All Things Urban

A modern university with a rich history, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) traces its roots back to 1632, when the Golden Age school Athenaeum Illustre was established to train students in trade and philosophy.

The UvA seeks to offer an inspiring international academic environment in which both staff and students can develop their talents optimally. Characterised by a critical, creative and international atmosphere, the UvA has a long tradition of open-mindedness and engagement with social issues, in keeping with the spirit of the city with which it is inextricably linked.

Are you interested in researching inequality from a multi-dimensional perspective (environment, housing and health)? Are you an expert in spatial and statistical analyses and are you able to translate research findings to a broad audience? We’re looking for a postdoctoral researcher with experience in spatial analysis to join our multi-disciplinary team and work on an exciting study on environmental justice in Amsterdam.

Within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, you will be part of the Urban Geographies programme group at the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), and working together with team members from Urban Planning and Amsterdam UMC.

This postdoctoral position is funded through a research grant awarded by Kenniscentrum Ongelijkheid to study the linkages between housing market change, environmental inequalities and health outcomes in the Amsterdam metropolitan region. The project includes an interdisciplinary research team of scholars from Urban Geography, Environmental Planning and Public Health (Amsterdam UMC) as well as representatives from the Municipality of Amsterdam, GGD, AFWC, and De Gezonde Stad. The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with the research team in developing multi-dimensional indices of environmental exposure at lower levels of scale, and conducting data analysis with the use of advanced GIS techniques. Secondly, the researcher will also be involved in more detailed public health analyses.

You will:

• be responsible for geocoded-data manipulation, remote sensing, and Spatial Analysis techniques;
• work closely with the project researchers on analyses and academic publications;
• draw up a project report and publish public data on dedicated websites;
• organise knowledge-exchange meetings with the policy and practice partners, including an urban lab.

The research tasks cover 70% of a full-time position for 17 months. Depending on department needs and candidate preferences, there may be a possibility to extend the terms of the contract to include teaching responsibilities.

You have:

• a doctorate title;
• demonstrable experience in working with large-N data sets, quantitative data-analysis and advanced GIS techniques;
• published in (at least one of) the academic subfields of environmental justice, housing and urban inequality, and/or public health.

You are:

• proficient in working with large-N datasets and advanced GIS techniques;
• proficient in English, proficiency in Dutch is preferable, given communication with policy and practice project partners;
• able to work in an interdisciplinary project with many co-researchers and stakeholders.

The position concerns a temporary appointment of 26,6 hours per week for a term of 17 months.

Salary depends on past education and relevant work experience, with a minimum salary of €3,746 and a maximum salary of €4,402 gross per month based on a full-time employment contract of 38 hours per week (in keeping with scale 11, as per the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary employee benefits, including a generous holiday scheme and year-end bonus. Because we value your continued personal development and professionalisation, we also offer excellent opportunities for study and development.

What else can we offer you?

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organisation. The social and behavioural sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is an active participant in a diverse, international community. Our goal is for you to feel at home here, regardless of your background, race, orientation and/or beliefs.

We’re not fully sure whether this role is open to international candidates. If you would need visa sponsorship or work authorisation, we recommend checking directly with the employer before applying.