Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) has a vacancy for a Data Engineer (Postdoctoral Researcher). You will participate in project FIRMBACKBONE: digital data collection infrastructure on Dutch companies. The project is a cooperation between VU university (Faculty of Economics) and Utrecht University (Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance; Faculty of Social Sciences), which is financed by Platform Digital Infrastructure Social Science and Humanities (PDI-SSH).

The purpose of this project is to build an organically growing longitudinal data-infrastructure of information on Dutch companies. A backbone will be created that contains a list of company names that are publicly accessible and that can be used for web scraping. We will enrich the data by public information of annual reports and other data, such as financial reports. Researchers making use of the backbone will enrich it with data they have collected, for example using surveys or tailor-made indicators. Quality control will be performed in collaboration with CBS.
Tasks: Construction of the backbone of companies, web search and webscraping for annual reports and financial information, text mining, implementation of statistical methods to enrich the data; data storage and data repository.

We are looking for a candidate with ample experience with data engineering, text mining and web search. The candidate should have a (almost) completed PhD on statistical methods in social sciences or economics.

U.S.E. offers a position (1.0 FTE) as a Postdoctoral Researcher for 5 years, starting 1 October 2020. During this time, 90% of the position is reserved for research and 10% is dedicated to teaching activities. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - is €3,746 in the first year (scale 11.0 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. For the subsequent years the gross salary is based on scale 11. For candidates who will have a PhD at short notice the gross monthly salary will range between €2,790 and €4,402 (scale 10 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities).

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). More information about working at Utrecht University can be found here.

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 Law, Economics and Governance is a faculty at the heart of society, with a strong focus on social issues. Our subjects of Law, Economics and Governance give us a strong mix of academic disciplines that complement and enhance each other. This is a unique combination and a mark of our faculty's strength.

At the Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E) we are fascinated by the economy, how it works and how we can improve it. U.S.E. aims to contribute to an economy where people thrive, by taking a broad view on welfare and all factors involved. Cooperation, innovation and curiosity are our core values.

Our research has scientific rigour, but we also cherish relevance for society. This means that we are inspired by society, including business and government, but also that we contribute to solutions of problems and opportunities. For this we enrich economics with other disciplines, because this gives us a better view on the economy and how to improve it. This also makes our education special, in which you can combine economics with other disciplines including geography, law, social sciences and data sciences. U.S.E. is an important contributor to the Utrecht Center for Entrepreneurship, the Utrecht University Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, the European Center for Alternative Finance and the Sustainable Finance Lab.  In addition, U.S.E. is involved in Utrecht University’s research themes ‘Institutions for Open Societies’ and ‘Pathways to Sustainability’.