[URBANTH-L]Call for applications

[Justin Beaumont]

Apologies if you receive this call for applications more than once. Please
forward to anyone you think would be interested in applying for this new
position in The Netherlands.

 

 

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Junior Researcher (1.0 fte)

Initially located at the Verwey Jonker Instituut (VJI), Utrecht and
afterwards at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands

 

Vacancy reference: 208057

 

Organization

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FRW) at the University of Groningen (RUG)
consists of 75 members and focuses on high quality teaching and research in
the fields of economic and cultural geography, planning and demography. The
Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI) was established in 1999 and
coordinates all research projects in the faculty. Projects, conducted from
the interdisciplinary perspective of geography, planning and demography,
focus on the relationship between urban and regional structures and real
life processes, on the one hand, and human agency and intervention within
urban and regional structures one the other (see
www.rug.nl/ursi/organisation/index).

 

Job description

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences at Groningen in conjunction with the VJI
(see www.verwey-jonker.nl/) seeks a Junior Researcher for the EU-7th
Framework Programme FACIT project. This project explores Faith-based
Organizations and Exclusion in European Cities in a number of EU member
states and is coordinated by Prof Jan Vranken (Political and Social
Sciences) at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

 

The research concerns the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in
matters of poverty and other forms of social exclusion (such as homelessness
or undocumented persons) in cities. From both scientific and policy
perspectives, there is a need for better empirical and comparative data on
what is going on in European cities in these matters and, in particular, the
contribution of FBOs in the reduction (or deepening) of problems. FBOs have
direct entrance to the 'poor side' of cities because of (1) their activities
in deprived urban neighbourhoods and among excluded groups and (2) as in the
case of many FBOs with a non-western background because their members often
belong to these deprived and excluded groups themselves.

 

The successful candidate will be part of the Dutch team, relate to the
Research Nucleus (a unit of researchers on the theme of "Urban Social
Justice" at Groningen) and be stationed at the VJI in Utrecht. He or she
will be supervised by Dr. Justin Beaumont and closely assisted by Dr. Trees
Pels and Drs. Hugo Swinnen.

 

Entry requirements

The following are essential for applicants:

 

-Strong grasp of Dutch language: speaking, reading and writing.

-MA, MSc or MPhil in relevant geographical and social fields of enquiry and/
or cognate disciplines (e.g. social policy; political science; sociology);

-Proven competence in and preference for theoretically informed and
politically relevant empirical research using qualitative methods, with
awareness and some ability to work with quantitative data;

-Conceptual ability; self-confidence; enthusiasm; and drive.

 

These attributes are preferred:

 

-Background in debates on any or all of the following: (1) faith-based
organizations from an international comparative perspective; (2) poverty and
exclusion in cities; (3) urban governance and politics; and (4) welfare
regimes and (localized) social policies;

-Good written and oral communication skills;

-Ability to work productively, independently and collectively in groups;

-Ambition to utilize research findings for an independent but related PhD.

 


Employment conditions


The researcher will be employed by the University of Groningen for a period
of three years, but initially stationed at the VJI in Utrecht, with
possibilities for continuation as a PhD candidate at URSI on the completion
of the FACIT project. The starting salary, conforming to the collective
labour agreement, will be at Scale 10 with a maximum of 2558 euros (gross)
full-time, excluding an 8% holiday bonus. The University of Groningen is
committed to equality of opportunity in its recruitment strategy.

 

Applications

If you are interested in the vacancy you are invited to submit your
application before 07 March 2008, mentioning the vacancy reference.

 

We request the following in your application:

 

1. A covering letter (max. 2 pages) indicating why you should be considered
for the post;

2. An up-to-date CV;

3. A letter of recommendation;

4. An example of your written work (max. 2 papers).

 

You can submit your application by email to:  <mailto:vmp at rug.nl> vmp at rug.nl
or by regular post to:

 

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Afdeling Personeel & Organisatie

Postbus 72

9700 AB Groningen

Nederland

 

Further information

For informal email enquiries please contact Justin Beaumont
(j.r.beaumont at rug.nl).

 

 

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Faculty of Spatial Sciences

University of Groningen

The Netherlands

Tel: 00 31 50 363 6910/ 3895

Skype: justin9712

Web:  <http://www.rug.nl/staff/j.r.beaumont/index>
www.rug.nl/staff/j.r.beaumont/index

 

International Conference: Religion, Politics and the Postsecular City,
Groningen, 12-15 November 2008

 

EU-7FP FACIT project: Faith-based organizations and exclusion in European
cities

 

Book Reviews Editor: Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie
(TESG)