The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for designing the research programme together with the existing team, developing and conducting the research, and taking a lead role in preparing it for publication. The research will consist primarily of laboratory experiments using EEG and related techniques to measure threats to identity, but with an emphasis on understanding how social processes create a context in which these threats arise (e.g., through negative stereotypes, disadvantaged status relations or role distributions between groups). Preliminary research has applied this approach to stereotypic gender roles that disadvantage women, but other intergroup contexts are also open to investigation. In short, the research aims at a truly interdisciplinary approach that combines psychological and sociological insights into the processes by which disadvantaged group members experience identity and status based threats, but may also be able to cope with and counteract them, even at an implicit level. Crucially the use of EEG and related techniques provides new insights into such processes. The postdoctoral researcher will dedicate 100% of his/her time to research, but with possibility to (co)supervise master students in the line of research.

• a PhD degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or Sociology (or related fields); a multidisciplinary background in more than of these is a plus
• experience of using EEG or related techniques would be an advantage but if not willingness to learn such techniques is necessary
• experience with online experimentation and quantitative methods of collecting and analyzing data
• a track record in or interest for research on social identity and intergroup relations would be a plus
• ability to collaborate in a research or teaching team and to take the lead in organizing collaborative work
• good communication and project management skills
• the ability to communicate orally and in written form in English (command of English C1 level) and command of Dutch or willingness to learn Dutch.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

The University of Groningen offers a salary that will be between € 3,475 gross per month (scale 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities for a fulltime position) and € 4,757 gross per month (max. scale 11) based on the experience of the candidate plus a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. Favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The appointment will initially be for one year full-time. In case of a positive performance evaluation, which will be held before the end of this first appointment, the position will be extended to another year fulltime.

Starting date: 1 November 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter

Application
You may apply for this position until 21 September 23:59 hours / before 22 September 2017 Dutch local time by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Applicants are requested to submit:
• a letter of motivation including their view on how the applicant’s profile fits with the job description
• an up-to-date curriculum vitae
• the names and contact details of two references.

Applications without these documents will not be considered.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

The vacancy is positioned in the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen, as part of a collaboration between Psychology (Social and Experimental: Profs Spears & Lorist respectively) and Sociology (Prof Wittek). The goal of this project is to examine the processes through which disadvantaged groups develop resilience to cope with the social devaluation they face, such as prejudice and discrimination. The unique value of the collaboration between Social Psychology, Sociology and Experimental Psychology is that the project will incorporate three different levels of analysis: the neuro-cognitive level, the individual level, and the group and community level, an approach we believe has important integrative potential. This builds on ongoing collaborations between the Social and Experimental Psychology labs of Spears and Lorist and their postgraduate researchers (using EEG methods to measure the effect of gender-based identity threats), and between Wittek and Spears on social identity and cooperation, currently supported by Zwaartekracht programme (SCOOP: Roadmaps to a resilient society).