Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Inequality and Diversity in International Institutions

The Department of Political Science is looking for a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to carry out research on the theme of Social Inequality and Diversity in International Institutions broadly defined. As part of the position, the candidate will also contribute to three research reports on global health governance in the context of the larger Horizon Europe-funded project ENSURED (https://www.ensuredeurope.eu). ENSURED is a research consortium of 14 academic and civil society partners from Europe, the United States, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. Within the consortium, the candidate will conduct qualitative interviews at the World Health Organization in Geneva and elsewhere and be part of the ENSURED team at Maastricht University with other researchers working on global governance transformation. Previous experience with global health governance is an asset but not a requirement. We are looking for an expert on international institutions and global governance.

This is a two-year position, and the division of tasks will be 80% research and maximum 20% teaching. As such, you will be offered the opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience by teaching international relations courses across a variety of BA and MA programmes, such as the BA in European Studies and the MA in European Studies. This position will be part of the Politics and Culture in Europe (PCE) research programme. PCE is an interdisciplinary research environment where you will engage with colleagues from across disciplines to develop collaborative research and contribute to the active research environment of the group. You will have three key tasks:

• You will pursue independent research within the broader theme of social inequality and diversity in international institutions;
• You will participate in ENSURED consortium activities and contribute to three research reports on global health governance and engage in other project-related tasks;
• You will contribute to limited teaching in our BA/MA European Studies programmes.

The candidate has a background in international relations, international organizations, and global governance. Previous experience with qualitative interviewing within international institutions is a requirement. Previous experience with global health is an asset but not a requirement for this position. The candidate should be interested in developing and doing research in the field of global health governance (WHO, Pandemic Treaty, vaccine access), but part of the position can also be dedicated to research on other fields of international institutions. The candidate takes ownership of the research, respects deadlines and works well in teams.

• You hold a PhD in Political Science or International Relations, ideally on the topic of international institutions and global governance;
• You have expertise in qualitative research methods, notably qualitative interviewing, and have previously carried out extensive qualitative interviewing in international institutions;
• You are motivated and passionate about research;
• You are open to interdisciplinary collaboration and like to work in teams;
• You are a self-starter and you take initiative and ownership;
• You have a developing track-record of high-quality international publications;
• You are fluent in English (Cambridge English Proficiency, level C2, orally and written).

As Postdoctoral researcher at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 11 according to UFO profile Postdoc, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €4332,00 and €5929,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 24 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE.
• An employment period between September 1st 2024 and the 31st of August 2026.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply.

Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences FASoS is a close-knit community of approximately 250 staff members and 2100 students. During breaks and before meetings, you can often find us at our favourite local coffee spot Bandito Espresso.

Communication lines within our faculty are short and colleagues are always ready to assist each other. FASoS consists of a highly international student population and a significant part of our staff comes from abroad. Our faculty offers four bachelor programs, eight masters programs and two research master programs that are all characterized by their interdisciplinary approach.

Our research institute studies societies and cultures as they have developed in the modern and contemporary periods. We adopt a radically interdisciplinary approach, analysing the interconnections between Europeanization, globalization, scientific and technological advancement, political change, and cultural innovation.

In addition to teaching and research, our colleagues enjoy expressing themselves creatively. They create podcasts, write poetry as well as fiction.

Working at FASoS means working in a challenging yet informal environment. We believe in crafting your own career path and are always ready to help you in making the most of your job.