Project
Who gives life? Understanding, explaining and predicting blood donor behaviour (DONORS)
Why do individuals repeatedly help strangers even when this incurs personal costs? Current evidence on prosocial behaviour is contradictory, scattered across disciplines, restricted to one-country studies, does not take into account contextual influences, and fails to capture its dynamic nature. An integrated model is needed to increase understanding of prosociality as a societal core value.
            To grasp the dynamic and contextual nature of prosocial behaviour, we use a life course model to link individual determinants, social network characteristics and societal contexts. We will test the model in the case of blood donation, as an example of real world prosociality where a stranger is helped at a donor’s personal costs. DONORS comprises three interlinked work packages. 1) Dynamic interplay among individual and network determinants of donor behaviour over the life course (PhD1). 2) Genetic determinants of prosociality (postdoc). 3) Contextual variation in blood donor behaviour (PhD2).
           
Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE:          0,8 - 1

This project is a collaboration between the Center for Philanthropic Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Department of Donor Studies at Sanquin Research. The Department of Donor Studies is an internationally recognized center for high-quality (blood) donor research. Staff consists of about 15 researchers, including 6 PhD candidates. The Center for Philanthropic Studies at VU University conducts research and educates professionals in all areas of the Dutch philanthropic sector. It consists of 10 researchers, including 2 PhD candidates. Since 1995, the Center has been the leading unit for research on philanthropy in the Netherlands and in Europe. The PhD candidates will be employed at Vrije Universiteit, the research will be conducted at both Vrije Universiteit and at Sanquin, both located in Amsterdam.

Job description
The two PhD projects are part of the ERC project DONORS, a multidisciplinary scientific project with an open eye for a societally pressing topic, namely blood donation. Duration of the PhD projects is four years and the PhD candidates will participate in the VU Social Sciences Graduate School as well as in the PhD network at Sanquin. Supervisors are dr. Eva-Maria Merz (VU/Sanquin), prof. dr. Pamala Wiepking (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy/VU) and dr. Bianca Suanet (VU).

Your duties

• examine motivations and barriers for prosocial behaviour using large-scale survey and registry data
• collect and analyse information about macro-level indicators of blood and plasma collection in Europe
• complete a dissertation of a series of journal articles in English
• social media and popular communication about the research results

• excellent training (MSc degree in e.g., sociology, psychology, health sciences, public health, social sciences) preferably in a Research Master program
• strong record in quantitative research methods, demonstrated by high grades for a Research Master program and for Bachelor courses in statistics and methodology
• outstanding organizational and analytical skills, flexibility (work at two locations), communicational skills (including social media) and perseverance, ability to work in a team and excellence in written and spoken English
• open eye for societal relevance of the project

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,325 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to €2,972 (PhD) per month during the third year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 1 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a duration of 3 years.

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. And to be a university where personal education and societal involvement play a leading role. Where people from different disciplines and backgrounds work together on innovations and on generating new knowledge. Our teaching and research embrace the whole spectrum of science – from humanities, social sciences and the pure sciences through to life sciences and medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 23,000 students. We employ more than 4,500 individuals. The campus is easily accessible, located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
Diversity is one of our university’s core values. We are an inclusive community, and we believe that diversity and international activities enhance the quality of education and research. We are always looking for people who can enhance diversity on our campus thanks to their background and experience.

At Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Faculty of Social Sciences you will find all the academic disciplines needed to understand 'wicked problems': alongside the traditional disciplines such as sociology, anthropology and politics, we also research and teach the new social sciences such as communication science and management & organization science. We do not settle for easy answers in our teaching and research. Our researchers and students are critical thinkers and doers who work together to devise surprising solutions to the problems of today. Working at the Faculty of Social Sciences means working with colleagues from a range of academic disciplines in an inspiring and personal work and study environment with excellent research facilities. We employ more than 250 staff members, and we are home to around 2,500 students.