You will become part of an exciting, highly societally relevant project that examines linkages between children’s socio-economic/ethnic background and school performances, while also developing and evaluating an intervention that could close the gap in school performances. The project is embedded within the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens.
 
Project and job description

Making Rotterdam’s children more resilient: Closing the socio-economic/ethnic gap in students’ school performances by strengthening partnerships between parents, schools, and children.

Dutch children from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds enter school with different levels of academic and cognitive skills and these differences grow over time. Although there is increasing evidence that the intergenerational transmission of (dis)advantages is filtered through intra-familial dynamics, in particular parental involvement, we know little about the underlying mechanism--how parents transmit (dis)advantages in school performances. Furthermore, the role that teachers and school climate play in linkages between socio-economic/ethnic background, parental involvement and child development is often neglected. In this project, we aim to: (1) obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the link between the child’s socio-economic/ethnic background and school performances (2) develop (in close collaboration with our societal partners in Rotterdam) and evaluate an intervention that could close the gap in school performances.

Our study makes use of a mixed-method approach; we will gather quantitative data from parents, teachers, and students. In addition, we will hold interviews with parents and teachers. Our study is set in Rotterdam. We will recruit 6 schools and we will include two classes in each of the 6 schools, consisting in total of approximately 360 children, their parents and their teachers.

Research tasks:
• Conducting research within the framework of the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens, specifically the project “Making Rotterdam’s children more resilient”.
• Managing/Contributing to the data collection and data-analyses.
• Presenting research results at international conferences and publishing articles in international peer reviewed journals.
• Assisting in the organisation of workshops and other knowledge sharing activities.
• Participating in project meetings, seminars, and workshops organised by the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens.

We are looking for a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher with:

• A completed (or nearly completed) PhD thesis in sociology, pedagogical sciences, educational sciences or another relevant social science;
• A keen interest in the topics to be investigated in the Making Rotterdam’s children more resilient project, preferably demonstrated by previous work on similar topics;
• A keen interest in cross-disciplinary research and/or collaboration;
• A solid background in both qualitative and quantitative research methods;
• Strong planning skills, ability to manage own and others’ work and related activities, ability to meet deadlines;
• Good research qualities and writing skills, demonstrated for example by international peer-reviewed publications;
• Good writing skills and fluency in written and spoken Dutch and English
• Good communicative skills, proactive and independent work attitude;
• A great curiosity and enthusiasm for scientific research.

Employment starts 1 January 2018. The contract will be a temporary contract for three years. The trial period is two months.

The conditions of employment correspond with the CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten/ Collective Agreement Netherlands Universities (CAO NU). Salary is subject to know-how and experience and corresponds to scale 11 CAO NU, which is between € 3.475 and € 4.757 gross per month on a full-time basis (38 hour per week; 1.0 fte).

The EUR has attractive employment conditions, which include holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, an end-of-year payment of 8.3% of the yearly salary and 232 hours leave per year (based on a full-time appointment of 38 hours). In case of a working day of 8 hours, you will weekly save 2 hours extra for annual leave (totally 328 hours).

In addition, EUR takes part in the ABP pension scheme, and we also offer partially paid parental leave. Moreover, EUR staff members can make use of the facilities at the EUR campus, including the Erasmus Sports Centre and the University Library. Substantial tax benefits apply to non-Dutch citizens, conditional on permission granted by the Dutch Tax Office. Applicants should have the right to work in the Netherlands for the duration of the contract.

Diversity is one of our strategic priorities. Female candidates, candidates with an international background and/or candidates from an ethnic minority are encouraged to apply. Under the condition of equal suitability, these candidates will have a priority position.

Erasmus University Rotterdam is a modern, highly ranked, international research university, based in the dynamic and diverse city of Rotterdam. We were founded in 1913 and nowadays host 25.000 students. Our faculties and institutions work on global, national and local social challenges in the areas of: healthy development, wealth, governance, culture.

The quality of research at Erasmus University, named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is reflected in its consistent top-100 position in most major universities rankings. On the lively, modern campus, students and scholars of more than 100 nationalities are constantly encouraged to develop their talents and meet their ambition.

Working at the Erasmus University Rotterdam means working in a professional environment, where development is encouraged through an active career and mobility policy. The Erasmus University Rotterdam highly appreciates flexibility: we have a 38-hour workweek, flexible working hours, possibilities to work part-time, and maternal/paternal leave. Moreover, the University has a company childcare scheme, possibilities to participate in a terms of employment option model, company savings program and life insurance schemes and favourable collective insurance schemes. Employees can also make use of facilities such as sports facilities and library.

https://www.eur.nl/english/

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)
The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programmes and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programmes are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 2500 students and 300 staff-members.

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)
The department benefits from a key position in the European public administration landscape through numerous editorial board positions and participation in several cross-national networks. Leading sociologist in the field of migration, political sociology and families are based in the department and participate actively in public debates and international research projects. Cooperation with third parties and conducting research with societal impact are key values of the department. The bachelor and master programmes reflect our diverse expertise and educate students to become active professionals.