Racism and social inclusion in football are complex phenomena that need to be addressed in different ways. Erasmus University Rotterdam has installed an Endowed Chair ‘Race’, inclusion and communication, specifically in relation to football and media, together with partners from the football world Fare, FIFPRO, and UEFA. This will enable the main stakeholders in the field of European football and beyond to use the results of ongoing international research projects on football and racism for future policies and initiatives that aim to contribute to a more open, inclusive and tolerant football culture. The founding partners will establish the research agenda with the Chair (Prof. dr. Van Sterkenburg) and are looking to recruit a PhD candidate with Erasmus University for the coming four years (2022-2026). An overarching aim of the Chair is to get to the roots of racism and its intersections with other dimensions like gender or sexual orientation and address the wider ‘breeding ground’ of racism in order to challenge it effectively. The following concrete research themes have been identified as the focus of the research agenda.

1. Players, coaches, referees and fans - A players’ perspective and their working conditions are important in the entire research agenda, both in a direct sense (using players’ experiences) and in an indirect sense (addressing and reducing the ‘breeding ground’ for racism towards players such as racial bias and stereotypes). Moreover, football leaders competencies and skills around values of respect and inclusion will be important for an inclusive football culture. Therefore, research on the entry-point interactions and the importance of football leaders competencies and skills around values of respect and inclusion would add an interesting insight to the future of the football community.
2. Media, Communication and Campaigning - The role of social media, anti-racism initiatives/campaigning and/or mainstream media in reproducing or challenging racism will be addressed. Racial abuse towards players on social media is on the rise and deserves more attention just like the role of anti-racism campaigns in challenging racism.
3. The football industry - A third priority theme will address the wider football structures and the football industry, with a particular focus on racial/ethnic and gender diversity in leadership and coaching positions. Here, it would be relevant, amongst other things, to supplement quantitative data on racial/ethnic and gender diversity with qualitative data based on interviews with people working in football governance and coaching in Europe.
4. Grassroots level - A fourth theme will focus on the grassroots level in relation to dynamics around race, gender and inclusion. The world of grassroots football receives relatively little media and public attention and racism therefore often remains unnoticed. However, it is particularly in this relatively anonymous world that racism can flourish, get normalized and constitute a wider breeding ground for more explicit forms of racism to occur.

Key tasks

• Conducting PhD research within the Endowed Chair ‘Race’, inclusion and communication in football;
• Contributing to the data collection and data analysis of the project
• Collaborate with multiple stakeholders, most notably main stakeholders Fare, FIFPRO and UEFA;
• Publishing and presenting research results in the form of academic chapters/papers as well as policy reports and presentations;
• Writing a dissertation within the appointment duration of four years;
• Assisting the Chair and main stakeholders in knowledge dissemination activities
• Taking part in seminars, workshops, etc. that are organised by the Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC) as well as the research schools and scholarly associations of which ERMeCC is part.  
• Preparing and giving (guest) lessons within the context of the various degree programmes provided by the ESHCC;

• A Master’s degree in the Social Sciences or Humanities, preferably a research master;
• Wide-ranging knowledge of and affinity with the sociology of sport/football, race/ethnicity studies, and preferably media studies;
• Training in quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-methods research.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to work with multiple stakeholders
• Experience in communicating research to a wider audience and (football) industry stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Organisational experience and skills
• Didactic potential. Teaching experience is considered an advantage;
• A willingness to develop knowledge and skills in various disciplines;
• Proficiency in spoken and written English. Non-English speakers have to meet the C1-standards of the Common European Framework (CEF).

Employment would commence in March 2022. The candidate will be located in Rotterdam.

The initial contract will be running for a term of 1,5 years, which - depending on performance – will be extended with a second term of 2,5 years.

The conditions of employment correspond with the “CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten” (CAO NU). For the job of PhD Candidate (Promovendus) the salary amounts with a minimum of  €2.434,- to a maximum of € 3.111,- (grade P) gross per month on a 38 hour per week contract.

The EUR has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8.0%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 41 annual vacation days in case of a full workweek. 
The candidate will have access to invaluable academic and professional development experiences (e.g., mentoring, collaborative research opportunities). At the end of the appointment they will have acquired the skills to pursue a career in academia or organizations that tackle issues of race in sport and/or media.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research. Our scientists and students work in close collaboration with internal and external parties to solve global, social challenges, inspired by the always dynamic and cosmopolitan Rotterdam. Our mission is therefore "Creating positive societal impact". Our academic education is intensive, active and application-oriented. Our research increasingly takes place in multidisciplinary teams, which are strongly intertwined with international networks. With our research impact and thanks to the high quality of education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. The Erasmian values ​​function as our internal compass and make Erasmus University recognizable to the outside world:

The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) is part of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The school has three departments:  History, Arts and Culture and Media & Communication.

The faculty has approximately 1700 students and 130 employees.

ESHCC offers high quality education, based on scientific research, at the intersection of Humanities and Social Sciences. We teach our ambitious, Dutch and international students in a stimulating learning environment. After graduation, they will have acquired the knowledge, insight and skills to make an important and inspiring contribution to an increasingly international society in which diversity plays a major role.

The ESHCC also has an ambitious research agenda. We want to strengthen our involvement in multidisciplinary research, increase the share of external funding in our total research funding and enhance our social impact: https://www.eur.nl/eshcc/onderzoek/history-erasmus. The research takes place in the framework of two research centres: ERMeCC and History@Erasmus

Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC)

The Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC) is a vibrant, internationally oriented research centre within the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication which serves as the main base for researchers in Media, Communication and Culture at Erasmus.