Postdoc Position in Sociology/Anthropology: Muslim Users and Halal Dating Platforms

Are you interested in the intersection of digital technology, religion and social behaviour? Do you want to contribute to a pioneering research project on how Muslim users navigate digital dating platforms while balancing faith-based values and modern courtship practices? As a Postdoc, you will have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research on digital religion and algorithmic matchmaking, exploring how halal dating apps shape romantic interactions in contemporary society.

By joining this project, you will be part of a vibrant academic environment within the Radboud Social Cultural Research institute (RSCR), where scholars work at the intersection of sociology, media studies, religious studies, and anthropology. Your research will generate new insights into digital courtship among Muslim communities in the Netherlands while contributing to broader discussions on religion, technology and emotional labour in digital spaces.

This postdoctoral position is part of the NWO-funded project ’Faith Meets Swipe: Exploring Islamic Courtship on Halal Dating Apps’. The project investigates how Muslim users in the Netherlands engage with halal dating apps such as Muzz and Salams, navigating the tensions between faith-based values and algorithmic matchmaking in commodified digital environments. While online dating is often framed within Western-secular paradigms, this research examines how religious users adapt, negotiate and challenge digital dating norms.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Conduct digital ethnography, analysing app functionalities, algorithmic processes and user interactions.
• Lead semi-structured interviews with Muslim users in the Netherlands to explore their experiences on halal dating apps.
• Analyse qualitative data and contribute to theoretical discussions on digital religion, emotional labour and commodification.
• Write and submit a research article based on the project’s findings.
• Engage in academic discussions, conferences and potential outreach activities related to the research topic.

Requirements:

• You have a PhD (or are close to completion) in Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Studies, Media Studies, or a related discipline.
• You have expertise in qualitative research methods, particularly digital ethnography and interviews.
• You have a strong research background in digital cultures, cultural sociology, religion, and/or Islamic studies.
• You have experience conducting fieldwork or working with Muslim communities (preferred).
• You are proficient in English; knowledge of Dutch and/or Arabic is an advantage.
• You can work independently while contributing to collaborative research discussions.
• You have strong academic writing skills and a motivation to publish in international journals.
• You are enthusiastic about engaging with interdisciplinary research networks and presenting findings at conferences.

Salary Benefits:

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 6 months (1.0 fte) or 1 year (0.5 fte).
• Your salary within salary scale 11, step 0 is fixed. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week. If you have not yet had your dissertation approved, you will start on scale 10, step 3. The moment your dissertation is approved, you will be placed in scale 11, step 0.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

19 - 38 hours per week

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