Are you exceptionally interested in the subject of urban planning, mobility and gender? Would you like to conduct theoretically ambitious and socially relevant research on gendered mobilities in cities?

The Department of Human Geography, Planning and International Development Studies of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work in the project of Dr Anna Nikolaeva on gender-insensitivity of urban mobility planning. The Department is a vibrant interdisciplinary community of scholars sharing a focus on studying the spatiality of societal processes. Its research tradition is characterised by its critical and publicly engaged approach to urgent socio-spatial issues. It has four programme groups focusing on research along (sub)disciplinary lines: Urban Geographies, Geographies of Globalisations, Urban Planning, and Governance and Inclusive Development. The postdoctoral researcher will be embedded in the Urban Planning group and is welcome to engage with other communities and networks at the Department and beyond, including Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, Centre for Urban Studies, Urban Cycling Institute and others.

What are you going to do?
As a postdoctoral researcher you will conduct research on gender-related exclusion in urban mobility, investigating how it is maintained and challenged through urban planning, policy and activism. The research specifically focuses on the epistemic dimensions of these processes – how ignoring experiences of women and gender minorities leads to gender-insensitive urban mobility policy and planning. You will work under the supervision of Dr Anna Nikolaeva: you will conduct fieldwork, co-write articles for academic journals and possibly help organizing a few small-scale sessions on the subject. Please note that you will work in project with already defined objectives and approach (shortlisted candidates will receive the project description). There is some room for discussion of methods and sites of fieldwork to make sure that the project draws on your strengths (languages, networks, experience with specific methods etc). Please note that for this position you need to reside in (move to) the Netherlands, and you will spend approximately 1-2 months abroad for fieldwork.

You will/tasks

• Conduct research on the epistemic dimensions of gender-insensitive mobility policy and urban planning;
• Conduct fieldwork using qualitative methods of data collection;
• Co-write academic articles for submission to international peer-reviewed journals in such fields as human geography, urban planning, urban studies and mobilities research;
• Help organise a few events with scholars and practitioners.

Requirements

• You have successfully obtained (or will shortly obtain) a PhD in human geography, planning, sociology, science and technology studies or a related social science discipline (the PhD thesis must be approved for defence by the start date);
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas: mobilities, inclusive cities, gender inequalities, feminist geographies;
• Experience with using qualitative research methods;
• Demonstrated ability to publish in international academic journals;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (C2);
• Ability to work collaboratively, but also independently.

Desirable qualities
The ideal candidate

• is familiar with “the new mobilities paradigm”, critical mobilities research and feminist geographies;
• cares about mobility justice and inclusive cities;
• enjoys doing interdisciplinary research and exploring new disciplinary approaches to familiar objects of study;
• has interest in how practices of knowledge production and use shape mobility policy and planning;
• is open-minded, enjoys collaborative research and writing;
• is a responsible and reliable colleague with excellent planning and communication skills.

Ability to read and conduct research in languages other than English, familiarity with or interest in a wide range of methods (e.g. focus groups, mobile methods, action research), including quantitative methods (in order to be able to discuss critically mainstream practices of knowledge production) are a plus.

The position concerns a temporary employment of 38 hours for a maximum term of 18,5 months. Depending on the needs of the faculty’s graduate and undergraduate programs and the qualifications of the successful candidate, it will be possible to complement this research position with a teaching appointment. For this position the University Job Classification profile Researcher applies. The preferred starting date is 1st January, 2024.

Depending on your experience, the minimum salary is €4332 and the maximum salary is €5929 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, in keeping with salary scale 11, as per the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.

We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued;
• an enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.