We are looking for a PhD researcher on the topic "Contesting European border regimes: challenging and remaking EU migration governance".

Do you enjoy:

• Being part of a vibrant research community and of an international research project
• Participating in academic exchanges

Then the job of PhD researcher for the project GEM DIAMOND at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is perfect for you as a Master of Political or Social Sciences, Area Studies or Border and Migration Studies.

What are you going to do

This doctoral fellowship is offered as part of a specific collective project within a multiannual international research effort on Globalisation, Europe, and Multilateralism (GEM). This project, coordinated by the Institut d'études européennes (IEE) at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), will assess the EU's capacity to act given the challenges facing Democratic Institutions, the rise of Alternative MOdels and mounting Normative Dissensus (DIAMOND).

GEM-DIAMOND is a Marie Skłodowska Curie Action - Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) involving 7 European and 4 international degree-awarding Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) alongside 6 well-established non-academic institutions. The project will hire and train 16 doctoral fellows to help address knowledge gaps associated with the growing normative tensions undermining multilateral and democratic practice. Four of the 16 doctoral fellows will be based at the University of Amsterdam, three of whom at the Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty.

The goal of your research project (ESR12 within working package 3, Internal contestation and its impact on the EU) is to develop a detailed analysis of a given case study elucidating the processes by which contestation regarding liberal democracy shapes the EU's capacity to act. The specific project will focus on Contesting European border regimes: Challenging and remaking EU migration governance and is in the fields of Border and migration studies, International Relations, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Studies and European Studies.

Within the three years allocated to the project you will execute your PhD research in close collaboration with the other Amsterdam project team members at the University and during two extended research stays at the ULB and at Instituto Affari Internazionali (IAI). Your research project will be supervised by Professor Luiza Bialasiewicz (UvA, co-supervisor) and Professor Julien Jeandesboz (ULB) and mentored by Dr Daniela Huber (IAI). It will lead to completion and publication of a PhD dissertation and a joint doctorate from the Universities of Amsterdam and ULB. You will participate in all collective research and training activities and submit to the program's regular joint evaluations. For further information on the research project and the tasks associated with it, see www.gem-diamond.eu

The thought of doing PhD research makes you really enthusiastic and you do not shy away from the challenge of working with supervisors and a mentor in different (non-)academic institutions. You have experience with desk research and first ideas on how to combine it with empirical work and are ready to turn your findings in a consistent piece of academic writing. You understand that achieving such a project within three years asks for dedication and efficient self-management and you are good at that. At the same time, you are open in your communication with your supervisors so that the project gets all the support available.

In addition, you:

• Have a top level graduate degree (master's level or equivalent; a research master will be an advantage) in Political or Social Sciences, Area Studies or Border and Migration Studies- for ECTS requirements see the call;
• are proficient in English (attested either through a previous English language diploma, or an internationally recognised proficiency test (i.e., IELTS, IBT, TOEFL or Cambridge;
• possess the necessary language skills to carry out field research. Some familiarity with field work research methods and qualitative methodologies will also be considered a plus;
• preferably are in the first four years of your research career;
• have not yet been accepted for a PhD programme;
• fulfil the mobility requirements (no residence or activities in the Netherlands for more than 12 months cumulatively in the 3 years prior to October 2022.

At University of Amsterdam, your research will be carried out within the Amsterdam School of Regional, Transnational and European Studies (ARTES) in the Faculty of Humanities, under the guidance of Professor Luiza Bialasiewicz (co-supervisor) and with Professor Julien Jeandesboz (ULB, co-supervisor).

The faculty unites a diverse group of researchers and has a strong track-record of excellent research and sustains a dynamic research culture through a series of events and initiatives. Additionally, you will benefit from the collaboration in the international GEM DIAMOND network, including stays at the ULB and the IAT.

Alongside your embedding in the ARTES Research School in the Faculty of Humanities, you will have the opportunity to participate in the Amsterdam Social and Behavioral Science PhD training programme and be part of its PhD community.

We offer an employment contract for 16 months, preferably starting on 1 October 2022. The appointment will be extended for another 32 months upon favourable evaluation after 1 year. The employment contract is for 38 hours a week.

Your salary in the first year will be €2.443 gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

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 Humanities

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.

About the faculty

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.

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