The Erasmus Initiatives, oriented towards interdisciplinary and societally relevant research, exemplify the ambition of the Erasmus University Rotterdam to be internationally leading in connecting science and society. For three Initiatives (Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity, Vital Cities and Citizens, Smarter Choices for Better Health) the postdoctoral researcher will conduct evaluative research on the creation of societal impact and use these analyses to support reflexive learning processes and the actual creation of impact within and by their respective research teams. For this reason, the postdoctoral researcher will be embedded in the strategic project team ‘Evaluating Societal Impact’, which is developing a framework for impact assessment and impact creation in the university as a whole.

The Erasmus Initiatives bring together diverse research practices and impact cultures which makes it a highly relevant context to study how interdisciplinarity, engaged scholarship and societal impact correlate and cross-fertilize. The combination of interdisciplinary teams, a strong mission-oriented focus and collaboration with societal stakeholders raise interesting research questions like: how do interdisciplinarity, university strategic goals and societal challenges align in concrete research practices?

The Erasmus Initiatives research programs offer a unique opportunity to investigate this question by applying a plurality of context-relevant methods to support impact-driven research and engaged scholarship. The candidate is expected to contribute to learning and improvement processes for the Erasmus Initiatives throughout the research process. Understanding all steps that contribute to actual societal impact can help the Erasmus Initiatives community grow awareness of, and act upon, their societal impact potential. More in general, the postdoctoral researcher will generate broader lessons about the productive interactions and organizational environments for impactful interdisciplinary research.

Your main tasks:

•  help create and enhance the impact of the Erasmus Initiatives by organizing reflection and training sessions on creating societal impact;
• investigate impact practices using different qualitative and quantitative methods to construct a framework for ex-durante impact evaluation;
• perform periodic evaluations for each Erasmus Initiative to provide quantitative and qualitative evidence for impact evaluations;
• support academics within the Erasmus Initiatives in generating the societal impact they aspire to by offering scientifically founded advice;
• contribute to the establishment of a community of practice around impact within the Erasmus Initiatives;
• publish peer-reviewed articles and present findings at conferences.

• Relevant PhD degree, for example in the social sciences, technology assessment, media and communication studies, innovation studies or comparable fields;
• Active interest in the functioning of interdisciplinary science and willingness to develop their expertise through interventions in the field of impact assessment and engaged scholarship;
• Proven experience with action-oriented projects, cocreation, capacity-building and/or organizing interactive learning sessions preferably in the field of enhancing societal impact of scientific research;
• Experience with navigating in a complex multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary environment

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).

The start date of this position is 1 August 2022 or as soon as possible and you will be based at Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Science, department of public administration and organizational science in Rotterdam. The position is for 0.9 FTE. The position is offered for 1 year with the possibility to extend the position with another 2 years (3 years in total)

The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of €3821 to a maximum of €5230 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 Universiteit Rotterdam

Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR) is een internationaal georiënteerde universiteit met een uitgesproken maatschappelijke visie op onderwijs en onderzoek – onze missie luidt dan ook ‘Creating positive societal impact’. Aan de EUR werken ruim 3.700 medewerkers en volgen bijna 33.000 studenten uit 140 landen ons wetenschappelijk onderwijs. Alles wat we doen, doen we onder het credo The Erasmian Way - Making Minds Matter.  We zijn wereldburgers, verbindend, ondernemend, ruimdenkend en maatschappelijk betrokken. Deze Erasmian Values fungeren als ons interne kompas en maken de Erasmus Universiteit herkenbaar én onderscheidend voor de buitenwereld. Vanuit deze waarden, met een ruime blik en met oog voor diversiteit, verschillende achtergronden en opvattingen, werken onze medewerkers nauw samen aan het oplossen van maatschappelijke uitdagingen vanuit het dynamische en kosmopolitische Rotterdam. Mede dankzij de hoge kwaliteit en de positieve maatschappelijke impact van ons onderwijs en onderzoek en onze kenmerkende mentaliteit kan de EUR zich meten met de top van de Europese universiteiten. www.eur.nl.

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit www.eur.nl/essb).

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS covers the disciplines of Public Administration and Sociology. Two related scientific fields with different profiles. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on the institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes well beyond the public realm itself and pays attention to public-private cooperation and networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structure of societies and the way it evolves. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus among other things on processes of globalization and individualization and on the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market or family relations. Related social problems that are studied are migration, flexibilization and solidarity. The perspectives of Public Administration and Sociology complement each other. Together they guarantee a highly relevant and scientific approach to topical administrative and social issues. The bachelor- and masterprogrammes of DPAS are build on this profile and educate students to become scientifically schooled professionals.