You will become part of an exciting, innovative, and interdisciplinary international research team that cross-nationally examines the development of inequalities in child educational achievement.

Project and job description
The overall project aims to advance our understanding of disparities in child development by parental socioeconomic status (SES). It leverages rich cohort and administrative data from six countries - France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States – embedding them in a harmonized framework. The project moves beyond cross-sectional and single country snapshots by studying the question of how inequalities develop over time (ages 3 to 16), what factors may influence inequalities and how national context may strengthen or buffer these processes. Child development is conceptualised broadly, to include cognitive, social/emotional and health outcomes, recognizing the interplay of multiple spheres of development in childhood.
The project consists of six sets of analyses (two per year), which build sequentially to advance our understanding of inequalities in child development across the six countries. Results for each individual analysis will be coordinated and compiled by two specified country teams. The Dutch post-doc will, in close alignment with the Dutch PI, Prof. dr. Renske Keizer, provide the Dutch analyses for the six sets of analyses. In addition, he/she will play a key role in two subprojects:
(a) Examining trajectories in inequalities in primary school (age 5-7 to 9-11). Here we will investigate whether and to what extent, inequalities widen or narrow as children move through primary school, and we will scrutinize what factors (in particular, parental involvement and parent/school interactions) are associated with different trajectories, and how do these differ across countries. 
(b) Examining inequalities at the end of primary school (age 9-11).  Here we will document inequalities, and the factors explaining them, at the time children finish primary school and transition into secondary school.
The data to be used for the Netherlands are the Rotterdam birth cohort study Generation R.
The tasks of the post-doctoral researcher are:
• Conducting the analyses for the Netherlands for the six sets of analyses
• Playing a central role in the coordination of the two abovementioned subprojects.
• Presenting research results at international conferences and publishing articles in international peer reviewed journals.
• Assisting in the organisation of workshops and other knowledge sharing activities.
• Participation in international project meetings twice a year

We are looking for a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher:
• With a completed (or nearly completed) PhD thesis in sociology, educational sciences, pedagogical sciences, social policy, or another relevant social science;
• With a solid background in quantitative research methods, and conducting cross-national comparative analyses;
• With a keen interest in cross-disciplinary research and/or collaboration;
• (Preferably) with knowledge of and experience in using decomposition models;
• (Preferably) with knowledge of and experience in using the Generation R dataset;
• Who is familiar with the use of Stata to analyse data; 
• Who excels academically, as shown in the grade transcripts and curriculum vitae;
• Who has well-developed research skills, including the ability to formulate relevant and creative research questions and hypotheses, descriptive and analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing;
• Good research qualities and writing skills, demonstrated by international peer-reviewed publications;
• Who is fluent in written and spoken English;
• Good communicative skills, proactive and independent work attitude;
• With a keen interest in the topics to be investigated in the project, preferably demonstrated by previous work on similar topics;
• A great curiosity and enthusiasm for scientific research.

Employment starts preferably no later than January 1st 2019. The contract will be a temporary contract for three years. The trial period is two months.

The conditions of employment correspond with the CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten/ Collective Agreement Netherlands Universities (CAO NU). Salary is subject to know-how and experience and corresponds to scale 11 CAO NU, which is between € 3.475 and € 4.757 gross per month on a full-time basis (38 hour per week; 1.0 fte).

The EUR has attractive employment conditions, which include holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, an end-of-year payment of 8.3% of the yearly salary and 232 hours leave per year (based on a full-time appointment of 38 hours). In case of a working day of 8 hours, you will weekly save 2 hours extra for annual leave (totally 328 hours).

In addition, EUR takes part in the ABP pension scheme, and we also offer partially paid parental leave. Moreover, EUR staff members can make use of the facilities at the EUR campus, including the Erasmus Sports Centre and the University Library. Substantial tax benefits apply to non-Dutch citizens, conditional on permission granted by the Dutch Tax Office. Applicants should have the right to work in the Netherlands for the duration of the contract.
Diversity is one of our strategic priorities. Female candidates, candidates with an international background and/or candidates from an ethnic minority are encouraged to apply. Under the condition of equal suitability, these candidates will have a priority position.

Erasmus University Rotterdam is a modern, highly ranked, international research university, based in the dynamic and diverse city of Rotterdam. We were founded in 1913 and nowadays host 25.000 students. Our faculties and institutions work on global, national and local social challenges in the areas of: healthy development, wealth, governance, culture.
The quality of research at Erasmus University, named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is reflected in its consistent top-100 position in most major universities rankings. On the lively, modern campus, students and scholars of more than 100 nationalities are constantly encouraged to develop their talents and meet their ambition.
Working at the Erasmus University Rotterdam means working in a professional environment, where development is encouraged through an active career and mobility policy. The Erasmus University Rotterdam highly appreciates flexibility: we have a 38-hour workweek, flexible working hours, possibilities to work part-time, and maternal/paternal leave. Moreover, the University has a company childcare scheme, possibilities to participate in a terms of employment option model, company savings program and life insurance schemes and favourable collective insurance schemes. Employees can also make use of facilities such as sports facilities and library.
https://www.eur.nl/english/

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)
The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programmes and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programmes are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 2500 students and 300 staff-members.

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)
The department benefits from a key position in the European public administration landscape through numerous editorial board positions and participation in several cross-national networks. Leading sociologists in the field of migration, political sociology and families are based in the department and participate actively in public debates and international research projects. Cooperation with third parties and conducting research with societal impact are key values of the department. The bachelor and master programmes reflect our diverse expertise and educate students to become active professionals.