Junior Researcher on creating a sustainable digital society from a social science perspective

Are you passionate about transforming society towards a more sustainable future? Do you have an interest in digital transformations and ICT? Have you recently graduated with a social science degree and looking for a job in research and project management?  Please apply at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam to work on research towards sustainable digital infrastructures.

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 0.8 - 1

We are looking for a Junior Researcher to join the Environmental Policy Analysis department at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of VU Amsterdam. The position offers a unique opportunity be part of an international, vibrant and multidisciplinary institute at the forefront of teaching and research on sustainability.

You are expected to contribute to research on creating sustainable digital infrastructures (data centres in particular) applying a social science perspective. Your main tasks involve gathering and reviewing academic and other literature; supporting the organisation of events and meetings with academic and non-academic stakeholders; and, support research proposal writing for European and/or Dutch research funding bodies. The position will provide you with an opportunity to experience all facets of academic research and project management, preparing you for a future in academia or as an academic professional. The position also includes supporting the department and the institute with general tasks related to teaching and research.

You should have affinity with and contribute to implementing the department’s, the institute’s and  VU’s commitment to develop a culturally and socially diverse work environment. 

Your duties

• gathering and analysing literature on digital infrastructure, green IT, and related issues
• supporting grant proposal writing
• liaising with project leader, academic and non-academic stakeholders
• logistical and administrative support to workshops and meetings
• contributing to a pleasant, diverse, and safe work-environment at the institute

• proven affinity with sustainability
• master degree in social science (e.g. political science, international relations, sociology, geography, or interdisciplinary sustainability studies)
• experience with academic research and/or project proposal writing
• strong organisational skills
• excellent spoken and written English
• thriving in team-based, international, and diverse organisations
• eager to take independent initiatives

A challenging position in a socially involved organisation. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,960 (scale 10) and a maximum €4,670 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

Starting date should be in September/October. The employment period is vacant for 12 months.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment, 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus, contribution to commuting expenses, optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

About the institute
Established in 1971, IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognised for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM’s research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Geography, Environmental Policy Analysis; and Water and Climate Risk. Since 2001 IVM has been part of the Faculty of Science at VU Amsterdam (legal name Stichting VU).

The Department of Environmental Policy Analysis at IVM is a team of more than 25 researchers that was evaluated in the most recent international research quality review as ‘world leading’ and as being ‘one of the highest profile academic research groups involved with sustainability governance from around the world’. We address questions related to institutional effectiveness and change, governance innovation and complexity as well as learning and adaptation. Empirically, we have a strong focus on water, climate change and biodiversity.

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter by 

. Selected candidates will receive an invitation for interviews. The first interviews will take place in August 2022.

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Dr Oscar Widerberg
Position: Associate Professor
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.vu.nl/ivm 

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