You will become part of an exciting, innovative, and interdisciplinary research group that examines The role of the father in child development and the intergenerational transmission of inequality. The key objective of the overall FATHERCHILD project is to provide novel insights into the questions whether, why, and in what ways, fathers influence their children’s social, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive outcomes. More specifically, this project investigates how inequalities in child outcomes develop through fathers’ parenting practices across childhood and adolescence, and how context may buffer or strengthen fathers’ role in this development of inequalities. The idea underlying the proposed research is that much can be learned about fathers’ role in child outcomes by linking sociological stratification questions to developmental psychology research on father involvement.
Project and job description
The PhD-candidate will become part of the research team (subproject 1) that will in particular assess how unique the attachment mechanism is through which fathers are argued to influence their children’s outcomes and transmit inequality, and whether, to what extent and how mothers may buffer or strengthen fathers’ role in the development of inequalities.
The research goals are: 
(1) Investigate whether, to what extent, and how fathers and mothers may serve as both safe havens and as facilitators of children’s exploration system.
(2) Investigate to what extent parenting behavior that underlies attachment relationships differs between fathers and mothers.
(3) Assess how variety in attachment relationships and parenting behavior is linked with fathers’ (and mothers’) social class and children’s emotional, social and behavioral outcomes. This will allow us to assess how social inequalities in child outcomes are developed through father-child (and mother-child) attachment relationships. 
To answer the research questions, new data will be collected among 100 families in the region of Rotterdam. Coordination of the research project is led by post-doctoral researcher dr. Katrien Helmerhorst. The PhD-candidate will carry out part of the data collection, together with several student-assistants and the post-doctoral researcher.
Research tasks:
• The candidate will participate in the described data collection.
• The candidate will participate in project meetings, seminars, and workshops.
• The candidate will perform theoretically-informed quantitative analyses, present the results at conferences, and publish them in professional and academic peer-reviewed papers, culminating in a PhD dissertation.
• Following a PhD training in de Graduate School, and follow specific courses and participation in international conferences is part of the position.

The PhD candidate should:

• have a (near completed) Research Master’s or Master’s degree in Sociology, Pedagogical Sciences, Developmental Psychology or equivalent qualifications, with a top quality master thesis;
• have a keen interest in interdisciplinary research;
• have a keen interest in the topics to be investigated in the FATHERCHILD project, preferably demonstrated by previous work on similar topics;
• excel academically, as shown in the grade transcripts and curriculum vitae;
• have excellent command of both Dutch and English;
• have well-developed research skills, including the ability to formulate relevant and creative research questions and hypotheses, descriptive and analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing;
• have a great curiosity and enthusiasm for scientific research;
• have a firm basis in quantitative research, including data collection;
• have the ability to work well in a team, but also at a high degree of autonomy.

Employment preferably starts April 1st 2018. The initial contract will run for a term of 1,5 years, which – depending on performance – will be extended with a second term of 2,5 years. The conditions of employment correspond with the CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten (CAO NU). The Erasmus University offers a salary of € 2.222,- gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of  € 2.840,- gross per month in the final year in accordance with the Promovendus scale of CAO NU. Salary is based on a fulltime occupation. Objective of the temporary 4-year position is the production of a thesis leading to a PhD degree. Candidates are to submit yearly progress reports to the faculty’s standing committee for research.

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.

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.