Leiden University College The Hague at Leiden University would like to announce an exciting opportunity for a dedicated researcher (and teacher). We are now accepting applications for a fully-funded, four-year PhD position as part of the Resilient Ecosystems and Flourishing Communities (REFloC) project.

REFloC draws from the disciplines of economics, sociology, public health, sustainability science, and law. Our mission? To delve into the heart of the vulnerabilities of Forest Dependent Communities (FDCs) using Ghana as a case study to discover innovative conceptual, methodological, and policy solutions. Climate change has necessitated a global focus on sustainability, and our research will explore the meanings of lands and forests as conduits for the mutual development of humans and the environment.

The project aims to achieve four main objectives:

1. To explore the meanings of place-based assemblages (including lands and forests) in rural and peri-urban communities through the mapping of vulnerabilities and assessment of strategies for FDCs.
2. To develop a model or framework for the co-becoming of humans and forests in rural and peri-urban communities.
3. To develop sustainable development toolkits with both communities and policymakers to promote the resilience and flourishing of such communities.
4. To develop educational toolkits for interdisciplinary and decolonial teaching.

Carve Your Niche

While our project has broad goals, we understand the importance of individual passion and expertise. We will therefore shape the core focus of this PhD position in collaboration with the selected candidate, offering the opportunity to be part of a project with real-world impact.

This is an invitation to join a vibrant team of multi-disciplinary scholars based in the Netherlands and Ghana.

Your Role and Responsibilities

As our PhD candidate, you will work closely with Dr Davina Osei, Dr Ahmed Abubakari and Dr Jyothi Thrivikraman to deliver the following:

• Make significant contributions to the conceptualization, methodology, and data management of our project
• Develop your own PhD project within the REFloC research program, culminating in a doctoral thesis
• Participate actively in team meetings and project events
• Produce impactful scholarly works for top international peer-reviewed journals
• Present key findings at scientific conferences and stakeholder meetings, both national and international
• Contribute to project deliverables, including content creation for our website and social media platforms
• Offer mentorship to Bachelor's students affiliated with the project
• Fulfil teaching commitments in our Bachelor program Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (0.2 FTE of a full-time appointment per year for the 4-year duration of the PhD).

Your Profile

We're seeking a motivated individual who not only possesses robust research skills and relevant interests (see below) but also a direct understanding of poverty. Such understanding might come from personal experiences (broadly defined) or from working closely with impoverished communities. We believe that this intimate familiarity will be an asset in delivering the project’s objectives.

Detailed Profile Requirements

• A successfully completed master’s degree in economics, political science, public policy, public health, sociology, development studies, environmental/sustainability science or a closely related social science field;
• Knowledge of the history, politics and/or socio-economic issues in Ghana
• Knowledge and curiosity about poverty, well-being or development studies
• Good training in social science research methods;
• Either strong quantitative research skills with proficiency in Stata or other statistical software packages, such as R, SAS, SPSS, OR strong qualitative research skills: with a willingness/desire to learn the other.
• Additional skills in social network analysis or Advanced GIS are an advantage;
• Proficiency in written and spoken English; fluency in any of the Ghanaian languages spoken in the middle and northern belts of Ghana is an advantage;
• Ability to present their work to both academic and professional audiences;
• Excellent social skills and ability to work constructively in an international/intercultural team;
• Committed to contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment;
• Ability to work in a highly independent, organized and result-oriented fashion;

Let's work together to create a future where both humans and nature thrive.

Terms and conditions
The appointment as a PhD candidate will be for a period of four years. Initially for a period of one year with an extension of three years after positive evaluation of progress and skills development, leading to the successful completion of a PhD thesis.

The starting date is 15 January 2024. The salary is set at € 2.770,- in the first year, increasing to € 3.539,- gross per month in the final year, in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.

All our PhD candidates are embedded in the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA) Graduate School. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training, and personal effectiveness. In addition, advanced courses to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by the research school.

You will also be able to follow the BKO training offered at the Faculty level (leading to the attainment of a University Teaching Qualification) should you wish to do so.

Diversity
Leiden University, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, and Leiden University College are strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Universiteit Leiden

Our organisation
Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs
The Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs is an internationally acclaimed academic knowledge hub that studies world-wide issues from the varied perspectives of governance, politics, law, sociology and economics. We contribute to far-reaching socio-cultural debate through our acquired knowledge. We aim to do this not only through education and research, but also by organizing lectures and debates to learn from.

The faculty's scientific research is organized around a number of centres and institutes in The Hague, city of peace and justice. Staff members conduct research in fields such as global politics, public administration, security, and urban issues. Complex issues are examined from an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary perspective. For more information, see here.

Leiden University College
Leiden University College The Hague (LUC) is the international Honours College of Leiden University, offering an innovative Liberal Arts & Sciences undergraduate program to highly talented and motivated students from all over the world. It has consistently ranked the top liberal arts and sciences' college in the Netherlands with a strong track record on societally relevant social science research.

Research at LUC fits within the general frame of global challenges that is central to our teaching program, covering major societal issues including Peace & Justice, Diversity, Prosperity, and Sustainability. Key research themes include international relations and conflict studies, international justice, governance and development, earth, energy, and sustainability, human diversity and belonging, and global public health.