We are seeking a Ph.D. candidate for the project “The Rise of New Families: how can we help them flourish?”, funded by an NWA-ORC grant. The overarching aim of the research is to develop scientifically based and ethically sound counseling guidelines and training for all persons involved in (prospective) two-father and mother-father families who use a gestational carrier procedure (GCP).

The aim of the current Ph.D. position is to gain insight into child development, family functioning, and counseling and support needs of (prospective) parents and children from two-father and mother-father families born through GCPs, and the societal attitudes towards GCP families.

This Ph.D. track takes place at the Research Institute of Child Development and Education. More specifically, the Ph.D. candidate will be part of the research group Preventive Youth Care.

What are you going to do

Your primary tasks will be:

• Co-designing and conducting longitudinal and prospective studies within a multidisciplinary team;
• Conducting quantitative and qualitative statistical analyses;
• Writing international peer-reviewed scientific papers;
• Presenting your work at conferences for academics, policymakers, and doctors working in the field of assistant reproductive techniques.

What do you have to offer

We are looking for dedicated candidates who have a growth mindset and are interested in child development, parenting, and experiences of children and parents who used gestational carrier procedures to conceive.

Your experience and profile:

• You hold a (research) master’s degree in pedagogics, developmental psychology, or an associated field;
• You have good quantitative and qualitative research and analysis skills;
• You have good writing and presentation skills;
• You are able to work in a team while maintaining autonomy;
• You have strong social and project management skills;
• You can work at and easily switch between different projects;
• You enjoy projects that require proactivity, perseverance, and collaboration;
• Good writing and language skills in English are required; fluency in Dutch would be a plus.  

Fixed-term contract: 18 months.

Our offer

The position concerns temporary employment of 30.4 hours/week (0.8 fte) for a maximum term of 5 years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 48 months, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. We will put together a curriculum which will also include the opportunity to attend training courses and both national and international events. You will also be tasked with teaching Bachelor's students. For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” applies. 

Your salary will be €2,443 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,122 in the final year, based on full-time employment and in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued;
• an enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioural sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.