The Rural Sociology Group of Wageningen University is looking for a postdoctoral researcher who will join the project “Everyday political economies of agricultural markets and livelihoods in Northeast India’. You will do sociological research on the dynamics of agrarian change in the upland regions of Northeast India, with a specific focus on the everyday engagements and entanglements of local people related to agricultural markets and livelihoods.

The position is for 24 months at 0.8 at the Rural Sociology Group of Wageningen University, with periods of fieldwork in Northeast India. The start date is 1 June 2025.

In this exciting position:

• you will conduct literature reviews, and develop research questions, methodology and project design, related to the topic of focus;
• you will plan and execute fieldwork and data collection using mixed-method approaches at the village scale in Northeast India;
• you will engage with relevant stakeholders and build networks in the case study area;
• you will perform qualitative and quantitative data analysis as appropriate;
• you will draft and publish high quality journal articles in international journals;
• you will develop your career as a researcher, and work towards applying for further grants and funding.

We are looking for a candidate with:

• PhD in a social science discipline (development sociology, anthropology, human geography, etc);
• experience with mixed method approaches, including qualitative interviews, ethnographic methodologies, and survey methodologies;
• familiarity with qualitative and quantitative analysis;
• experience in working in village contexts in rural India;
• familiarity with and interest in the political economy of agrarian change, with a particular focus on India and/or upland communities;
• evidence of potential to publish in international journals;
• strong analytic and communication skills, ability to process complex information and translate it into accessible and usable formats for policymakers and local communities.

You will work here
The Rural Sociology Group
Central to the research program of the Rural Sociology Group (RSO) is a relational approach to transformation processes, explored from the perspective of the everyday life of people, with a focus on agrarian and rural change, food provisioning, and place-based development. These processes are studied from a range of critical perspectives (e.g. interpretative and micro-sociological perspective, cultural political economy, or governmentality studies). We actively engage in interdisciplinary (including collaborations with natural scientists), multi-method and multi-stakeholder approaches. A common denominator in our research is the focus on actors, agency, institutionalization of practices, differential development paths, and political organization.

Our mission is to contribute to the development of sustainable and socially acceptable modes of farming, food provisioning, and rural development, which foster social and spatial justice. Through our research we attempt to un-familiarize the familiar and undertake critical analyses, but, importantly, also be transformative by engaging in the exploration of new practices and by showing a diversity of credible options beyond dominant understandings and constellations. A key characteristic of our research program is its threefold relevance: it should contribute to the scientific development of our field and scientific discipline(s), inform policymaking and provide support for practitioners.

A more detailed profile of the Rural Sociology Group can be found in its 75th Anniversary book ‘On meaningful diversity: past, present and future of Wageningen rural sociology’.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3670 (scale 10.3) and € 5278 (scale 10.12) for a full-time working week of 38 hours (scale 10), in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). Initially, we offer you a one-year contract, which will then be extended to an open-ended contract if there is mutual enthusiasm. Of course, we would be happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves and do not appreciate unasked for services from recruitment agencies. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.