Two PhD Positions in ERC Starting Grant project on multiple jobholders

AIAS-HSI/ University of Amsterdam invites applications for:

Two four-year PhD research positions in the ERC Starting Grant project “Moonlighting: Understanding the quality and consequences of working multiple jobs [MOONLIGHT]”.
The two PhD researchers will become part of the new, cutting-edge research project “Moonlighting: Understanding the quality and consequences of working multiple jobs [MOONLIGHT]”, funded by the European Research Council (ERC) for the period 2024-2029, and directed by Dr. Wieteke Conen.

MOONLIGHT project
The project studies the quality of work and wellbeing of contemporary multiple jobholders. Work in the new economy is increasingly of a flexible and fragmented nature. Multiple jobholders [MJHs], or so-called moonlighters, can be considered emblematic of how work fragmentation and combinations affect the quality of work and total worker wellbeing. MOONLIGHT will research the quality of work in first, second and other jobs and how this translates into total worker wellbeing. MOONLIGHT will study the quality and wellbeing of MJHs through comparative research in seven advanced economies: Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States - countries with increasing levels of MJHs, but different welfare state and labour market traditions, regulations and norms. The research will rely on new comparative cross-national and dynamic data. A full description of the project and all its subprojects can be found here.

Project 1: Dire straits
This project will research precarious forms of moonlighting in seven advanced economies (Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States).

The PhD researcher will start with a literature review on precarious forms of multiple jobholding, and integrate labour law analysis and policy analysis in the initial sections of his or her dissertation. The empirical articles will be based on analyses of the large-scale, international survey data and will investigate the measurement and classification of precarious forms of multiple jobholding, the quality of work among multiple jobholders, their characteristics, and the relation with their contexts. Research questions include: who are the multiple holders combining ‘bad jobs’? And how static or dynamic are dimensions of quality and total worker wellbeing across time? The final empirical article will be based on analyses of dynamic app data and analyses the stability or dynamics of the quality and total worker wellbeing among precarious multiple jobholders.

Supervisors: Dr. Wieteke Conen (AIAS-HSI/ UvA), Prof. dr. Maarten Keune (AIAS-HSI/ UvA)

Project 2: Career pathways
This project will research transitions, career development and wellbeing of multiple jobholders in seven advanced economies (Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States).

The PhD researcher will start with a literature review on human capital accumulation and skills diversification among multiple jobholders, and integrate policy analysis in the initial sections of his or her dissertation. The empirical articles will be based on analyses of the large-scale, international survey data on getting to a classification of quality of work and wellbeing among multiple jobholders and the influence of meso-level factors on prevalence, quality and wellbeing. Research questions include: how do industries, competition and organisations affect workers’ behaviour to start working multiple jobs? How do organisations enhance or deteriorate the quality of work and wellbeing of multiple jobholders? Under what conditions do multiple jobholders develop skills that can be transferred between jobs? How does human capital accumulation in one or more of the jobs affect later working life? The final empirical article will be based on analyses of the dynamic app data and analyses the embeddedness of multiple jobholding.

Supervisors: Dr. Wieteke Conen (AIAS-HSI/ UvA), Prof. dr. Joop Schippers (UU)

Do you enjoy:

• doing research for a conceptually and empirically groundbreaking project on the quality of work and wellbeing of multiple jobholders;
• working in a close-knit team;
• improving your skills to develop into a versatile researcher skilled in multiple methods;
• visiting various countries (for fieldwork purposes, conferences and seminars).

Then the job of PhD researcher within the ERC-funded MOONLIGHT project at the University of Amsterdam is perfect for you as a highly versatile professional.

What does this job entail?
Your tasks as a PhD researcher within this ERC project will include the following:

• Participation in meetings of the project research group;
• Participation in courses and training activities agreed upon with the supervisors;
• Writing research articles to be published in peer-reviewed journals and a PhD dissertation;
• Complete a PhD dissertation within the topic of this project;
• Contributing to project tasks, meetings and activities;
• Actively participating in the intellectual life and contribute to the research profile of AIAS-HSI;
• Presenting research results at national and international conferences and workshops.

What do you have to offer?

• Enthusiasm, curiosity and a keen interest in doing cutting-edge scientific research;
• A master's degree in a social or behavioural science, such as sociology, economics, psychology, or a related field, or currently working towards obtaining one (completion date no later than January 2025);
• You can demonstrate scientific research skills or are willing to learn them. Proficiency in quantitative data analysis (including common statistical analysis software like SPSS or Stata) and a strong motivation to enhance these skills are advantageous;
• A collaborative, team-minded and pro-active attitude;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in any of the languages from the project's countries (Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, or Polish) is an added advantage.

International candidates are encouraged to apply, but must be willing to relocate to the Netherlands for the duration of the position.

What can we offer you?
We offer you the opportunity to work in an intellectually stimulating and teamwork-oriented environment. We are committed to offering tailor-made and careful supervision with the main aim of allowing you to grow and flourish academically and professionally.

We offer an employment contract for one year with a probationary period of two months. The appointment will be extended for another three years upon favorable evaluation. The start date is currently scheduled around 1 January 2025, until 31 December 2028, but will be mutually agreed upon. The employment contract is for 38 hours a week. Your salary ranges from € 2.770 (in year 1) to € 3.539 (in year 4) gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

About us
You will work at research centre AIAS-HSI, affiliated to the Amsterdam Law School. AIAS-HSI has the most interdisciplinary group of scientists in the field of industrial relations and employment issues in the Netherlands. There is a scientific staff of approximately 10 FTE, divided over 16 employees with different disciplinary backgrounds, including lawyers, economists, sociologists and political scientists.

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds. Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Any questions?
Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact the PI of the project:

• Dr. Wieteke Conen: W.S.Conen@uva.nl.

Job application
If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your letter and CV. You can apply online via the link below. We will accept applications until 22 September 2024. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Your application should include:

• A letter of motivation (max. 2 A4);
• Your CV, including education, employment history, and organisational experience;
• Name, position, and email address of at least one referee from your academic and/or professional background who may be contacted for a reference (no reference letter); please list these on your CV rather than filling them out separately in the system;
• A short writing sample (e.g. your master’s thesis or other work written during your degree).
  NOTE: Please put all the requested documents into one or two appendixes since you are only able to add two documents in total.

The first round of application interviews will take place in the first half of October 2024, either on-site or online.