Postdoc or Junior Researcher in Sociology

Your position
As a Researcher, you will participate in 3 research projects: 

• the European Social Survey rounds 12 (2025) and 13 (2027) data collection for the Netherlands will be coordinated by the Department of Sociology (National Coordinator Tim Reeskens). The European Social Survey is a biennial cross-national survey project on political and social attitudes and behavior. Fielded for the first time in 2002, currently approximately 30 countries are participating in this project. Round 12 will mark the transition from a complete face-to-face interviewing strategy, to a mixed-mode strategy, whereby respondents will either be surveyed in a face-to-face fashion, or via self-completion (web or postal) questionnaires.
• the Infra4NextGen project, the Department of Sociology through the European Values Study (EVS) is one of the core research infrastructures in this project. EVS is a large-scale, cross-national, and longitudinal survey research program on basic human values. It provides insights into the ideas, beliefs, preferences, attitudes, values, and opinions of citizens all over Europe. It is a unique research project on how Europeans think about life, family, work, religion, politics, and society; it started in 1981. Within Infra4NextGen, an interactive platform (E-NextGen tool) has to be developed based on new and existing survey data and research outputs which are related to the EU Next Generation themes: Make it Green, Make it Digital, Make it Equal, Make it Healthy and Make it Strong. Visitors to the website will be able to create interactive maps and position themselves on one or more contemporary topics/dimensions (coordinated by Inge Sieben).
• In addition, the Researcher may also be involved in other activities of the EVS as well as of the International Social Survey Programme, of which the Department of Sociology is the National Coordinator (Ruud Luijkx) for the Netherlands.

Your responsibilities
The main tasks of the researcher are the following:

• Contribute to the coordination of the fieldwork of the European Social Survey Rounds 12 (2025) and 13 (2027).
• Contribute to creating impact based on findings of the European Social Survey (e.g., organization of workshops and conferences, stimulating public discussion such as blogs).
• Contribute to the development of the interactive platform (E-NextGen tool) in the Infra4NextGen project.
• Contribute to the preparation and conservation of the ISSP Surveys for 2024-2027 

What you contribute
Tilburg University seeks scientists with knowledge, skills, and character. We are curious about your contribution. We think you should have the following qualities for this position: 

• You have (or will soon receive) a PhD in the social sciences for the postdoc position; for the Junior researcher you need a Master in the social sciences;
• You have good knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistical programs like SPSS, Stata and/or R; 
• Team spirit: you feel part of a team and express this through collaboration, sharing knowledge and experiences, and contributing to an open and inclusive work atmosphere. You work in an international dynamic team of senior staff, (junior) researchers and interns focused on large scale, comparative social survey projects in Europe; ; 
• Personal leadership: you are able to take responsibility for your work and career;
• You are willing to learn, are open for feedback; 
• You have good communication and teamwork skills;
• Proficiency in English is mandatory (CEFR: C2 level) and proficiency in Dutch at level B2 is welcome.

Increasing your value
With us, you will find everything you need to maximize your potential and development. We offer excellent facilities and support for research, education, and making societal impact. In all three of these areas, we “recognize and reward” you in line with national university aspirations. With great opportunities such as obtaining a senior teaching qualification, collaborating in an academic collaborative center, or participating in our Connected Leading program. We attach great importance to team spirit and have a clear, shared vision of (personal) leadership (Connected Leading). Developing qualities such as self-reflection, dialogue, and transparency are central to this. Read more about careers at Tilburg University and personal development here.

Your terms of employment
Your valuable contribution will be rewarded with attractive benefits and sufficient attention to work-life balance. Our offer includes:

• A position based on 0,8 or 1 FTE (32 or 40 hours per week).
• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3, paragraph 5 of the CLA for Dutch Universities. You will be given a temporary employment contract until March 1, 2028. Subject to the provisions of the first paragraph of Article 2.2, the employer may, in deviation from the maximum total term of employment specified in Article 2.3, enter into one fixed-term employment contract with an employee (in the case of Lecturers and Researchers).
• A salary ranging from a minimum of €3.226- to a maximum of €5.090- gross per month for full time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 4 (Junior Researcher) and salary scale 10 or a salary ranging from a minimum of €4.332- to a maximum of €5.929 gross per month for full time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 3 (Postdoc) and salary scale 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Being classified in the profile Researcher 4 or 3 depends on candidates knowledge and experience. 

In addition to your monthly salary, you will receive 41 vacation days (for a 40-hour work week), a holiday allowance (8%), and a year-end bonus (8.3%). We reimburse the full cost of sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, or public transportation. You will be enrolled in the ABP pension fund through us. Our Options Model allows you to choose from a variety of facilities at a tax advantage. You can work in a hybrid manner: on campus and, for a reimbursement, from home. Researchers from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf.

Your work environment
You will work in a pleasant working environment; a green campus with plenty of facilities. At a leading, entrepreneurial, and innovative university in the humanities and social sciences. The university employs 2,400 staff members and hosts 20,000 students of some 100 different nationalities. For nearly a century, this organization has worked together with a tradition aimed at contributing to society. We strive to be a community where differences in age, gender, orientation, and cultural and religious backgrounds are valued, with equal opportunities for colleagues and students and where, moreover, all decisions take into account the importance of preserving the earth for future generations. Read more about the university here.

Tilburg University is a specialized university with a high international reputation that strives to advance society by deepening the understanding of that society through research and education. Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers excellent, innovative education aimed at preparing students to become future leaders by focusing on knowledge, skills, and character building. The School offers a varied range of Bachelor and Master programs to its 3,000 students and is organized around the motto of "Understanding Society". The school’s intellectually stimulating working environment challenges its employees to realize their ambitions; involvement and cooperation are essential to achieve this. Read more about the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences here.

The Department of Sociology with its vibrant, intellectual stimulating and innovative researchers is responsible for a Dutch and an English Bachelor program and for a 1-year English Master program in Sociology. In addition, the department offers a minor in the school's 2-year Research Master program Social and Behavioral Sciences. The research program studies questions of social inequality and of social cohesion from a longitudinal and cross-national perspective, with a theoretical-empirical approach. See: Research Department of Sociology | Tilburg University

The first selection interviews will take place on 22 April, 2024, per video call if needed. The selection committee consists of: 

1. Dr. Ruud Luijkx, associate professor
2. Dr. Tim Reeskens, associate professor
3. Dr. Inge Sieben, associate professor

Ideally, you will start working for Tilburg University on June 1st or soon after.