Maastricht University is welcoming a researcher at post-doc level with a strong social science profile to join its existing team of scholars for a period of 29 months (1.0FTE). The research position is shared between Maastricht Sustainability Institute (MSI) of the School of Business and Economics (SBE) and the Department of Society Studies of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS).

Within the interdisciplinary field of sustainability science, MSI contributes to the understanding of societal transitions towards sustainability, combining a strong methodological focus with domain specific knowledge in areas such as energy provision, climate change and health, urban sustainability and circular economy.
The Department of Society Studies researches and teaches the social science dimensions of Science, Technology, and Society (MUSTS); Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development (GTD), and Politics and Culture in Europe (PCE).

The postdoc-position is part of the EmbedterLabs project, funded through NWO/ JPI Urban Europe, and coordinated by Maastricht University. In this project, a novel urban experiment-approach will be developed, tested and refined through retrospective analysis of experiments in Gdansk, Stockholm and Maastricht followed by action research through urban experiments in each city. The experiments will focus on mobility infrastructure and public space, one key dimension of urban sustainability.

Are you interested in urban experimentation and sustainability? Would you like to work in an international research team? Then we are looking for you! 

As postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Develop a line of research that studies how urban experiments can become better embedded in urban policy mixes.
• Carry out retrospective case studies of urban experimentation.
• Play a crucial role in the conceptual and methodological innovations required by the project, in collaboration with the other researchers on team.
• Help to co-ordinate and administer the overall project, including the organisation of workshops and public outreach events.
• Dedicate some of your time to teaching and supervision in MSI and FASoS BA and MA programmes.
• Write and co-author academic publications together with other members of the team.
• Plan and participate in team meetings.

We are looking for a candidate who has:

• A completed PhD in STS, sustainability research, innovation, anthropology, history, geography or another field relevant to the project.
• Methodological experience in (historical) case study research, interviewing, focus groups or other relevant qualitative methods.
• Experience with organising workshops, and/or similar public outreach events.
• Excellent written and spoken command of English, as demonstrated by academic publications and presentations at international conferences.
• Knowledge of other Dutch is an advantage.
• A willingness to contribute proactively to the development of the Embedterlabs project.
• Good organisational skills.
• Experience in teaching at the BA or MA level.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research.  As postdoctoral researcher, you will have the unique opportunity to carry out research within the research programmes of both MSI and FASoS/MUSTS. You will be part of an international network of top universities and renowned scholars within the field. 

The university’s relocation policy stipulates that you need to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If not already living in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs.

• Starting date: 1 November 2022.

Fixed-term contract: 29 months.

We offer a fulltime (1.0 fte) appointment as postdoctoral researcher (Onderzoeker 3) for 29 months. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended with 17 months.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels, depending on relevant work experience. This implies a minimum of € 3,974 and a maximum of € 5,439 gross per month for a full-time appointment of 38 hours per week (salary scale 11 according to Dutch Universities Conditions of Employment). Each year, the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

Other secondary conditions include, for instance, a pension scheme, 40 days of leave per year, a bike plan and partially paid parental leave as well as a shared office space.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University (UM), located in the heart of Europe, is the most international university in the Netherlands with half of our students and one third of academic staff coming from abroad. In total, UM represents 100 different nationalities. UM is a stimulating environment where research and teaching are complementary, where innovation is our focus and where talent can flourish. Research is characterised by a multidisciplinary, thematic, and collaborative approach, and with education, forms the core of UM.

Maastricht Sustainability Institute and Department of Society Studies

Maastricht Sustainability Institute (MSI) is part of the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University, and with its focus on sustainable development in research and education centrally at the interface of science, policy and society. The institute offers the Master programme Sustainability Science, Policy and Society (which attracts a large international, multidisciplinary student population) and is working on a new Master programme in Sustainable Business. The institute provides also sustainability education at bachelor level. The multidisciplinary staff (ca. 40 persons) has an interdisciplinary working style and transdisciplinary interest for addressing sustainability problems.

 The Department of Society Studies at FASoS brings together scholars with a social science profile. It consists of scholars in the (interdisciplinary) social sciences of STS, digital studies, and migration and globalisation studies. Department members across these fields share an interest in sociological, anthropological and/or mixed-methods approaches.

School of Business and Economics (SBE) is one of the youngest Faculties of Business and Economics in the Netherlands. It has a distinctive international profile and is Triple Crown accredited. It provides high-quality education and conducts excellent research with an international perspective. SBE strongly believes in creating close collaborations with its academic partners and societal stakeholders, its students and alumni, and with businesses and organisations in the Limburg Euregion, the Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the world.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,730 students. More than 77% of the students are non-Dutch (65 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers four 3-year bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture, European Studies, Digital Society and Global Studies. It also offers eight different 1-year Master’s programmes and two 2-year research master’s programmes. 
Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development.