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Introduction

New levels of migration and mobility have changed the face of European cities, such as Malmö. This had led to changing ‘superdiverse’ social realities, especially in ‘majority-minority’ neighbourhoods. The novelty of this emerging situation creates challenging circumstances particularly for ‘street-level workers’ such as teachers, police officers and healthcare professionals. This demands renewed understanding of the decision-making process of street-level workers.

This PhD project ‘ICONIC’ (‘International Comparative research Of street-level decisions in superdiverse Neighbourhoods In Context’) funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO Vidi grant) and led by dr. Mark van Ostaijen, will comparatively study street-level decisions in superdiverse neighbourhoods and investigate whether and why these decisions differ between Malmö, Aarhus, Bilbao, Marseille, Rotterdam and Antwerp.

This 4-year PhD project is grounded in Rotterdam, but in strong collaboration with Malmö University. Therefore, you will be based at ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ but for the fieldwork phase, collaboration is ensured with Malmö Institute for Migration Studies (MIM) which provides with the support base to conduct qualitative fieldwork in Malmö and Aarhus. As such, this PhD project does not require additional funding, nor means to conduct fieldwork, which is all covered by project funding.

Next to qualitative and ethnographic research skills it is important that the PhD candidate holds Swedish, English (and Danish) language skills. The project is divided into four subprojects (SP):

1) SP1 includes desk research and case file analysis about how decisions are based on what kind of legitimations

2) SP2 unfolds how decisions are justified in-the-making via shadowing and narrative interviews

3) SP3 focusses on the situational assessment of street-level workers by vignette studies  

4) SP4 includes Local and Transnational Labs in which participants will be brought together to discuss findings in a peer-learning infrastructure

The project is embedded in the Team Policy, Politics and Society of the Department of Public Administration and Sociology at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences of the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥.

Job description

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Getting acquainted with the state-of-the-art literature and developing a theoretical framework to examine it;
• Conducting fieldwork in Malmö and Aarhus neighbourhoods, collecting and analysing qualitative data by content analysis, narrative interviews, shadowing, focus groups and vignettes among relevant stakeholders;
• Publish articles on the intersection of street-level decision-making and superdiversity studies and complete a PhD thesis consisting of research articles within the appointed period;
• Coordinating Local Labs and contributing to the Transnational Lab in one of the selected cities;
• Contribute to organizing events for international scholars (academic workshop and conference) and present your work at international conferences;
• Contributing to the teaching activities (10%) of the department and the opportunity to develop your teaching skills (BKO);
• Collaborating with other researchers within the Team Policy, Politics and Society and department of Public Administration and Sociology and contribute to the vibrant academic life in Rotterdam.

Job requirements

• Completed (or in the completion of) a (Research) Master in Sociology, Anthropology, Public Administration, Migration Studies, Social Geography, Political Science or related disciplines;
• Strong interest in and preferably knowledge of the topic of street-level decision-making and/ or superdiversity in European cities, and can ideally prove this with demonstrable knowledge on this topic (e.g., study assignments, MA thesis);
• Firm basis in and ideally experience with qualitative research methods and data analysis, in particular: shadowing (ethnographic fieldwork), interviewing and vignettes;
• Previous experience with neighbourhood research and/ or studies with professionals/ practitioners;
• Excellent command of Swedish, English (and Danish) (multilingualism is considered an asset);
• Strong and explicit motivation for scientific research;
• Profile: independent, entrepreneurial and creative working attitude; able to work in a team, as well as autonomously with good social and organizational skills, motivated to share your knowledge with academic and non-academic audiences.

Employment conditions and benefits

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is no later than 1 January 2026 and you will be based in the Team Policy, Politics and Society of the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). This position is for 1 fte. The salary ranges from a minimum of € 2.901 to a maximum of € 3.707 gross per month Scale PhD on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is entered into for the duration of one year, and depending on good performance this will be continued with a contract for three years.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

-        Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our !

-        Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as , FAME or QuEUR.

-        Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

-        Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

-        Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

-        Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. .

Faculty / Institute / Central service

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education. Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit ).

Group

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS encompasses the disciplines Public Administration and Sociology: two related scientific fields each with a unique profile. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes far beyond the public realm to also pay attention to public-private cooperation and the networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structures of societies and the way these evolve. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus, inter alia, on processes of globalization and individualization, and the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market and family relations. Social issues that are studied under this banner include migration, flexibilization and solidarity. The perspectives of Public Administration and Sociology complement each other. Together they guarantee a highly relevant and scientific approach to topical administrative and social issues. The bachelor- and master programs of DPAS are built on this profile and develop students into scientifically schooled professionals.

Department

Team Policy, Politics and Society

The team Policy, Politics and Society (PPS) is an interdisciplinary team that does research and provides teaching around a broad set of complex policy issues. Working together based on the principles of team science, PPS aims to provide a stimulating and creative environment for academic development. Besides scientific impact, societal impact and engagement (with communities, governments, organizations) are key trademark of the team. Within PPS, specializations have emerged on a number of complex policy issues, such as institutional reform, welfare and inclusion, European and global governance, resilient cities, e-governance, and on migration and diversity.

Additional information

As PhD candidate, you will work in the Team Policy, Politics and Society (PPS), just like your supervisor dr. Mark van Ostaijen. Amidst long term processes of (de)globalization, digitalization and polarization, the PPS team focuses on the many aspects of the interplay of society, politics and policy on and across various levels of policy making (local, national, EU, international). The team covers the whole policy cycle ranging from questions such as how public opinion and civil society actors impacts on government agenda setting and policy -making to the impact of policies and the institutions created by them on various groups in society. The PPS team is a truly interdisciplinary team, which is open to a diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches, but with clear focal points in international comparative research at various levels (international, national, local (city) as well as cross-level)) and attention for inclusion, integration and inequality from a political and public policy perspective. More information about Team PPS can be found here:

Applying

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and CV, course list including grades and your master thesis before the vacancy closing date.

The selection procedure consists of two interviews. Interviews are expected to be held in the week of the end of August or the start of September. If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked to prepare and deliver a short (5-10 minute) presentation to outline a draft research proposal that creatively aligns your personal ambitions with the goals of the project.

You can find more information about the EUR on our website . For more information about this vacancy, please contact dr. Mark van Ostaijen (vanostaijen@essb.eur.nl).

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.