Postdoctoral researcher in innovation processes in digital media companies

The Amsterdam Business School (ABS) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) and Erasmus University Rotterdam’s School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) have a position for a postdoctoral researcher for 2 years.

This is one of three postdoctoral research positions for the NWO funded research project Data inspired creativity: Using big data in cross-media creative innovation processes (NWO Flagships Creative Industry). The project is a close collaboration with media company Talpa Network, which will provide access to their organization and (big) data about consumers and content characteristics.

All three postdoctoral researchers will be collaborating in an inter-disciplinary consortium of 9 senior researchers from 5 universities: University of Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Groningen, Tilburg University, and VU University. The consortium covers expertise in communication science, data science, innovation management, marketing, and media studies.

Job description

The candidate for this postdoctoral research position needs to have qualitative research skills in innovation and/or media (production) studies. The ideal candidate has a strong affinity with innovation, media production processes, and business models in the media industry. He or she will conduct embedded research at Talpa by tracing the innovation process of new content development, and how the innovation and decision-making process is informed by (big) data.

The postdoctoral researcher will be employed for 2 years. He or she will be employed by the University of Amsterdam Business School in the first year of the project. The researcher will subsequently be employed by the Erasmus University Rotterdam School of History, Culture and Communication for the second year. This will allow the researcher to work across disciplinary boundaries and integrate the fields of innovation management and media studies.

The postdoctoral researcher will spend a considerable amount of time working as an embedded researcher at Talpa. This means that the candidate has to be fluent in both Dutch and English. In addition, since Talpa has their main offices in Amsterdam, Hilversum and Laren, the candidate for this position needs to be willing to travel between each of the Talpa offices, the University of Amsterdam and the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

This position consists of 80% research and 20% teaching.

Candidates should have, or be close to (the thesis should be approved by the time the contract starts) obtaining, a PhD in Media Studies, Management Science or a closely related discipline. The ideal candidate either has a media (production) studies background with an interest in innovation management, or an innovation management background with an interest in the media industry. Candidates will be evaluated on their potential for excellence in research and teaching.

The appointment at the University of Amsterdam is for one year. The contract will be extended for one year by the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The gross monthly salary will be, depending on experience, between €2,709 and €4,274 based on 38 hours per week and in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement (Cao) of Dutch universities,

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Education at UvA Economics and Business is organised in two schools: the Amsterdam Business School and the Amsterdam School of Economics.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Applications must include:

• your CV;
• a cover letter with motivation;
• a published article or (if not applicable) a working paper relevant for this project;
• the names and contact details of two references.

The deadline for applications is 15 October 2019.

Interviews will take place late October / early November.