire them in the short term.
• Ability to communicate and teach in Dutch and English at B2/C1 level.
• Team player with excellent social and communicative skills.

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: A fixed-term employment contract for a duration of one year. Depending on performance and business conditions, the contract may subsequently be extended or converted into a permanent employment contract.

What can you expect from us?

• 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.

Employer

University of Groningen

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.

Department

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

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.

The position is situated in the Department of Sociology at the Faculty BSS. The department provides education within the Bachelor's program in Sociology, the Master's program in Sociology, and the Research Master's in Behavioral and Social Sciences. The department's research takes place within the research program "Social Networks, Solidarity and Inequality" of the national research school Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology and partly also within the Summit program SOCION.

Additional information

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Rafael Wittek (Full Professor): R.P.M.Wittek@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Basak Bilecen (Associate Professor): B.Bilecen@rug.nl

Working at University of Groningen

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