Are you experienced in impact-driven research? Do you have what it takes to contribute to the development of innovative research on textile & clothing ecosystems in Rotterdam?

The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication is looking for a highly motivated Postdoc researcher (temporary employment of 0,7 fte, with possibility to expand to 1,0 fte with teaching duties) to join the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) project “FABRIX. Fostering local, beautiful, and sustainably designed regenerative textile & clothing ecosystems’’ for a maximum duration of 27 months. The Postdoc position is embedded in the Department of Arts and Culture Studies. The position starts on 1 April 2024.

Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Researcher to conduct impact-driven and participatory research in Rotterdam. The research tasks will be part of the Horizon Europe project ‘‘FABRIX. Fostering local, beautiful, and sustainably designed regenerative textile & clothing ecosystems”. The position will also involve liaising with our consortium partners and stakeholders from the public and private sectors. Additionally, the researcher will contribute to progress reports to the European Union.

A PhD in Sustainability Transitions, Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship, Urban Studies, Geography, or other Social Sciences is required, with demonstrated skills in advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods, affinity/interest in the textile & clothing sector, and more in general in the cultural and creative industries. The candidate is expected to possess strong organizational capabilities, a demonstrated experience with participating in interdisciplinary research projects, and working with a variety of (inter)national stakeholders.

Project description

The transition towards a more sustainable, digital, and inclusive economy in Europe requires a human-centred approach that combines digital and industrial technologies, with an attention to spatial dynamics. However, there is a lack of integration between different disciplines and initiatives, resulting in missed opportunities for system change towards a more inclusive technological and social development. The FABRIX project aims to address this challenge by focusing on the Textile & Clothing (T&C) sector in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and Athens (Greece) – T&C being a priority sector in the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Industrial Strategy, but also one of the most environmentally and socially unsustainable sectors. FABRIX adopts an integrated approach to local and regenerative urban manufacturing, combining spatial design, industrial symbiosis, circular manufacturing, and value chain analysis, in alignment with New European Bauhaus principles (inclusion, sustainability, aesthetics). The FABRIX consortium is led by TU/delft and involves the following partners: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Athens University of Economics & Business, AIDIMME Instituto Tecnologico, OSMOS Network, CEDECS-TCBL, SOFFA The Nest Social Fashion Factory, Roadmapper and Municipality of Rotterdam. FABRIX will develop an innovative and interactive platform (MANTEL) that supports local value chain management for more circular and regenerative urban manufacturing along with a capacity building FABRIX Academy to ensure the transferability during and beyond the research project to other places and other sectors dealing with similar challenges.

Postdoc duties in close collaboration with consortium partners

• Co-developing the theoretical framework and project methodology;
• Analysing the spatial and ecosystem characteristics of the Textile & Clothing (T&C) sector in Rotterdam and contributing to the comparative analysis of the T&C ecosystems in Rotterdam and Athens;
• Identifying and improving indicators for the circular and social self-assessment tool via research and the organisation of a co-creation event;
• Contributing to the development and testing of MANTEL, including the activities linked to the Financial Support to Third Party (FSTP) calls and FABRIX Academy;
• Supporting the planning, management and digital presence of the project, liaising with project management, consortium partners and stakeholders;
• Contributing to EU progress reporting;
• Publishing and presenting research results in journals, international conferences, as well as practitioner-oriented outlets.

In addition to Postdoc duties, there might be the possibility for teaching tasks in the new academic year (from September 2024):

• Preparing and teaching classes within the context of the various degree programmes in the field of Arts and Culture Studies provided by the ESHCC or in interdisciplinary programmes, such as the Minor in Fashion Industry;
• Monitoring the literature and integrating new insights into the courses;
• Supervising students for BA or MA theses.

• A PhD in Sustainability Transitions, Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship, Urban Studies, Geography, or other Social Sciences;
• Demonstrated experience doing independent research, particularly with innovative and advanced qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis;
• Demonstrated experience doing empirical fieldwork;
• Demonstrated experience with participating in interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary research projects;
• Proven affinity with participatory/action research and methods;
• Proven affinity with impact-oriented research and education;
• Strong team-playing, organizational and communication experience and skills;
• Proficiency in spoken and written Dutch and English (C2-standards of the Common European Framework (CEF)).
• In case of teaching, didactic potential. Teaching experience is desired.

We offer you an 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 start date of this position is 15 March 2024 and you will be based in Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC). This position is for 0.7 - 1.0 FTE. The salary 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.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

• Everything you need 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, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!
• 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 or QuEUR.
• Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget, foreign exchange opportunities with most costs paid by EUR, 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, and our campus features a daycare.
• 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 also help your partner find the right job for them.

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 Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. The school has three departments: History, Arts and Culture Studies and Media & Communication. There are approximately 2500 students and 220 employees.

ESHCC offers high quality education, based on scientific research, at the intersection of the Humanities and Social Sciences. We teach our ambitious, Dutch and international students in a stimulating learning environment. After graduation, they will have acquired the knowledge, insight and skills to make an important and inspiring contribution to an increasingly international society in which diversity plays a major role.

The ESHCC also has an ambitious research agenda. We want to strengthen our involvement in multidisciplinary research, expand the share of external funding in our total research funding and increase our social impact. ESHCC is working towards one research institute, the Erasmus Institute for Media, Culture, History and Society (ERMeCHS).

ERMeCHS (Erasmus Research Institute for Media, Culture, History & Society) is a research centre located within the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam. The Centre was founded in 2023, as a merger of former research centres ERMeCC and History@Erasmus, by members of the Departments of History, Arts and Culture Studies, and Media and Communication. Researchers at the Centre are dedicated to carrying out interdisciplinary research on media, communication, culture, history, and society.

The postdoc will work with Assoc. Prof. dr. Amanda Brandellero and Assoc. Prof. dr. Mariangela Lavanga, and will be embedded in the Sustainable Transitions in Culture & Societies - STiCS research cluster, part of ERMeCHS. Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Mariangela Lavanga (Lavanga@eshcc.eur.nl).

Department
The Department Arts and Culture Studies is a dynamic, internationally oriented department within the ESHCC. The department offers five international degree programmes: the International Bachelor Arts and Culture Studies (IBACS), Bachelor Dual degree in Arts and Science (RASL), three international Master’s programmes in Arts and Culture Studies (Arts, Culture and Society; Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship; Tourism, Culture and Society).