The PhD candidate carries out comparative research into structural characteristics of the systems of social assistance and of social-fiscal allowances in a number of selected countries. The results of this research contribute to the project “The future of the universal welfare state, between social assistance and a guaranteed minimum income”. The position also includes limited lecture responsibilities in social security law.

• a university master degree in Laws
• affinity with social security law and questions relating to the architecture of the welfare state
• good average grades and a very good grade for the master thesis
• candidates with research activities in the past and an international research orientation will be preferred
• good communication skills, both oral and in writing.

Competences:
• analytic reasoning power
• product/result oriented attitude
• critical research attitude
• perseverance.

Fixed-term contract: 18 months.

The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2,222 gross per month in the first year, up to € 2,840 gross per month in the last year for a full-time position. Initially, the full-time appointment will be for a period of 18 months. After one year, the PhD candidate's performance will be assessed. If the result of the assessment is positive, the appointment can be extended for the remainder of the four year period. The appointment has to be completed with an individual dissertation.

The PhD student will participate in the Faculty’s GGSL training programme for PhD students and will draw up a personal training and supervision plan. The Faculty offers the opportunity to attend international conferences and to participate in workshops and seminars. The research project also has its own funds for travel and accommodation.

Appointment commences 1 September 2018.

The interviews will be in the first half of June 2018.

Application
You may apply for this position until 1 May 23.59h / before 2 May 2018 Dutch local time by means of the application form (click on ’’Apply’’ below on the advertisement on the university website).

Please also send (digitally) a motivation letter in which you describe why you wish to do this research, why you aim at performing this specific research and what makes you pre-eminently suitable to perform this research. Please also send a curriculum vitae and a list of marks or results belonging to the master degree.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law of the University of Groningen is a modern, internationally oriented institution, which builds on a longstanding tradition of almost four centuries. The Faculty has the ambition to measure itself with the best law faculties in Europe. Advanced systems of quality control have been implemented for a continuous improvement of research and education.

The PhD position is within the Department for Constitutional and Administrative Law and Public Administration and is supervised by Gijsbert Vonk, ordinary professor of social security law. The position is part of an externally funded research project (Stichting Instituut Gak), which also accommodates a post-doctoral researcher.

The Groningen Graduate School of Law: https://www.rug.nl/research/gradschool-law/ (GGSL) organises the training programmes for PhD researchers and research master students in the Faculty of Law.