Erasmus School of Law, department Law, Society & Crime, is looking for 2 postdoc researchers.

Job description
Do you want to contribute to a better understanding of the organization of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling through the Port of Rotterdam? Do you want to improve the governance of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling together with the public and private actors in the Port of Rotterdam? Do you want to develop innovative tools like interactive models, dynamic heat maps, crime scripts, and serious games to enable governance actors to intervene proactively? Do you want to help facilitate the interdisciplinary cooperation between academics from criminology, anthropology, law, history, mathematics, network science, computing and information sciences, and with public and private actors with governance responsibilities in the PoR? Do you want to be a mentor for the PhD students in our research team? Apply to one of 2 postdoc positions in the research project FORT-PORT (Focusing on the Right Things in the Port of Rotterdam).

FORT-PORT aims to uncover the criminal business processes, modi operandi and criminal networks underlying cocaine trafficking and human smuggling through the Port of Rotterdam. Ultimately, FORT-PORT contributes to a strong, future-proof port that is acclaimed for its security and its resilience against subversive crime, mindful of the potential economic and societal consequences of raising all possible barriers.

FORT-PORT is organized in 5 work packages. Work package 1 and 3 offer 4 PhD and 2 postdoc positions at the Erasmus School of Law. You will collaborate with researchers at TU Delft and Utrecht University as well.

FORT-PORT is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), with Erasmus University Rotterdam as the main applicant. The Department Law, Society & Crime of Erasmus School of Law now has 2 postdoc vacancies.

Postdoc research 1 - Ethnography of illicit flows through the Port of Rotterdam (workpackage 1a)
Previous research has shed light on the modi operandi of cocaine trafficking in the PoR, the social organisation of human smuggling in the Netherlands, the social embeddedness of organised crime in the Netherlands, and the structural embeddedness of cocaine trafficking in the PoR. We build on these insights by combining different methodologies and theoretical perspectives to advance our understanding of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling via the PoR. More specifically, we aim to uncover the criminal business operations of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling in the PoR, by focusing on:

1. modi operandi of drug trafficking and human smuggling based on a crime script analysis that examines why and how offenders use logistical, technological, legal, and financial infrastructures in and around the PoR;
2. social organisation of the criminal networks involved in cocaine trafficking and human smuggling, exploring the modes of cooperation between and within the networks, degrees of specialisation and professionalisation within the networks, and the use of violence between or within the networks;
3. social embeddedness of cocaine trafficking and human trafficking, describing the ways in which cocaine trafficking and human trafficking are relationally and structurally embedded in and around in the PoR.

In this work package, 2 PhD positions and 1 postdoc position are available which focus on three distinct yet interrelated case studies about the social embeddedness of the cocaine economy in Rotterdam, about human smuggling networks and migrant communities and about crime scripts of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling. This work package combines literature reviews, analysis of large-scale police investigations and other relevant law enforcement data about cocaine trafficking and human smuggling in the Netherlands; semi-structured interviews with practitioners involved in the approach to cocaine trafficking and human smuggling; semi-structured interviews with port employees; semi-structured interviews with detained and convicted offenders; and ethnographic research starting in Rotterdam neighborhoods and following the illegal flows of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling through the Port of Rotterdam. The postdoc will be expected to do part of the empirical work, mentor the PhD students, and, together with the supervisors, coordinate the research activities and project’s deliverables.

Work package 1a relates to work-package 1b on network data analysis and modelling of regional criminal vulnerability and criminal supply chains (PhD & postdoc project at TUDelft), and therefore the postdoctoral researcher is expected to help coordinate the criminological (EUR) and mathematical, network science, computing and information sciences (TUD) research strategies.

Supervisors: dr. Robby Roks & Prof. Richard Staring

Postdoc research 2: Partnerships in the governance of subversive crime in the Port of Rotterdam (work-package 3a)
The Port of Rotterdam has pioneered public-public and public-private partnerships as well as legislative initiatives and legal proceedings about cocaine trafficking and human smuggling. The governance of subversive crime in the PoR therefore builds on previous commitments, experiences, and experiments. FORT-PORT aims to help strengthen the governance of subversive crime in the port. Governance refers to the provision, distribution and regulation of security by public and private actors, specifically focusing on cocaine trafficking and human smuggling. The current, more advanced stage of governance comes with its own challenges about keeping oversight of and learning from past and existing initiatives and about sustainably anchoring what works. Contemporary governance is also about keeping governance structures manageable, which involves continuous trust building and staying abreast of current developments. FORT-PORT provides a unique opportunity for the longitudinal and intensified evaluation of the governance of subversive crime in the port.

This work-package will:

1. Evaluate past and existing public-public and public-private partnerships on cocaine trafficking and human smuggling in the PoR;
2. Provide project-level feedback about bottlenecks and success factors of public-public and public-private governance of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling;
3. Develop aggregated feedback about bottlenecks and success factors of public-public and public-private governance of cocaine trafficking and human smuggling to stimulate exchange with other (main)ports in the Netherlands and Europe.

