Candidate profiles
You are interested in religion and the intersection between religious discourses and climate change. You wish to be part of a research team and contribute to a better understanding of contemporary religious vocabularies that accompany the debates on climate change, in order to improve communication about climate change by policymakers, media, civil servants, and public opinion, including religious leaders.

Postdoc 1 is expected:

• to have expertise in sociology, preferably sociology of religion;
• to make a social scientific analysis of Dutch groups engaged in climate change discourse and compare these with their international connections.

Postdoc 2 is expected:

• to have expertise in media studies/communication studies, esp. social media;
• to do a content analysis of the media use related to climate change of the Dutch groups and their international connections.

Description of the project
This project will map and analyse religious vocabularies used in climate change discourse and seeks to answer the question: How do religious vocabularies impact climate change discourse, understood as the way in which climate change is presented, interpreted, and discussed across modern audio-visual media in the Netherlands? It will do so by investigating the use of religious vocabularies on social media such as Twitter, Instagram, Blogs, Facebook, and YouTube. Attention will also be devoted to other media, such as films, series, and digital games. Specifically, we will investigate groups active on social media in the Netherlands that share a common interest in climate change. With an attentive eye to religious, but also scientific and political vocabularies, the project seeks to map flows and differences in religious vocabularies used by Dutch and international groups, to reach new insights in climate change discourse and an improved understanding of what is at stake for the social and political agenda.

Given the interdisciplinary character of the project, the research team will include researchers with expertise in the fields of Religious Studies/Theology, Media Studies and Social Sciences. The team will consist of four members: Prof. Dr. Caroline Vander Stichele (main applicant and project leader), Dr. Frank Bosman (team member and co-supervisor), and two post-doctoral scholars – one with expertise in social sciences (postdoc 1) and one with expertise in media studies/communication studies (postdoc 2).

Tilburg University believes that academic excellence is achieved through the combination of excellent research and education, whereby societal impact is achieved by means of sharing knowledge. In doing so, we recognize that excellence is achieved not only through individual performance, but primarily through team efforts where each team member acts as a leader connecting people. 

Candidates

• Have completed a Ph.D. either in Social Sciences or Religious Studies/Theology with expertise in Social Sciences (postdoc 1) or Media Studies/Communication Studies or Religious Studies/Theology with expertise in Media Studies/Communication Studies (postdoc 2).
• Have expertise in critical discourse analysis and/or climate change and climate crisis;
• Have affinity with/knowledge of the social religious context of the Netherlands.
• Have native-level proficiency in Dutch and full professional English language proficiency; knowledge of other European languages is a plus.
• Have a strong interest in doing research and can clearly formulate views, ideas and concepts based upon complex information, as well as construct conceptual frameworks or models;
• Have excellent writing and presentation skills, can easily transfer knowledge to different target groups;
• Have good planning and organizing skills and are able to plan activities and set goals and priorities;
• Are flexible, proactive, and able to work both independently and as part of a team; 
• The successful candidate may be occasionally asked to perform other duties which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role of postdoctoral researcher (e.g., providing guest lectures).
• All employees perform their work in Tilburg. This means, among other things, that new employees are expected to move to the Netherlands before the start of their employment.

Personal qualities/talents

• You show personal leadership: you take responsibility for your work and career and possess a good level of self-knowledge. 
• You have team spirit: you feel part of a team and express this through collaboration, sharing knowledge and experiences, and contributing to an open and inclusive work environment. 

Tilburg University is among the top employers in the Netherlands and has excellent terms of employment.

This is a position for 0.8 -1.0 FTE ( 32-40 hours per week). The salary amounts to a minimum of € 3,413 and a maximum of € 4,522 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 4 or 3 and salary scale 10 or 11 of the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system for salary scaling that is based on relevant education and work experience.

This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 of the CLA for Dutch universities. You will be given a temporary employment contract for the duration of 3 years. 

You are entitled to a vacation allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of your gross annual income. If you work 40 hours per week, you will receive 41 paid days of leave per year.

Tilburg University offers excellent employment conditions with attention to flexibility and (personal) development and has excellent fringe benefits (one of the best non-profit employers in the Netherlands), such as an Options Model for employment conditions and an excellent reimbursement of moving expenses.

We make clear agreements on career paths and offer all kinds of facilities and arrangements to maintain an optimal balance between work and private life. You can also follow numerous training courses, for example, in the areas of leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development. 

All employees of the university are covered by the so-called General Pension Fund for Public Employers (Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP). Researchers from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable salary. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf. The university offers attractive fringe benefits (one of the best non-profit employers in the Netherlands),

Tilburg University values an open and inclusive culture. We embrace diversity and encourage the mutual integration of groups of employees and students. We focus on creating equal opportunities for all our employees and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community.

Tilburg University has a lively campus in beautiful green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution.

Please visit working at Tilburg University for more information on our terms of employment. 

Tilburg University

Tilburg University's motto is Understanding Society. Based on this vision, our more than 1,500 employees conduct research, inspire over 20,000 students of 114 nationalities, and bring people from different disciplines and organizations together to learn from each other. In this way, we want to contribute to solving complex social issues. In doing so, we work in the fields of economics, business and entrepreneurship, social and behavioral sciences, law and public administration, humanities, and digital sciences, and theology. We seek the connection between the various disciplines to find solutions to the major issues we face as a society. Our students are educated to become responsible and entrepreneurial thinkers, driven by solidarity, a sense of responsibility, and empathy, who are able to influence and give direction to a rapidly changing society in an innovative way. Tilburg University has a culture of collaboration and co-creation, at local, regional, national, and international level.

Tilburg School of Catholic Theology
Tilburg School of Catholic Theology (TST) focuses on scholarly training and research in Catholic theology for the benefit of all those interested and in particular for those preparing for an office or position requiring a canonical mission. TST is the only school of Catholic theology in the Netherlands that is recognized by the Church. Besides offering scholarly education, preparing students for ecclesiastical office, the school also offers a research-masters programme in theology and a master programme Christianity and Society. The faculty’s main offices are located in Utrecht, but a full programme of studies is also taught in Tilburg.

In teaching and research, the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology strives towards academic excellence. It encourages cooperation with other theological colleges and faculties both in the Netherlands and abroad, e.g., in the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Ukraine. Moreover, it is open to cooperation with other academic disciplines not only at Tilburg University but also at other universities in the Netherlands and abroad.

The School affirms the traditions of academic freedom, respect for the truth, social responsibility and individual rights. It actively encourages freedom of research, open discussion, as well as the unlimited exchange of ideas. It sees these as being essential for the attainment of authentic knowledge.
Tilburg School of Catholic Theology