We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher within the Dynamics of Youth research community, “Becoming Adults in a Changing World.” The position involves research as well as some organisational work within the community. The research is ideally focused on the topic of online social relationships among young people, broadly defined.

Your job
The UU strategic theme Dynamics of Youth is organized in four research communities. ‘Becoming Adults in a Changing World’ is one of those communities. Research in this community focuses on conceptualising and predicting the transition to adulthood from various perspectives (developmental psychology, education, economic, philosophical, etc.). Such transitions can revolve around life choices, establishing an identity, finding a place on the job market, housing, identity issues, wellbeing after/with COVID, media use, sustainability discussions, fake news, etc.

The community is chaired by Dr Marije van Braak from the Humanities Faculty, and Prof. Dr. Jaap Denissen from the Faculty of Social Science. The core team also consists of a project manager, another postdoc (Dr. Liam Stephens), and multiple student assistants who are responsible for youth participation, event organisation, and communication. The postdoc will conduct their tasks in close collaboration with the entire team.

The community has identified 16 topics of research, which are generated by combining four challenges related to growing up with four changing societal circumstances, described on the DoY community website.

For the postdoc vacancy, the most relevant research topic is generated from a combination of the challenge “forming social relationships” and societal circumstance “increasing digitalisation”. Possible examples include the study of online dating; self-disclosure on social media; cyberbullying; the role of influencers; the impact of AI on social relationships; and much more.

The postdoctoral research will be shaped in coordination with the postdoc and can involve:

• setting up research projects that advance our understanding of becoming an adult in our current society, preferably on the topics mentioned above;
• contributing to scientific and practical publications that contribute to our knowledge and facilitation of adolescents’ transition into adulthood;
• actively contributing to ensuring the relevance and recognisability of the community within and outside the UU.

This position requires a dynamic mix of high-quality academic research and the translation of that work into societal benefits. We are looking for you if you have:

• completed a PhD in a relevant discipline;
• written and oral fluency in English, and ideally in Dutch (or a willingness to acquire fluency in the latter);
• expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative research;
• the ability to think broadly and creatively in an interdisciplinary manner;
• experience in collecting and/or analysing data, ideally in an adolescent and/or early adult context;
• teamwork skills, including the ability to build a team/community, network, take and share responsibility, and a good sense of group dynamics;
• project development and organisational skills, including being proactive and flexible, organising meetings, and keeping track of deadlines.

We offer:

• a mixed research and organization position (0.5 FTE) ideally beginning by the end of 2024 until June 1, 2026. Approximately 0.4 FTE is reserved for research, the other 0.1 FTE for development and organization of the community;
• a working week of 18-20 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,345 and €4,492 (based on 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 places great importance on the ability of its employees to be deployed widely within the university organisation, both now and in the future, to further professionalise the support for education and research. To encourage this, every employee is provided with the time and resources—such as training—at some point in their career to participate in projects or work in other departments. The faculty values characteristics such as involvement, collaboration, and flexibility. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park, near the historic city centre of Utrecht.