During your PhD you will:
• study quantitatively the ways in which social relationships and knowledge production are developed and co-evolve during i-CONN project among team members
• identify different types of network features and dynamics within the network of researchers from analysis of empirical data
• use analysis of empirical data to inform training of the i-CONN project team
• examine a series of real world applications, that include the dynamics of coupled physical (natural or ecological) and/or social networks, in conjunction with i-CONN partners, which could benefit from understanding the dynamics between social and physical networks; secondary data from partners will be used and supplemented if necessary by empirical data collection
• reflect on the contribution that i-CONN makes to Connectivity Science
• perform high quality research in the bespoke research project under the guidance of the supervisory team
• meet the members of the supervisory team on a regular basis
• participate in the activities of the i-CONN Network as specified in the Grant Agreement and/or required by the node coordinator, including secondments in other network nodes and taking part in the network meetings and in the training activities
• write up the results of the research activity and present research papers and publications at meetings and conferences, as advised by the supervisors
• widen the personal knowledge in the research area and undertake complementary training
• keep records of the activities, such as research, training, secondments, visits, leave of absence, etc.

To satisfy the eligibility requirements set for an Early Stage Researcher funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie and you must be eligible to be appointed as an Early Stage Researcher:
• you should have — at the date of recruitment — less than 4 years of a research career, and not have a doctoral degree; the 4 years are measured from the date when you obtained the degree which would formally entitle you to embark on a PhD, either in the country where the degree was obtained or in the country where the PhD is provided
• trans-national mobility: the applicant — at the date of recruitment— should not have resided in the country where the research training takes place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment, and not have carried out their main activity (work ,studies, etc.) in that country; for refugees under the Geneva Convention (1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol), the refugee procedure (i.e. before refugee status is conferred) will not be counted as ‘period of residence/activity in the country of the beneficiary’
• satisfy the eligibility requirements to enrol on a PhD degree; this includes acceptable English language requirements if English is not your first language.

Any or combination of the following will be a clear advantage.

• a demonstrable ability or potential to produce research published in peer-reviewed journals
• a good strategic fit with existing research expertise in the host institution and the i-CONN network.
• do you have an excellent academic record in a quantitative discipline, including, but not restricted to: Geography (or other Social Science, e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Policy, Political Science), Ecology, Environmnetal Science, or other related areas?
• do you have a keen interest in pursuing research in the development of Connectivity Science?
• are you in the first four years of your research career?
• are you interested in doing your PhD in a joint network in close contact and collaboration with some of the best European research groups?

We are looking for you with the following competences:
• the ability to work independently and as a member of a research team
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• a good command of English language, with excellent oral and written skills.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

We offer you in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early stage researchers and the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• a salary of € 2,325 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 2,835 gross per month in the final year for a full-time position
• a full-time position for first one year with the possibility for further extension to a maximum of three years (duration of the project)
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% year-end bonus.

According the MSCA regulations, the PhD candidate will receive some allowances. The amount will depend on your personal situation.

The preferred starting date for the position is 1 July 2020

Faculty of Spatial Sciences

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 32,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences consists of approximately 100 members of staff, 100 PhD students and around 1000 undergraduate students. We focus on high quality teaching and research in the fields of social and economic geography, demography, and spatial planning. With a single collective research theme of 'towards Wellbeing, Innovation and Spatial Transformation' (tWIST), it is our mission to produce research which is world leading, distinctive, and policy-relevant. With two bachelor and eight master programmes, we provide a wide range of courses within the fields of geography and spatial sciences.

The Department of Cultural Geography invites outstanding candidates seeking to study a PhD in Cultural Geography addressing the topic of learning networks in scientific communities, and the implications for studying social-ecological (or coupled) systems. This PhD will be carried out within the context of the i-CONN network, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions– Innovative Training Network (ITN) – project funded by the European Commission, under their H2020 programme.

The i-CONN network

Coordinator: Durham University, Durham UK.

i-CONN Beneficiaries (10 including coordinator)
AAI Scientific Cultural Services Ltd. (Cyprus), Aix-Marseille University (France), BOKU (Austria), Durham University (UK), European University Cyprus (Cyprus), Jacobs University (Germany), Masaryk University (Czech Republic), MODUL University Vienna (Austria), University of Groningen (Netherlands), University of Vienna (Austria).

i-CONN partners (3)
IIASA (Austria), The University of Sheffield (UK), Environment Agency (UK).