The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is looking for a Full Professor Empirical and Theoretical Sociology. This full professor aims at top sociological research and teaching in empirical and theoretical sociology. Furthermore, the professor has a broad overview of recent empirical and theoretical developments in sociology and will integrate theory with empirical work.

The full professor works at the Department of Sociology and contributes to the teaching programmes of both Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. The Department of Sociology has strong research traditions in a wide range of topics in sociology including social inequality, crime, migration and integration, social networks, cooperative relationships, families and work, and computational sociology. It is part of the Dutch research school Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS). The Department of Sociology also participates in Institutions for Open Societies, one of four strategic themes of Utrecht University, in which the Faculties of Geosciences, Humanities, Law Economics and Governance, and Social and Behavioural Sciences collaborate. The department of Sociology is known for its sense of community. Staff members enjoy coming to the office. The staff is diverse with 17 nationalities, we are an open community.

• Teaching

The full professor has a leading role in teaching and supervision, and contributes to the curriculum development at all levels: undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programmes. The teaching activities concern the Bachelor programme Sociology (in Dutch), one-year Master programme Sociology: Contemporary Social Problems, and the research Master programme Sociology and Social Research and PhD programme (ICS). An all-rounder in general sociology is preferred, who has extensive experience, leadership and enthusiasm for teaching and is capable of teaching the ‘Introduction in Sociology course’ (in Dutch, first-year Bachelor’s students).

• Research

The full professor initiates, directs and supervises research in empirical and theoretical sociology, in areas such as inequality and stratification, social networks, culture, education and immigration. This also includes the acquisition of external research funds, both at the national and international level.

• Societal relevance

A better understanding of the empirical-theoretical sociological underpinning of social issues will help to determine what policy measures will be most effective for societal issues. The chairholder will actively disseminate the results of the research and its applications, to the research community, policy makers and the general public.

• Team

The chairholder will have a sharp focus on the university’s recognition and rewards criteria and nurture a committed and inclusive community within the Department of Sociology.

• Academic leadership

The chairholder is a team player who brings a positive interdependent attitude, has proven ability to forge connection with co-workers, and is dedicated to investing in talent development of more junior colleagues. The chairholder has administrative and managerial duties regarding personnel in the focus of the chair.

In accordance with current practice in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 60% of the appointment involves teaching and 40% involves research.

Utrecht University values a way of recognition and rewards that appreciates the full scope of academic work. When assessing a candidate’s suitability, we therefore look at all domains of academic work as described in the TRIPLE model (Teamspirit, Research, Impact, Professional Performance, Leadership & Education). The assessment considers above-average performance on at least two domains, being Leadership and Education or Leadership and Research. The candidate is not expected to score excellent in all domains, quality takes precedence over quantity.

Ideally your suitability is exemplified by:

Teaching

• Extensive experience, skills and enthusiasm for teaching and student supervision at all levels;
• Experience and leadership in curriculum development at all levels: undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programmes ;
• Successful in supervising PhD students in obtaining their doctorates.

Research

• Outstanding research achievements demonstrated by an excellent publication record, including first author papers in high impact journals;
• A prominent network of international cooperative relationships and participation in international consortia for scientific research;
• Proven ability to obtain external funding.

Impact

• High visibility, scientific impact and strong international reputation;
• Ability to communicate well with the outside world of the university (politics, public administration, commerce, societal organisations, consultation boards) in order to highlight the profile of the research group;
• Clear and proven interest in societal problems and ambition to engage in a societal debate based on scientific expertise.

Academic leadership

• Excellent interpersonal, social and communicative skills;
• Excellent organisational and management skills;
• Experience in regular department/faculty duties;
• Active role in leading (national and international) activities in the area of the chair and participation in scientific communities.

Team

• Team builder within and beyond the Department of Sociology;
• Being able to nurture a committed and inclusive community within the Department of Sociology;
• Inspiring and bringing together people in the own research line;
• Focus on the university’s recognition and rewards criteria, and focus on open science.

At Utrecht University, we value teamwork over individualism and call for an open academic culture that promotes accountability, reproducibility, integrity and transparency, and sharing (open access, FAIR data and software) and public engagement are normal daily practice.

We offer a full time appointment for five years. Following standard policy of Utrecht University and contingent upon a positive evaluation of the results of the initial 5-years period, this appointment will be followed by a tenured appointment (current professors will receive a permanent appointment effective immediately).

The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranges between €6,099 and €10,721 (scale H2/H1 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, professional development, (partly paid) parental leave, sports and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

Sharing science, shaping tomorrow. A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability. You can watch the Utrecht University Campus Tour to get an impression of our university.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues. 

The faculty strives for diversity among its employees and students and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, as can be read in Utrecht University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy.

The faculty attaches great importance to the fact that its employees can be widely deployed in the university organization, now and in the future, to further professionalize the support of education and research. To encourage this, every employee is given the time and facilities – for example in the form of training – at some point in their career to participate in projects or work in other departments. Characteristics that the faculty considers important are involvement, the ability to collaborate and flexibility.

The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.