We are seeking a candidate for a PhD project titled "Consensual bargaining strategies: The Road to Sustainable Industrial Relations in an Era of Liberalization and Precarization?".

The project starts from the observation that in recent decades precarious work has been increasing across European labour markets enhanced by developments such as labour market flexibilization and the raise of platform work. This project first seeks to uncover variation in the development of the different dimensions of precarious work across European economies and over time in relation to collective labor arrangements and declining trade union membership rates. Second, it aims to explore to what extent different types of bargaining strategies for sectorial collective labor agreements might be more or less effective in addressing the issue of precarious work. The project brings together historical and sociological insights using a combination of quantitative and qualitative empirical strategies. More information on the project can be found here: https://www.scoop-program.org/program-projects/796-phd-project-consensual-bargaining-strategies-the-road-to-sustainable-industrial-relations-in-an-era-of-liberalization-and-precarization

The project is part of the transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary research program SCOOP: Roadmaps to Resilient Societies external link. SCOOP is a research and training centre dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of sustainable cooperation as a key feature of resilient societies. SCOOP brings together researchers of the University of Groningen, Utrecht University, VU Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Radboud University Nijmegen.

Aside from research commitments, the PhD candidate is expected to participate in the PhD training programs of both SCOOP and the ICS. More details about the SCOOP Training Program: https://www.scoop-program.org/training-program-towards-transdisciplinarity

We expect the candidate to have:

- completed or be close to completing a Master's degree in Sociology, Industrial Relations, Economic History, History, Economics or a related field in the social sciences
- a desire to publish international articles and write a dissertation
- training in a variety of empirical research methods (both quantitative and qualitative) and/or an interest to learn new ones
- eagerness to work in an interdisciplinary research team
- demonstrable competences as conceptual capacity, presenting, monitoring, planning and organizing
- good social and communication skills
- excellent command of English and academic writing skills.

Candidates from abroad must fulfill conditions set by the IND external linkto work in the Netherlands.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch Universities, we offer:

- a gross salary of € 2,443 gross per month in the first year to a maximum of € 3,122 gross per month in the final year (salary scale PhD), based on a full-time position (1.0 FTE)
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus on the annual gross income
- attractive secondary and market terms of employment
- job classification in the UFO job profile of PhD
- a position for four years (fulltime). The successful candidate will first be offered a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the contract period is to be expected
- a PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of the Faculty.

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences is a centre of knowledge focusing on individuals and society. The faculty studies issues relating to human behaviour, and 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 Department of Sociology is part of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. See also: https://www.rug.nl/research/department-of-sociology/