The unit of Child and Family Welfare of the Nieuwenhuis Institute for Educational Research at the University of Groningen is seeking to recruit a postdoc-candidate for the Vidi project of prof. dr. Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff. The ultimate goal of the project Tipping Points in Treatment Trajectories is to inform practice on how to dynamically personalize interventions, specifying how to target, and timely adapt, intervention efforts to the particulars of individual clients according to principles of complex adaptive systems theory. Studies will be conducted in (residential) youth care settings and intensive-longitudinal data are being collected to address the key objectives of the project but are simultaneously used for monitoring and feedback by clients and clinicians. The postdoc will work in close collaboration with the PhD student on the project, prof. dr. Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff, dr. Jana Knot-Dickscheit and dr. Fred Hasselman (Radboud University). The postdoc will conduct original and interdisciplinary research, report results via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and closely collaborate with clients, practitioners and health care agencies to ensure that data and findings are relevant and meaningful for clinical practice. The postdoc will be offered a three-year (0,8 fte) position.

Candidates that have an interdisciplinary background and are willing and able to work across boundaries and disciplines (in particular natural and complexity sciences) are particularly encouraged to apply. Strong analytical and quantitative skills as well as clinical interest are an absolute pre.

Organisation
The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

Our Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences is a center of knowledge focusing on individuals and society. We study issues relating to human behaviour, and the relationships between people and society as a whole. This includes the study of how people function under normal circumstances, but also of the problems encountered by individuals or groups, and how to resolve or prevent these. Our Faculty employs about 650 employees. For more information about the Faculty please check the link https://www.rug.nl/gmw/.

The unit of Child and Family Welfare is, together with the unit of Inclusive and Special Needs Education, responsible for the research and teaching program ‘Orthopedagogiek’. Both units are part of the Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, and strongly collaborate in teaching and research. The mission of our research at the Child and Family Welfare unit is to enhance resilience and wellbeing in challenging parental and societal contexts. Our research is framed within a transactional, developmental and system-oriented perspective, thereby focusing on the interaction between youth and their environment (like the family, social network, school, and welfare settings). We have strong and long-lasting collaborations with societal and clinical partners nationally and internationally and try to involve youth and their families as well as professionals in our efforts as much as possible by taking a participatory approach. For more information about the unit of Child and Family Welfare please check the link https://www.rug.nl/research/nieuwenhuisinstitute/iasne-and-cafw/

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

- a PhD degree in the social sciences, or if the PhD thesis has been accepted by the review committee
- relevant publication record and excellent research skills
- a strong cooperative attitude and a clear interest in collaborative interdisciplinary research
- the ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English
- be fluent in Dutch (both oral and written) to be able to communicate with practitioners and youth
- ability to work independently and manage joint research activities
- a team player with good communication skills.

Fixed-term contract: 36 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- depending on qualifications and work experience, a salary of € 2,960 to a maximum of € 4,670 (salary scale 10) gross per month for a full-time position
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance
- attractive secondary terms of employment
- the position is classified in accordance with the University Job Classification (UFO) system; the UFO profile is Researcher 4
- a temporary contract of 0.8 FTE for a period of 3 year.

Intended starting date: 1 February 2023