The PhD candidate will develop and implement research on the multilevel politics and multilevel governance of migrant integration in small and medium-size towns and rural areas. The project will be part of the broader European research project Whole-COMM (H2020), coordinated by the University of Turin. The candidate will implement the research in The Netherlands as well as coordinate some of the comparative work across European countries on these topics.

About WholeCOMM:

Over the last few years, the EU has received unprecedented numbers of migrants and asylum seekers, often in an unorderly way. This has led to a growing immigrant presence in scarcely prepared small and medium-size towns and rural areas (SMsTRA). The way in which these local communities respond to this challenge will deeply shape the future of integration in Europe.

More information about WholeCOMM can be found later on in this vacancy.  

The PhD position is offered at the Department of Public Administration and Sociology at the Faculty for Behavioural and Social Sciences (ESSB) of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The PhD research will be co-supervised by Prof. dr. Peter Scholten and dr. Maria Schiller.

Tasks

• Carrying out internationally oriented, empirical research on the multilevel politics and multilevel governance of post-2014 migrant integration in small- and medium-sized towns and rural areas that is publishable in established international refereed journals;
• Assist in the coordination of activities in the context of Whole-COMM on multi-level governance and politics
• Writing an article-based dissertation as part of the project
• Participating actively in the H2020 project WholeCOMM, in DPAS and in the Erasmus Graduate School of Social Sciences and the Humanities (EGSH), as well as in relevant international scientific associations and networks such as IMISCOE;
• Presenting research results at national and international conferences;
• Assisting in the organisation of workshops and other knowledge sharing activities;
• Teaching activities (0.1 fte) in the Department of Public Administration and Sociology, in particular in the master Governance of Migration & Diversity.

• MA in Social Sciences, preferably a specialization in Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Sciences, Migration Studies or Sociology;
• Experience in studying aspects of the governance of migration and diversity
• Experience with carrying out qualitative research.
• Academic writing skills.
• Enthusiasm to work in and collaborate with a large consortium with European, Canadian and Turkish partners.
• Ability to work independently, think critically and constructive attitude. 
• Outstanding communication and organization skills.
• Excellent written and oral skills in English.
• Good comprehension of Dutch for carrying out fieldwork.

Internationally-oriented and varied work within an enthusiastic team, with attractive fringe benefits in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). Your initial employment term will be one year, but this may be followed by an extension of three years if your performance proves satisfactory. Your remuneration will start on the basis of full-time salary of €2.395 and grow to a maximum of €3.061 gross per month (salary scale  PR, CAO NU ). Erasmus University Rotterdam offers attractive terms of employment, including a holiday allowance of 8%, a year-end payment of 8.3% and 41 annual leave days in case of a full work week. In addition, EUR takes part in the ABP pension scheme, and we also offer partially paid parental leave. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Moreover, EUR staff members are allowed to make use of the EUR facilities, including the Erasmus sports centre and the University Library.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is a research university with a strong international orientation and a pronounced social focus, both in its education and research activities. On the lively, modern campus, more than 28.000 students and scholars of more than 100 nationalities are constantly encouraged to develop their talents and meet their ambition. Our more than 2700 scientists and employees work together with all our students to solve challenges faced by global society, drawing their inspiration from the consistently dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. The academic education offered at our faculties is intensive, engaging and strongly focused on practical application. We increasingly perform our research in multidisciplinary teams, which are closely interwoven with international networks. In terms of research impact and the quality of its degree programmes, EUR can compete with the foremost universities in Europe, which is reflected in its consistent top-100 position in most major universities rankings. Erasmus University Rotterdam’s key values are daring, curiosity, social involvement, breaking new ground and striving for success www.eur.nl.

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit www.eur.nl/essb).

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS covers the disciplines of Public Administration and Sociology. Two related scientific fields with different profiles. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on the institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes well beyond the public realm itself and pays attention to public-private cooperation and networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structure of societies and the way it evolves. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus among other things on processes of globalization and individualization and on the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market or family relations. Related social problems that are studied are migration, flexibilization and solidarity. The perspectives of Public Administration and Sociology complement each other. Together they guarantee a highly relevant and scientific approach to topical administrative and social issues. The bachelor- and masterprogrammes of DPAS are build on this profile and educate students to become scientifically schooled professionals.

More about Whole COMM

Whole-COMM proposes to address these issues through an innovative Whole-of-Community research approach which conceives of migrant integration as a process of community-making that: takes place in specific local contexts characterized by distinct configurations of structural factors; is brought about by the interactions of multiple actors with their multilevel and multi-situated relations; and is open-ended and can result in either more cohesive or more fragmented social relations.

By focusing on SMsTRA, Whole-COMM contributes to filling a serious gap in existing research and policy debates which so far have been concerned primarily with big cities.

Whole-COMM pushes forwards scientific knowledge and theorization on the dynamics and causal mechanisms that shape the complex relationship between immigrant integration policy and community cohesion through a cross-country (8 EU and 2 non-EU countries) and a cross-locality (40 localities) comparative approach, and a mixed-methods research design.