The Urban Citizen Fellowship is established by the Municipality of Amsterdam and the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS-KNAW) to stimulate the use of advanced research in political deliberation and public policy making for the city of Amsterdam. This fellowship offers researchers the opportunity to carry out research projects around citizenship in the digital era. This fellowship allows one to combine the benefits of working at an interdisciplinary, international Institute for Advanced Study with the advantages of doing a project with high societal impact and concrete results. Part of the Urban Citizen Fellowship is collaborating with the Municipality of Amsterdam (including access to their databases) to provide insights and advice for policy-making. For the next three years, the Urban Citizenship Fellowship focusses on digital citizenship in Amsterdam. The digital era is changing the ways in which society and democracy are defined and organised, and there is an urgent need to address issues of inclusivity and transparency in the relation between local government and citizens. For the academic year 2022/23, two fellowships are granted, each for a period of ten months (five months are possible in exceptional cases). The call for the academic year 2023/24 (two ten-month fellowships) is also open.

At least three years of experience after obtaining a Ph.D. degree in urban studies, education studies, sociology, political science, economics, geography, anthropology, media studies or law; interest in interdisciplinary exchange; a project proposal (max 1500 words) related to topics surrounding Digital Urban Citizenship. 

A Fellowship includes time to fully focus on one's project at an Institute for Advanced Study, participation in an interdisciplinary community of scholars and artists, an office in the center of Amsterdam, academic activities and daily lunches. A NIAS fellowship does not constitute an employment relationship. During the fellowship, the fellow is and remains an employee of his or her own university or research institute, or is registered as an independent researcher. Fellows from abroad and independent researchers receive a stipend of €2,500 per month. Fellows affiliated to a Dutch university/research institute are awarded a Dutch University Grant of €2,500 per month, which is given to the university/research institute to release the fellow from teaching and management duties. NIAS offers accommodation on top locations against subsidized rates to fellows who live more than 1.5-hour’s journey from Amsterdam. Fellows who live less than 1.5-hours’ journey by public transport to Amsterdam Central receive travel expenses. Should corona measures prevent a fellowship at the institute, an online programme is offered. 

NIAS-KNAW

The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study is one of the institutes of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). It is an intellectual haven to a diverse year-group of international scientists, writers, journalists and artists and it provides these NIAS Fellows with the opportunity to devote themselves to a research project of their own design in a collaborative learning environment.