This PhD project will study in an interdisciplinary manner what combination(s) of individual and organizational factors facilitate the successful recruitment and retention (R&R) of migrant employees in European labor markets. The project focuses on the ‘migrant-organization fit’ and combines sociological knowledge on (in)formal diversity management practices in organizations with social psychological knowledge focusing on cultural differences of first generation migrants. The PhD project has a mixed-method design and aims at collecting data on formal (e.g. recruitment strategies) and informal organizational practices (e.g. contact with colleagues) in Dutch for profit, public, and nonprofit organizations by means of interviews, surveys, and document analysis. The project will be implemented in close collaboration with The Hague Process on Refugees and Migrants (thehagueprocess.org/), a leading, international and research-orientated NGO working on innovative solutions to improve labor market integration of migrants and refugees with businesses. For the project proposal, see www.scoop-program.org/vacancies/138-phd-position-sustainable-labor-market-integration-of-first-generation-migrant-groups-the-quest-for-the-migrant-organization-fit

We are looking for a PhD candidate
• with a (Research) Master degree in Social Psychology and/or Sociology - or an equivalent degree
• who has a background in and affinity with issues pertaining to labor market integration of migrants from a social/cultural psychological and/or (organizational) sociological perspective and with conducting empirical research in a multi-stakeholder field
• who have good quantitative and qualitative research skills and affinity (preferably experience) with mixed methods research designs and analyzing data
• who is eager and capable to work in an interdisciplinary context
• and who has excellent social and communication skills to seek access to and collect data in organizations
• since the research will be conducted in Dutch organizations, it is of utmost importance that the candidate has the ability to communicate orally and in written form in Dutch at an advanced level
• who has the ability to communicate orally and in written form in English (English C1 level).

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2,222 (salary scale PhD candidates Dutch Universities) gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 2,840 gross per month in the final year, based on a full time position, excluding a 8% holiday allowance and a 8.3% end of the year bonus. The position requires residence in Groningen and must result in a PhD thesis within the 4-year contract period.
The successful candidates will be offered a temporary position of four years with an evaluation moment at the end of the first year. The prolongation of the contract after this first year is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected.
A PhD training program is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
In addition for the PhD position Psychometrics and Statistics also available on the website, part of the contract entails implementing teaching tasks in the Sociology Bachelor or Master program.

The preferred starting date is between 1 October and 1 November 2017.

The interviews are planned in week 33 (between 14-17 August 2017).

Application
You may apply for this position until 3 August / before 4 August 2017 Dutch local time by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Applications must include:
• a letter of motivation
• a curriculum vitae, including a list of publications (if any)
• transcript of master and bachelor degrees
• the contact information of two academic referees.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences is a center of knowledge focusing on individuals and society. The faculty studies issues relating to human behavior, 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 these can be resolved or prevented.

The departments
The faculty funds an interdisciplinary PhD project on the labor market integration of migrants in the Netherlands. For this project the PhD candidate will be situated both within the department of Social Psychology and the department of Sociology. Both departments have excellent track records in research and teaching. The department of Social Psychology is member of the national graduate school the Kurt Lewin Institute (www.kurtlewininstituut.nl/) whereas the department of Sociology is member of the Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS) (www.ics-graduateschool.nl/)
Both departments are core leaders of the interdisciplinary SCOOP consortium (www.scoop-program.org), a research program on sustainable cooperation funded by the national government (NWO). The PhD-candidate will profit from this additional training programs and participate in the training programs of the Interdisciplinary Research and Training Center for the Study of Sustainable Cooperation and Societal Resilience (SCOOP, www.scoop-program.org) and – depending on his/her background and interest - of the KLI or ICS graduate school.
Dr N. Hansen and Dr L. Heyse will be the daily supervisors of the project, and Prof. R.P.M. Wittek will be the formal promotor.