Are you interested in a 5.5-year PhD position (71% research, 29% teaching) in Work and Organizational Psychology? We are looking for a highly motivated candidate interested in examining how to stimulate the rise of non-stereotypical individuals to leadership positions.

The PhD project will be conducted within the Work and Organizational Psychology program group at the University of Amsterdam. The research in this group is organized around the theme “Individuals and Groups at Work”. Within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, the discipline of Psychology offers a range of Bachelor's and Master’s degree programmes, while its research is carried out at the Psychology Research Institute (Psyres).

The successful candidate will be part of the Work and Organizational Psychology program group. They will be supervised by Dr. Byron G. Adams, Dr. Sasha Cook, Dr. Seval Gündemir, and Prof. Astrid C. Homan, who are faculty members of the Work and Organizational Psychology program group at the University of Amsterdam.

What are you going to do

Rising to hierarchical positions remains a struggle for non-stereotypical leadership candidates like women, ethnic minorities, those with disabilities, and artificial agents, because they do not fit the stereotypical leadership mould (i.e.,  which is characterized by being older, white, heterosexual, and male). Decades of research on minority leadership have documented the difficulty of individuals who do not fit the leader stereotype to rise to higher positions, and to be effective while there. However, we still lack important insights about how individuals who do not fit the leadership stereotype can attain and be effective in higher hierarchical positions. You will apply a novel threat-opportunity framework of norm violations to illuminate the conditions under which those who do not fit the leadership stereotype can rise to leadership positions by effectively claiming and being granted leadership.

You will accomplish this by conducting fundamental research (following both inductive – qualitative – and deductive – experimental and survey – approaches) and translating the results into an intervention to be used by those who are non-stereotypical for leadership positions and organizations that want to stimulate non-stereotypical leadership. Finally, you will report the research findings at project meetings, conferences, and in international journals, ultimately leading to a PhD dissertation.

In addition to research activities, you will also contribute to teaching in Work and Organizational Psychology (29%), including teaching tutorials and lectures, providing basic teaching support, and providing individual supervision at bachelor and master levels. These teaching efforts should prepare for a Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO).

What do we require

You have a passion for research, a demonstrable interest in the research topic, and experience in or demonstrable interest in teaching.

Your experience and profile:

• (Research) master's degree in work and organizational psychology, social psychology, cultural psychology, organizational behaviour, communication science, or equivalent program;
• Strong conceptual thinking as well as data analytic skills;
• Experience/strong affinity with a variety of research methodologies and a high willingness to learn new methods;
• Experience/strong affinity with behavioural data coding;
• Experience/strong affinity with both fundamental and applied research questions;
• Excellent time management skills and high cognitive flexibility;
• Excellent writing skills;
• Excellent English proficiency, Dutch proficiency is not required but is appreciated.

Fixed-term contract: 66 months.

Our offer

The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of 5,5 years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 54 months, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. We will put together a curriculum that will include the opportunity to attend courses (e.g., via the Kurt Lewin Institute), and national and international conferences/meetings.

For this position, the University Job Classification profile "promovendus" applies. Your salary will be €2,443 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,122 in the final year, based on full-time employment and in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued;
• a very diverse learning experience, supervised by an enthusiastic, diverse, and warm team;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.