ISS is looking for a post-doctoral researcher to support research on migration decision-making as part of an EU funded PACES project, “Making migration and migration policy decisions amidst societal transformations”. The position entails working with the leading partner in the PACES consortium to support research on the decision-making of residents and migrants in different locations in African and European countries.

The PACES project studies the process of making decisions to stay and migrate using a social transformation and life course approach. The post-doc will adopt the PACES conceptual framework and methodology to carry out data collection, monitoring and analysis in Ethiopia and Nigeria in collaboration with PACES partners. The post-doc researcher will also support the monitoring and analysis of data in Algeria. The post-doc will also contribute to the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collected by PACES partners and to the elaboration of a heuristic model that identifies different constellations of conditions that influence decisions to stay and migrate at various stages of individual life trajectories and migrant journeys.

The successful applicant will work as part of an international project consortium and in close collaboration with the project leader at ISS, Dr. Simona Vezzoli, and with 3-4 partners. Given this collaborative role, the post-doc will organize and lead internal meetings to discuss empirical findings and their conceptual consequences and present project-related insights at conferences and other public events for academics, policymakers, and the general public.

Job description
As part of a large consortium, the post-doc will support the project leader with the coordination of research on migration decision-making carried out by PACES project partners. The post-doc will be responsible for collecting primary data and coordinate with other project partners to ensure all data collection components are fulfilled. The post-doc will contribute to the analysis of data collected in other work packages with the objective of producing analyses that compare migration decisions-making across places and over time.

For the primary data collection, the post-doc will collect data through archival research and interviews of experts, residents, and migrants. The post-doc will work with partners to create datasets compiling data on social transformation and the life course from various research sites. For the data analysis, the post-doc will have experience with qualitative data analysis of interviews and strong statistical skills to analyze survey data and other micro-level data. More generally, varied methodologies and data collection approaches are applied in PACES, and a general understanding of these varied methods and analytical tools is needed to liaise meaningfully with the project partners.

The specific tasks include:

• conduct fieldwork in Nigeria, and possibly Ethiopia, along with a PACES partner.
• supervise the data collection process on migration decision-making carried out by project partners to ensure quality and timely delivery.
• support project leader and other partners in implementing the data management plan, including all stages of data collection, data cleaning and data storage.
• take a leadership role in the analysis of data on social transformation and the life course, with the aim of publishing in top-ranked journals independently and in collaboration with the project leader or other PACES partners.
• collaborate with the project leader in generating a heuristic model that presents shifts in migration decision-making at various stages of individual life trajectories and migrant journeys.
• help the project leader in carrying out the project in cooperation with the consortium. This includes helping organize PACES meetings, small-scale discussions, and seminars, such as Sounding Board events, as well as a wide variety of communication and dissemination activities.

Experience and profile

Successful candidates for this position are those that combine an interest in migration theories and field research to explore aspects of migration decision-making that have been less explored up to date. A strong theoretical background in migration and other social science theories and a strong interest in the advancement of conceptual frameworks in migration decision-making are very desirable. A proven record in interdisciplinary research is an advantage.

Requirements

• Completed PhD degree with a focus on migration, in a relevant social science field, such as sociology, geography, economics, political science, or public policy.
• Proven track record of conducting fieldwork research in African countries employing multiple methodological techniques.
• Proven experience in qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, and in quantitative analytical methodologies, including QCA analysis.
• Publication record in peer-reviewed academic journals, and/or other relevant academic publications (edited books) in the field of migration studies.
• Proven record of working in a collaborative team and in diverse environments.
• Good organizational skills, including the ability to deliver on an agreed timeline.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English.

Desirable skills

• Familiarity with Nigeria and Ethiopia.
• Knowledge of data management procedures and their practical implementation.
• Previous experience in organizing high impact research and dissemination activities.
• Experience in managing small research projects, small teams or supervising junior colleagues.

This position is based at ISS, The Hague, but will require the successful candidate to spend time in Nigeria, and possibly in Ethiopia.

Internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The selected candidate will be offered a temporary contract for one year with a possibility of an extension for the remaining 16 months after proven suitability for the position, at the level of Post-doc with Erasmus University Rotterdam.

The starting date of this position is 1 April 2024. You will be based at the International Institute of Social Studies, located in The Hague, the Netherlands.

This position is for 0,7 FTE, for a total of 28 months. The remuneration is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of € 4.332,- to a maximum of 5.929,- gross per month (scale 11) on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU.

In addition we offer:

• For a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus on a fulltime basis.
• Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME, QuEUR.
• Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget, and free access to our university library.
• Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis, Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.
• Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners

Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency) and with our Dual Career Programme we will assist your partner in finding employment in The Netherlands. The programme is offered in close cooperation with Delft and Leiden Universities.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 3.700 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service
The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) is a leading academic center for international development studies. While based in The Hague, the ISS is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. ISS was established in 1952 and is a post-graduate institute of policy-oriented critical social science and development-oriented research. ISS brings together a diverse international community of scholars and students from both the global South and the global North, on average originating from over 50 different countries in a multi-disciplinary setting which nurtures, fosters and promotes critical thinking and innovative research on fundamental social problems. The strong partnerships with organizations and individuals in developing countries make up a vibrant network where we co-create knowledge so that teaching and research remain socially relevant. Key to the ISS philosophy and practices is the wish to contribute to achieving social justice and equity on a global level www.iss.nl/en