The Department of Cultural Geography (Faculty of Spatial Sciences) has been successful in acquiring funding for further research into the rural digital divide.

This research will address:
1) How rural communities can overcome their digital divides
2) How ongoing digitalization can empower rural communities to negotiate rural transformations.

The candidate will work on these overarching research questions in two settings. Firstly, the candidate will work on her/his paper-based PhD project, developing at least four papers to be published in international peer-reviewed top journals, eventually resulting in a PhD thesis.
Secondly, the candidate will work within the EU Interreg 5B project CORA: COnnecting Rural Areas. In CORA, a consortium of local authorities, businesses and knowledge institutes will work on boosting digitalization and fostering adoption of digital technologies in rural areas. Project partners are located in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The candidate will be responsible for building and maintaining a database of good and bad practices, which of course will feed into the PhD project.

We seek an outstanding candidate with a (Research) Master’s degree in geography, spatial planning, (rural) sociology or an adjunct field, and with an interest in rural challenges in a European context. Alongside the PhD project, the candidate is motivated to work within the constellation of an EU project. Next to English, the candidate has a good command of at least one other North Sea Region language.

We are looking for the following competences in the PhD candidate:
- conceptual and analytical ability
- planning and organization
- presenting skills
- monitoring progress
- communication skills
- intercultural communication.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

The University of Groningen offers a minimum salary of € 2,222 gross a month in the first year to a maximum of € 2,840 gross a month in the final year, based on a full time position (1.0 fte). The position is limited to a period of 4 years. The first year constitutes a probationary period, with an evaluation of the candidate’s performance after the first year. The objective of this evaluation is to establish whether the candidate will be able to finish a PhD thesis in the remaining three years. If the performance evaluation is positive, the candidate’s contract will be extended by another 3 years, for a total of 4 years. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Spatial Sciences.

The PhD project will be carried out within the Faculty’s Department of Cultural Geography, and within the Faculty’s research agenda tWIST (towards Well-being, Innovation and Spatial Transformation) at the University of Groningen. The teaching load is limited but allows for building experience in teaching.

Preferred starting date is October 2017.

Applications for the position have to include:
- a cover letter including motivation statement
- curriculum vitae
- copy of the university marks (grade list of both Bachelor and master degree)
- names of two references.

How to apply
You may apply for this position until 20 August 23.59 pm / before 21 August Dutch local time by means of the application form (click on ‘Apply’ below on the advertisement of the university website). Applications will be considered immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Faculty of Spatial Sciences

Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programs and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. Ranked among the European top in the field of academic research, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global centre of knowledge.

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences at the University of Groningen (RUG) consists of around 95 members of staff and 95 PhD researchers. The Faculty focuses on high quality teaching and research in the fields of spatial planning, economic and cultural geography and demography. The research theme of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences is 'Wellbeing, Innovation and Spatial Transformation'. Our mission is to produce research which is world-leading, distinctive, and policy-relevant. With two bachelor and eight master programmes, the faculty offers a wide range of courses within the field to about 900 students.