The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of the University of Amsterdam will use national government's funds from the sectoral plan for the social sciences and humanities to make additional investments in the interdisciplinary themes 'The human factor in new technologies' and 'Social inequality and diversity'. Accordingly, the Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for two postdoc positions.

The department combines research across human geography, planning and international development studies, with a shared emphasis on the spatiality of social, economic, and environmental processes. Our research tradition is characterised by its critical and publicly engaged approach to urgent socio-spatial issues. Our collective mission is to develop empirically grounded, conceptually innovative contributions to intellectual and societal debates, always informed by a sensitivity to the spatial dimension of social phenomena and processes. We focus on the intersections of social, built and natural environments, and emphasise the importance of deploying spatial concepts such as scale, place, territoriality, flows, networks, mobility and landscape to investigate the how and why of social issues. We are committed to mobilising our research expertise to address collective action problems and real-world challenges associated with pursuing equality, sustainability and economic development. Considering the current composition of our staff, and our commitment to diversity, we prioritize hiring people from groups presently underrepresented within our department.

Given our emphasis on both theoretical development and societal relevance, our research ranges from more conceptual endeavours aimed at shifting academic debates, to more concrete, empirical policy-oriented projects. Many of these projects are developed together with local - such as the municipality of Amsterdam -, national and international- such as the UN - stakeholders, and actors in the Global North and the Global South. Across the department, our scholarship benefits from a commitment to methodological pluralism, and our research draws on a wide range of qualitative, quantitative and spatial methods, from ethnography and statistical analysis to action research and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The department's diverse, internationally-oriented staff plays active and influential roles in both academic and societal debates. Our strong international reputation, and impact is evidenced, in our consistently high scores in the widely-used QS global subject rankings (Development Studies ranked 17th and Geography 18th in 2020).

Who are we looking for?

We are interested in attracting early career academics in the fields of geography, planning and/or international development studies or other related cognate disciplines. The department is looking for colleagues with an innovative research agenda and teaching interests across several thematic, methodological and disciplinary fields. Candidates whose training and/or experience covers one or more of the following (sub-)themes are encouraged to apply:

• 'The human factor in new technologies'. This theme is concerned with different sub-themes. First, the unintended consequences of digital technology, in particular in generating or exacerbating social inequalities. Second, the datafication of societies and the implications of this process for how social problems and solutions are constructed." Third, artificial intelligence, in particular with regard to algorithms taking over human decision-making. Candidates should be able to develop these subjects through the urban, geographic, planning and/or international development studies lens(es).
• 'Social inequality and diversity', the second theme, also includes different sub-themes, of which the relationship between the urban environment and (in)equality of opportunity is the most important for the department GPIO. Within this sub-theme, suggested foci are: the role of intersectionality, the contribution of co-creation on the neighbourhood level and unequal opportunities for migrants.

What are you going to do

• You will develop a departmental wide research program, which will contribute to the acquisition of research grants;
• You will conduct your own research within one or more of the sub-themes mentioned above;
• You will present and publish your research to an international scientific audience;
• You seek (knowledge) exchange and (research) cooperation with societal stakeholders connected to your research topic;
• You contribute to the teaching in geography, planning and/or international development studies.
• You make a positive contribution to the organization and cooperation within the program group and the department.

You have:

• a completed PhD in geography, planning and/or international development studies or other related cognate disciplines;
• excellent research skills, as demonstrated by publications in international journals;
• original ideas for new, relevant research on one or more of the (sub-)themes discussed above;
• experience in (international) research;
• ambition to conduct both academic research and research that directly contributes to social change;
• experience with science communication, or the willingness to develop these skills;
• excellent command of English in word and writing and preferably (some) command of Dutch;
• the ability to work independently as well as part of a team;
• some experience in teaching science;
• good communication, social and organizational skills

In addition, you are an enthusiastic colleague who likes to share knowledge, embraces open science, is curious, critical and eager to learn, i.e. one with an academic attitude.

A temporary employment contract for 32 or 38 hours per week, for the duration of 24 months. Starting date: 1 October 2022, or before.

Depending on education and relevant work experience, the salary amounts to a minimum of €3,974 and a maximum of €5,439 gross per month (scale 11) based on full-time working hours (38 hours per week), excluding 8% vacation allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The Cao Dutch Universities is applicable. In addition, we offer an extensive package of secondary employment conditions, including a generous vacation scheme and year-end bonus, and we believe it is important that you continue to develop and professionalize yourself. To this end, we offer excellent study and development opportunities.

What else can we offer you?

A challenging workplace with varied tasks and plenty of room for personal initiative and development in an inspiring organization. The Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences plays a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges facing the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Working at the UvA means working in a critical, independent, innovative and international climate, characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with multiple stake-holders in Amsterdam and across the world. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is committed to diversity and inclusion within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest range of courses. An intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD students. Connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences plays a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges facing the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Curious about our organization and attractive fringe benefits such as a generous vacation plan and development opportunities? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam here.

The Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies (GPIO) is embedded within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, and the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR). The department is organized around four programme groups/disciplines : Urban Geographies; Political and Economic Geography; Urban Planning; and Governance and Inclusive Development. We welcome applications from candidates from these four, and from any related cognate disciplines. The successful candidates will be assigned to the disciplinary group that is most relevant to their own research profile. The department offers a BSc Human Geography and Planning (Dutch is language of instruction), a MSc Human Geography, a MSc Urban and Regional Planning, a MSc International Development Studies, a Research Master Urban Studies and a Research Master International Development Studies. (The MSc's are all taught in English.)