Concerns are growing over the inclusion of marginalized groups in the Netherlands, such as immigrants and refugees, social isolated older adults, and the very poor. One way that marginalized groups could develop a sense of inclusion is through connecting with others and their societies using digital technologies. Daily text threads with family and friends, video calls across distances, social media groups around causes and identities, and platforms for connecting to community resources, all point to an unprecedented ability to foster connections in the 21st century. However, digital inequality means that not everyone is equally prepared to benefit from the possibilities of digital technology for social connectedness. In this project, we are interested in how disadvantaged individuals develop and sustain interpersonal connections through digital technologies in ways that benefit their wellbeing and social inclusion, including the barriers they face in the process. Older adults with limited social interactions may lack the skills or motivation needed to start up a social media account to keep up with family and friends. New immigrants to the Netherlands may fear posting in online neighborhood groups out of concern for negative comments or harassment. Other groups will face their own barriers connecting to personal networks and the broader society via digital technologies. Thus, this project seeks to understand: How does digital inequality affect the abilities of disadvantaged groups to develop social connections in support of wellbeing and inclusion in the Netherlands? What barriers do people face in this process and how do they overcome them, through or despite technology? The project seeks to better understand the role of digital inequality in shaping social inclusion at the interpersonal and societal levels in the Netherlands. The candidate hired for this position will take the lead in conducting research in this area. The candidate will conduct several studies and write a dissertation, as well as contribute to teaching. 

The successful candidate will be based at the Department of Communication and Cognition. Researchers in our department explore social and cognitive aspects of human interaction through a multidisciplinary approach, combining careful experimentation with survey methods, interviews, corpus analyses and computational modelling. The research group consists of about 90 researchers covering a broad range of topics relevant for cognition and communication, and this includes approximately 30 PhD students. Core research domains include (in alphabetical order) communication and technology, cross-cultural communication, information visualization, language production, new media design, social media research, and non-verbal communication.

Applicants should have a (research) master’s degree in a field such as communication studies, sociology, social psychology, or a related area. A strong command of English (written and spoken) is required. Dutch fluency is preferred, though we are interested in other language fluencies as well, particularly related to the research area. Experience with qualitative methods (e.g., in-depth interviews) is preferred, though not required — we will consider candidates from a range of methodological backgrounds. The applicant should possess the interpersonal skills necessary to contact persons belonging to marginalized groups. Candidates should also have enjoyed conducting research in the past, have a commitment to further developing their research skills, including new methodologies, and be able to work proactively and independently while being responsive to feedback. 

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

This is a position for 0.8 – 1,0 fte (32 – 40 hours per week) of full working hours. Working hours can be flexible for caring responsibilities. This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3, paragraph 5 of the CLA for Dutch Universities. You will be given a temporary employment contract for the duration of 1 year. Upon positive outcome of the first-year evaluation, you will receive a subsequent employment contract that will be extended for an additional 3 years. Tilburg University offers excellent employment conditions with attention to flexibility and (personal) development and attractive fringe benefits. 

The salary amounts to €2.770 in the first year of the PhD, and will increase to €3.539 in the fourth year of the PhD (gross per month for full-time employment), based on UFO profile PhD and salary scale PhD of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

You are entitled to a vacation allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of your gross annual income. If you work 40 hours per week, you will receive 41 paid days of leave per year. 
Researchers from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf. All employees of the university are covered by the so-called General Pension Fund for Public Employers (Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP).

We make clear agreements about career paths and offer all kinds of facilities and arrangement to maintain an optimal balance between work and private life. You can also follow numerous training courses, for example, in the areas of leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development. 

Tilburg University values an open and inclusive culture. We embrace diversity and encourage the mutual integration of groups of employees and students. We focus on creating equal opportunities for all our employees and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community. 

Tilburg University has a lively campus in beautiful green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution.

Please visit working at Tilburg University for more information on our terms of employment. 

Tilburg University's motto is Understanding Society. Based on this vision, our more than 2,800 employees conduct research, inspire more than 20,000 students of 110 nationalities, and bring people from different disciplines and organizations together to learn from each other. In this way, we want to contribute to solving complex social issues. In doing so, we work from the fields of economics, business and entrepreneurship, social and behavioral sciences, law and public administration, humanities and digital sciences, and theology. We seek the connection between the various disciplines to find solutions to the major issues we face as a society. Our students are educated to become responsible and entrepreneurial thinkers, driven by solidarity, a sense of responsibility, and empathy, who are able to influence and give direction to a rapidly changing society in an innovative way. Tilburg University has a culture of collaboration and co-creation, at local, regional, national, and international level.

Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) has a unique focus on humans in the context of the globalizing digital society, on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies, on their impact on communication, culture and society, and on moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of four departments: Communication and Cognition, Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Culture Studies and Philosophy; several research institutes and a faculty office. Also the University College Tilburg is part of the School. The School has approximately 3100 students and around 270 employees.