Postdoc VU Sociology: De-Escalating Aggressive Encounters

This position is a good fit for you if you have: 

• A PhD in Criminology, Sociology, Communication Studies/Science, Psychology, Crisis and Security Management, Behavioral Biology or a related social science field;
• Experience of working in interdisciplinary research teams;
• Proven academic excellence and interest in leading research teams;
• Solid knowledge of and experiences with ethnographic research methods and statistical methods; experience with observations and video analysis is a plus;
• Substantive interest in and knowledge of violence and conflict, especially interactional studies of aggression and conflict management;
• Experiences with doing empirical research on projects with societal stakeholders;  
• Ability to work independently, willingness to collaborate with other team members;
• Excellent command of Dutch (B2) and English (C1). 

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognizing that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset. We realize that everyone brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore, we are happy to invite anyone who recognizes themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So, in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• A salary ranging from €3,706 (scale 10.0) to €4,925 (scale 10.7) gross per month on a full-time basis, with the intended starting point at scale 10.5, depending on education and relevant experience.
• A position for 0,8 FTE research and a maximum of 30 months. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. Upon good performance, the contract can be extended for an additional 18 months.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• Optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• Contribution to commuting expenses
• A wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

You will become a member of the research group “Social Change and Conflict” which is a part of the Department of Sociology within the new Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the VU. You will also take part in the interdisciplinary “VU De-Escalation lab” involving scholars within the VU community, and international collaborators, working on violence, conflict and emergency related topics, most of them video based. 

The Department of Sociology is a vibrant and international community of dedicated researchers and teachers specializing in contemporary societal developments — such as globalization, modernization, individualization, and multiculturalism — and their impact on cohesion, inequality, and identity. It offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Pre-master Sociology programs (in Dutch) and provides methodology courses for other Social Sciences programs. Research focuses on five themes under the Participation in Society (PARIS) program. Both research and education are carried out in collaboration with societal partners to maximize impact. 

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.