Postdoctoral Researcher in terrorism and political violence (1.0fte)

The Research group Terrorism and Political Violence at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher (1.0 fte, 36-month position) with research and teaching expertise on emerging (non-) state threats to European security.

What you will do
The successful candidate will conduct research on terrorism and political violence and assist with teaching across several programs within the institute, including the MSc in Crisis and Security Management.

• Conduct independent and collaborative research with the research group Terrorism and Political Violence on topics related to hostile state interference, political violence, disinformation, or (counter-)terrorism.
• Collect and analyze data on one or several of the topics mentioned above.
• Produce high-quality co-authored outputs for both academic and non-academic audiences, with a focus on international, peer-reviewed journals.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team across the Terrorism and Political Violence research group and other research groups within the Institute, supporting the development and implementation of the Institute’s research strategy.
• Assist in teaching courses in minor, bachelor, and master programs within the institute, including the MSc in Crisis and Security Management.
• Supervise theses and capstone projects.

Our priority is to hire an excellent candidate who can contribute to the research of the research group Terrorism and Political Violence by enhancing and complementing the research agenda of the group, while also assisting in teaching. This opportunity will help the candidate prepare for the next step in their academic career.

The position offers a unique opportunity to conduct research on how evolving technologies, the rise of new threat actors, and shifting modes of operation are reshaping threats related to radicalization, extremism and political violence in Europe.

Possible lines of inquiry include, but are not limited to:

• Hostile state interference in Europe as conducted by Russia, China, Iran and others.
• The use of new and emerging technologies, such as drones or AI, by criminals, terrorists and hostile states.
• The role of disinformation and conspiracy theories in shaping citizens’ security perceptions and how states might counter such influences.
• How radicalization and political violence related to climate change can directly or indirectly affect European states’ security.
• The emergence of contemporary forms of extremism and terrorism.

Where you will work
The mission of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA)? Contributing to society. The faculty does this through high-quality interdisciplinary education and (new) scientific knowledge. Whether it is terrorism, security, artificial intelligence or a governance solution to the housing crisis, contemporary issues are comprehensively addressed at FGGA. In the heart of The Hague, where important decisions are made, students and professionals come together to gain knowledge and skills. There is much collaboration with academic and societal partners, which ensures that students leave university with a smile and one foot in the future, ready to make a substantial contribution to society.

FGGA is one of the seven faculties of Leiden University. This young, entrepreneurial, innovative organisation has three scientific institutes, two centres, over 3,700 students and 425 staff members. For more information about the faculty, click here.

The Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) is a scientific institute specialising in security issues. ISGA is part of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs of Leiden University. ISGA analyses and studies security issues with local, national, transnational and global impact. These include crises, intelligence, terrorism, war, violence and cybercrime. The institute is characterised by a multidisciplinary research approach.

ISGA is based in the residential city of The Hague, the international city of peace, justice and security. Inspiring interactions are maintained with other knowledge institutions, regional, national and international governments, the private sector and NGOs.

What you bring
In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

Applicants are expected to have:

• A PhD degree in criminology, political science, public administration, war studies, or a related field relevant to researching and teaching terrorism and political violence.
• Demonstrable research experience in hostile state interference, disinformation and conspiracy theories, radicalization, extremism, and/or terrorism.
• Experience working with or implementing NLP and/or LLMs is a plus but not required.
• Outstanding research qualities demonstrated by a developing and promising publication record.
• Experience with research-led teaching is considered an asset.
• Demonstrable passion for education, both inside and outside the classroom.
• Commitment to fostering a close-knit, interdisciplinary academic community.
• Experience with diverse research methods and techniques.
• A growing network of academics and professionals in the field of radicalization, extremism, and terrorism, both domestically and internationally.
• Ability to connect academic research to policy and societal impact.
• Excellent command of English, with the ability and willingness to work towards Dutch language proficiency. Current proficiency in Dutch is considered an asset.

What we offer
Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.
We offer:

• An employment contract for the duration of 3 years. The contract is entered into for the duration of one year and can be extended with another two years if performance is good and the organizational circumstances remain unchanged. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary of a minimum of € 4728,- and a maximum of € 6433,- gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (scale 11);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme.
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• The successful candidate must live in The Netherlands prior to the start of contract.

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

Want to apply or find out more?
Please follow the link below to the submission site and submit the following documents (PDF format), quoting the vacancy number:

• Motivation letter.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications.
• A 2-page research proposal that provides details on your plans on how to engage with the research proposed in the vacancy text
• One sample publication, or chapter from your PhD thesis.
• The names and contact information of three potential referees (referees will only be contacted if the candidate is invited to an interview).

If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Prof. Dr. Bart Schuurman at b.w.schuurman@fgga.leidenuniv.nl.

You can apply until February 15; late applications will not be considered. Interviews will follow after the closing date. The successful applicant is expected to start as soon as possible

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

• We believe mobility is very important. That is why we are also publishing this vacancy internally. In case of equal suitability, we will give priority to the internal candidate.
• A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this. #LI-Hybrid