PhD Candidate (0.8 – 1.0 FTE / 48 months) on Horizon 2020 project Investing in ‘welcoming spaces’ in Europe: Revitalising shrinking areas by hosting non-EU migrants

Deadline to apply: 22 December 2019

WELCOMING SPACES consists of both academic and societal partners: 

  • Utrecht University and National Association of Small Settlements (LVKK) (Netherlands);
  • Siegen University and partner organisation (Germany);
  • University of Coruña and CEPAIM Foundation (Spain);
  • University of Bologna and Forum of International and European Research on Immigration (FIERI) (Italy);
  • Warsaw School of Economics and Ocalenie Foundation (Poland)

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning and Utrecht University School of Governance invites applicants for a four year full-time position within the project Investing in ‘welcoming spaces’ in Europe: Revitalising shrinking areas by hosting non-EU migrants (WELCOMING SPACES), funded by the EU’s Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020. The position provides the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment where academic and societal partners collaborate in finding solutions to two social challenges: the revitalisation of shrinking regions and the integration of non-EU migrants in Europe. WELCOMING SPACES aims to answer the following question: How to achieve inclusive and sustainable development, contributing to revitalisation in shrinking regions while providing opportunities for the successful integration of non-EU migrants?  

The PhD candidate will be based at Utrecht University and work on the Dutch case. She or he will work in collaboration with colleagues at Utrecht University and other partner institutions in Germany, Spain, Italy (University of Bologna) and Poland. Traveling is required.

Requirements

  • a relevant Master’s degree in social sciences, or a comparable background;
  • knowledge of or strong affinity with the research topic (shrinking areas/migration);
  • excellent oral and written communication skills in English and the country you will be based;
  • experience with mixed research methods and intensive field immersion;
  • independent thinking and critical analytical skills;
  • proven ability to work independently (e.g. during fieldwork) and in a team (e.g. through joint analysis and writing);
  • an interest in, and experience with research communication beyond academic audiences.

Offer

We offer a position (1.0 FTE) for the duration of four years, of which the first year will be a probationary period and, after a positive assessment, the position will be extended for the remaining 36 months. The gross salary starts with €2,325 in the first year and increases to €2,972 in the fourth year (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University can be found here.

For more information, see: https://www.uu.nl/organisatie/werken-bij-de-universiteit-utrecht/vacatures/phd-candidate-08-10-fte-48-months-on-horizon-2020-project-investing-in-welcoming-spaces-in-europe