Utrecht University’s Strategic Theme Dynamics of Youth focuses on youth development from conception to early adulthood, connecting science with society to empower children, adolescents, and emerging adults. We are honoured to have appointed the Prince Claus Chair: The Science of Well-Being and Quality of Life Studies in Youth - A Social Justice Perspective. To support this appointment, we are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher, partly funded by NWO (Dutch Research Council).

Your job
In this role, you will combine expertise in research with organisational skills to advance the goals of the Prince Claus Chair (approximately 50-50%). The postdoc position is designed to enhance high-quality academic scholarship and leverage evidence-based research for sustainable societal impact, with a specific focus on well-being and Quality of Life in children and youth.

In the research part, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the strategic and academic objectives of the Prince Claus Chair. The focus of the position will be on promoting well-being and QoL research among youth in the Netherlands, South Africa, and the broader Southern African region. The research adopts a social justice perspective and seeks to understand and address the socio-economic, cultural, and political factors that contribute to disparities in well-being among young people. Therefore, particular emphasis will be placed on identifying social, educational, and policy interventions that not only mitigate adverse outcomes but also actively promote thriving among youth, especially those in low- to middle-income contexts. By integrating a social justice perspective, the research aims to empower marginalised groups and advocate for systemic changes that ensure all young people have equal opportunities to achieve a high QoL.

Approximately half of the time is reserved for research aligned with the PCC’s goals, and half of the time for organisational and project support.

The tasks include:

1. developing an integrative research strategy based on a comprehensive review of existing well-being and QoL research related to youth in South Africa and the Netherlands;
2. designing and conducting training programmes focusing on research methodologies and approaches to studying well-being and QoL in youth, enhancing the capacity of emerging scholars in this field;
3. conceptualising and conducting empirical research projects comparing social indicators status report on the well-being and QoL of children and youth in South Africa and the Netherlands using existing population-level databases. The postdoc will further be involved in the development of research proposals, instrumentation design, sampling, data collection, data analysis and report writing;
4. publishing and disseminating research findings to (inter)national academic and stakeholder audiences. The postdoc will further provide editorial assistance in the publication of a book in the Springer Social Indicators Series, focused on quality of life in youth and young people from a social justice perspective.

You will be the first point of contact for these organisational activities and will work closely with the chair holder, the academic director of the strategic theme, and other key stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the chair objectives. Key organisational responsibilities include:

1. facilitating international collaboration, for example by organising academic events;
2. developing and implementing certification programmes in Youth Development;
3. ensuring the impact of research on policy and practice, for example in dialogue with stakeholders and policy makers.

You will be expected to demonstrate strong organisational skills, including project management and event coordination, the ability to work collaboratively in an international academic environment, and a commitment to advancing research and practice in the field of child and youth well-being and QoL.

Qualifications:

• completed a PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Health Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Economics, and Governance, Epidemiology);
• written and oral fluency in Dutch and English;
• expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies;
• a keen interest in child and youth well-being and QoL research;
• experience with interdisciplinary research projects;
• a proactive attitude and a hands-on approach to work;
• an understanding of, and commitment to work from a social justice perspective.

We offer:

• a position for two years starting as soon as possible;
• a working week of 36 to 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,345 and €5,278 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.

The Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development was established by Utrecht University and the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam in early 2003 in honour of his royal highness Prince Claus of the Netherlands (1926-2002). Chairholder Professor Shazly Savahl hopes to change the way societies make youth policy: ‘We want the voice of children and young people to be heard, especially by policy makers.’ This exciting job opportunity combines a challenging research component and organisational component both of which are critical in making the ambitions of this Prince Claus Chair possible.

For more information, please contact Diederik van Iwaarden at d.c.f.vaniwaarden@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.