Global challenges such as climate change, increased inequality, poverty, conflicts, breaches of human rights and citizens’ concerns about identity, cannot be solved from the perspective of a single discipline. UGlobe, the Utrecht Centre for Global Challenges, a joint initiative of the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, brings together people from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines to study these challenges and propose innovative solutions.

The Centre explores possible new insights at the intersections of four central research domains: Human Rights, Conflict and Security, Sustainability and Development and Equity. These trongly inter-related domains are approached within the overarching theme of global challenges and the contested global order, by means of  following disciplines: Law (international and European), Economics, History, International relations, Philosophy and International Governance Studies.

We are looking for two designated Chairs at the heart of UGlobe: 
Chair in Comparative Global History and 
Chair in Global Economic Challenges

Full Professor in Global Economic Challenges

The Chair in Global Economic Challenges will be based at Utrecht School of Economics (U.S.E.), part of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance. The chair will be part of the multidisciplinary research agenda of U.S.E.
U.S.E. encourages a multidisciplinary approach with a strong awareness of the complex socio-economic reality: human behaviour is not always rational and markets are not always in equilibrium. Institutions are important in understanding economic dynamics and so are the dimensions of time and space. More specifically, U.S.E. sets itself the target of contributing actively to a society in which people thrive, by taking a broad view on welfare and all the factors involved.

The chair will combine a strong background of economics with a genuine interest in global societal challenges, especially those of UGlobe, i.e. human rights, sustainability, security, development, migration and equality. The chair is expected to initiate, create, develop and maintain collaborations with researchers active in other disciplines as diverse as biology, natural sciences, geosciences, history, social sciences, law and psychology. This requires an open and inquisitive mind and a willingness to experiment and explore new avenues and methods in research as well as in academic teaching in the U.S.E. Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. Supervision of multidisciplinary research themes on global challenges is therefore a key part of the chair’s responsibilities. As the position aims to address real-world global challenges we also expect the candidate to be willing and able to communicate complex scientific results and insights to a wider audience of policy makers, societal stakeholders and the wider public. The candidate will also contribute to the financial sustainability of U.S.E. by a attracting additional research funds from within and outside the university.

Successful candidates should have:

• a doctorate in the field of economics or business:
• a strong track record in research as demonstrated among others by publications in nationally and internationally recognised journals;
• research interests and (proven) experience with a multidisciplinary economics approach to the field of global economic challenges;
• proven experience as leader of a research group;
• the willingness to put effort into the further development of teaching and research in Global Economic Challenges from a multidisciplinary perspective within Utrecht University;
• a record of achievement in undergraduate and graduate teaching and administration;
• proven ability to acquire external funding;
• good communicative skills;
• fluency in English.

We offer a position for five years in an international working environment. The salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranges from € 5,334  to € 7,766 (scale H2 according to the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end allowance of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). Find more information here: working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in execuring their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions of Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) is part of the Law, Economics, and Governance Faculty of Utrecht University. U.S.E. promotes high quality economics research and teaching with a real-world perspective, requiring a multidisciplinary economics approach. In its research and teaching, U.S.E. crosses disciplinary borders by collaborating actively with the faculties of Law, Geography and Social Sciences and by participating in the university’s broad research themes, particularly 'Institutions' and 'Sustainability'. Here you'll find further information about the U.S.E.