The department of Methodology and Statistics has a job opening for one assistant professor (tenured, 0.8-1 FTE) requiring you to contribute to our educational and research programmes. You will be employed at the Department of Methodology and Statistics of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Utrecht University. We provide teaching in methods and statistics within all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences and University College Utrecht. We offer the only two-year master’s degree programme exclusively focused on methodology and statistics in the social, biomedical, and behavioural sciences in the Netherlands (in cooperation with Twente University and the Biostatistics group of Utrecht University Medical Centre).

In collaboration with Statistics Netherlands, within our Master programme we offer a track labelled European Master of Official Statistics (EMOS) awarded by Eurostat. In addition, we participate in the one-year interdisciplinary master Applied Data Science and in the interdisciplinary minor in Applied Data Science. We also teach courses for researchers and other professionals as part of the Summer School Utrecht, and we give advice to staff and students with respect to their research activities.

The research of the Department of Methodology and Statistics focuses on methods and techniques for the social and behavioural sciences in a broad sense and comprises topics such as: research synthesis techniques, longitudinal studies, SEM and multilevel analyses, survey research, Bayesian statistics, Applied Data Science, and qualitative research. Our department plays an active role in the Utrecht University focus area Applied Data Science and collaborates with the strategic themes Dynamics of Youth and Institutions for Open Societies.

The data quality research group within the department conducts research into methods for data collection in a broad sense and surveys in particular. Together with Statistics Netherlands, the group investigates the integration of new data collection methods (using registers, smartphone apps, sensors and wearables) in combination with more traditional forms of data collection to improve social statistics. We also investigate broader issues such as nonresponse, missing data, cross-national surveys, and web surveys.

The position involves 60% teaching activities and 40% research time. The core tasks include:

• Contributing to the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes within the curriculum of Methodology and Statistics and/or the Applied Data Science programmes;
• Carrying out and supervising research within the scope of the research executed by the department of Methodology and Statistics, often in collaboration with other research institutes or societal partners;
• Contributing to the acquisition of substantial external research funding for the benefit of the research programme of the department of Methodology and Statistics.

Teaching

• You have experience with developing and coordinating academic courses in a team setting. Experience with teaching courses on research designs for the social and behavioural sciences and survey methods in a broad sense is desired.
• You are able to provide inspiring lectures and have an eye for the improvement of teaching methods, as evidenced by positive teaching assessments.
• You hold a University Teaching Qualification (BKO, Basiskwalificatie Onderwijs), or are willing to acquire this qualification in the near future.

Research:

• You hold a PhD degree in the field of research methods, statistics, data science, computational social sciences or an adjacent field.
• You have experience in conducting scientific research in the field of survey methodology or data collection methodologies more generally.
• You have ideas about their own research line and how this could fit within the Department of Methodology and Statistics.
• You are able to contribute to the (collective) acquiring of external research funding for the benefit of the research programme of the department of Methodology and Statistics.

General

• You have good communication skills, a proactive work attitude, and are able to work within a team.
• You speak Dutch or are willing to learn Dutch. We expect a passive understanding of Dutch within two years of taking up the appointment.

We offer:

• a fulltime permanent position (i.e., tenured) 0.8-1 FTE position upon a positive evaluation after one year;
• a full-time gross salary between €4,332 and €6,737 in scale 11/12 of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (CAO);
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition to the employment conditions from the CAO for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. These include agreements on professional development, leave arrangements, sports and cultural schemes and you get discounts on software and other IT products. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment through the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we encourage you to grow.

For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues. 

The faculty strives for diversity among its employees and students and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, as can be read in Utrecht University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy.

The faculty attaches great importance to the fact that its employees can be widely deployed in the university organization, now and in the future, to further professionalize the support of education and research. To encourage this, every employee is given the time and facilities – for example in the form of training – at some point in their career to participate in projects or work in other departments. Characteristics that the faculty considers important are involvement, the ability to collaborate and flexibility.

The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.