In this work-package 1 PhD position and 1 postdoc position are available which together focus on three case studies of public-private partnerships in the PoR: the Information Sharing Centres on Port Safety and Security; Project Gatekeeper and the Implementation Agenda. This work-package combines literature reviews; document analysis; semi-structured interviews project team leaders, project members and relevant stakeholders; observations of project group meetings, meetings with stakeholders and (semi)public meetings about the project; and reflection methods with the learning communities. The postdoc will be expected to do part of the empirical work for this work package, mentor the PhD student, and, together with the supervisors, coordinate the research activities and work towards realizing the project’s deliverables.

This work package 3a is also closely related to work-package 3b, which focuses on the normative framework for governing subversive crime (PhD project 4), and therefore the postdoctoral researcher is expected to help coordinate the criminological and legal action-oriented research strategies that together allow for immediate feedback and continuous internalization of learning experiences.

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Lieselot Bisschop & Prof. dr. Karin van Wingerde

We are looking for a colleague with:

• A completed and relevant doctoral degree in criminology, public administration, sociology, political science or related social science discipline with demonstrable empirical and interdisciplinary experience;
• The ability and motivation to conduct independent scientific research and lead co-authored publications;
• Experience at PhD level with qualitative analysis;
• Experience or an affinity with action-oriented research;
• Experience with interdisciplinary scholarship;
• Interest in bridging the science and society gap;
• Participation in international academic networks and conferences;
• The ability and motivation to mentor PhD students.
• Excellent written and oral English and Dutch communication skills.

An internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with good working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU): a temporary 0.8 FTE postdoc position for a period of max. 40-months, starting 1 November 2023.

The postdoctoral researcher will be affiliated with the Erasmus School of Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The location of work is Rotterdam. The position is part-time (0,8 fte). The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of € 3.974 to a maximum of € 5.439 gross per month on a fulltime basis, in accordance with Scale 11 of the CAO-NU. In addition, we offer an 8% holiday allowance, an end-of-year payment of 8.3%, and a very generous paid leave scheme. Furthermore, EUR is affiliated with ABP for the pension provision, and we offer partially paid parental leave, fully paid extended birth leave for partners, a personal career budget, work-life balance coaches, discounted collective health insurance, and more. As an employee, you can also use EUR facilities such as the University library and receive a discount on subscriptions for the Erasmus sports center.

Erasmus University Rotterdam offers a Dual Career Programme (DCP) to assist the life partners of new academic staff (on payroll) in finding employment in The Netherlands. The programme is offered in close cooperation with the nearby universities of Delft and Leiden.

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfill their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 3.700 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service
Erasmus School of Law employs 500 members of staff and is attended by around 6000 students. Erasmus School of Law offer bachelor programmes in Law, Tax Law and Criminology, with a focus on active academic learning. The Bachelor's phase is characterised by problem-based learning (PBL). Students can subsequently choose from a wide variety of master programmes. Erasmus School of Law also collaborates in Double Degree programmes combining law and (business) economics or law and business administration and is one of the founders of the European Master in Law & Economics. Once students have completed their master’s degree, they may choose from several postgraduate tracks provided by Erasmus School of Law (in collaboration with Erasmus Academy and others).

At Erasmus School of Law, the fundamental premise of academic research is that law cannot be considered in complete isolation or as an end in itself. It is embedded in an economic and social context that shapes law. At the same time, law shapes society and defines economic relationships. In line with this vision, the mission of Erasmus School of Law is to carry out innovative research on the function of law in its economic and social context. The overarching theme of Erasmus School of Law is therefore 'Where law meets business': Erasmus School of Law is all about the interplay between law, practice and society. Both research and teaching at Erasmus School of Law have a strong social and business orientation. Erasmus School of Law is committed to promoting international and interdisciplinary research, as evidenced by its participation in various international research collaborations.

The Department Law, Society & Crime provides a home to researchers in Criminology, Criminal Law, Sociology of Law and Health Law. Research in the Department focuses on four distinct, albeit interrelated research lines:

1. The study of phenomena related to unsafety, insecurity, and marginalization, and the social responses to these phenomena, both from a legal normative perspective and an empirical perspective;
2. The analysis of fundamental assumptions underlying rules and regulations and studying the implementation of regulation, its effectiveness and its legitimacy, and the unintended consequences of the way in which the law is implemented;
3. The study of actors and professions within the (criminal) justice system, including judicial decisionmaking and the way in which legal professionals operate;
4. Fundamental legal reflection on the role of legal sanctions, (reforms in) criminal proceedings, and the study of transitions between legal domains including questions about competences between various jurisdictions and authorities.

Thematically, this includes (but is not limited to) research on various forms of crime and harm (environmental crime, juvenile crime, organised and subversive crime, corporate and white-collar crime, fraud, radicalism), medical-ethical issues, migration, diversity, multiculturalism, and processes of inclusion/exclusion, research on the role of legal sanctions, research on different modes of governance and its intended and unintended consequences, and digitalization and the use of big data.

Research in the department is characterized by the multidisciplinary background of its staff (criminal law, criminology, sociology, anthropology, public administration, psychology), often adopts an empirical perspective and applies multiple empirical research methods (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research). Moreover, given the multidisciplinary background of its staff, the Department is particularly well equipped to study international comparative socioeconomic and legal issues that have global causes and are often dealt with nationally or locally.