Two PhD Positions: 'Social Policy Preferences, Vote Choice and Trust'

The Department of Political Science of the University of Amsterdam is hiring two PhD-students in a research project funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), titled ‘Social policy preferences, vote choice and trust’. Both PhD-projects are co-supervised by dr. Gianna Eick, dr. Armen Hakhverdian, and prof. dr. Wouter van der Brug.

Public opinion research reveals that large majorities of citizens in advanced democracies are in favor of more economic equality. And yet, in many countries parties who champion redistribution from the rich to the poor have fallen on hard times. The mismatch between public preferences for more egalitarian politics and the decline of parties with more egalitarian agendas has received ample scholarly attention. Some argue that the electoral decline of the left is due to the adoption of Third Way politics in the 1990s, while others focus on the politicization of socio-cultural issues such as immigration.

Yet, it is unlikely that this is the full story. At present, the literature does not provide a satisfactory solution to the puzzle of why many citizens prefer more egalitarian distributions of income and wealth, while at the same time opposing specific welfare state arrangements. And, while many researchers have linked general redistributive attitudes to vote choice, there is very little research into specific social policy preferences and voting behavior. We believe trust plays a pivotal role in understanding this matter. Voters who distrust either the political actors and state institutions (such as parties, parliament or bureaucrats) that are designed to govern welfare state arrangements, or voters who distrust other citizens (and thus think that they are likely to abuse welfare state arrangements) are unlikely to support left-wing policies and parties, even if they are in favor of more economic egalitarianism.

The NWO-project consists of two PhD-projects, one focusing on social policy preferences as the dependent variable, and one on vote choice as the dependent variable. Both PhD-projects cover Western European countries with a specific focus on the Netherlands. The PhD-candidates work within the overall framework of the project but are expected to develop their own ideas for data collection and analysis. Both PhD-projects will field original (panel) surveys with embedded experiments. The surveys will also contain batteries of items related to specific welfare arrangements, which allow for more precise measurement of our key concepts. Both projects will pay particular attention to the effects across different social status groups, including class, income and education, and generational differences, since previous research has, for different reasons, found that welfare attitudes are weakly structured among economically marginalized and younger populations.

What are you going to do

• You will write a thesis within the broader framework of the funded project;
• You will contribute to collective academic publications, as appropriate;
• You will assist with administrative responsibilities related to the project, such as preparation of data collection, the organization of workshops or other project events;
• You will be affiliated with the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) and will participate in its organized PhD-training. Additional methodological training is possible.
• You will take active part in seminars of the AISSR Program Group ‘Challenges to democratic representation’ and the Department of Political Science;
• Your primary residence will be within commuting distance of the University of Amsterdam for the duration of the PhD project. The AISSR will assist with finding adequate housing and applying for visa and residence permits.

What do you have to offer
We are looking for candidates with sufficient experience in quantitative social science research.

You have

• a completed MA or Research MA in political science or one of the related social sciences;
• excellent quantitative research skills, as demonstrated by your MA thesis or other publications/assignments;
• excellent command of English in word and writing;
• the ability to work independently as well as part of a team;
• good communication, social and organizational skills

In addition, you are an enthusiastic colleague who likes to share knowledge, embraces open (team) science, and showcases curiosity, critical thinking, and an eagerness to learn.

What can we offer you
The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year and will preferably start in January 2025. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate in four year. We will put together a curriculum which will also include the opportunity to attend training courses and both national and international events.

For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” applies. Your salary will be €2,872 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,670 in the final year, based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week and in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.

We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

We offer an open academic environment with varied tasks and plenty of room for personal initiative and development in an inspiring organization. You will be embedded in the collaborative research group ‘Challenges to democratic representation’ of the Department of Political Science. The Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences plays a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges facing the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Working at the UvA means working in a critical, independent, innovative and international climate, with an open atmosphere and a strong commitment to Amsterdam and its (international) society.

Questions
Do you have any questions or do you require additional information?

• Prof. dr. Wouter van der Brug (w.vanderbrug@uva.nl).

Job application
If this vacancy speaks to you, but you are uncertain whether you meet all requirements, please do apply. Given the department’s commitment to diversity, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, and specifically from people of color, with a migration background, and/or with other backgrounds underrepresented in academia.

Please submit your application by October 14, 2024. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications should be submitted as one bundled .pdf that includes:

• a two-page cover letter that outlines your motivation to embark on this project and your qualifications and experience. Please indicate which of the two PhD-positions you are interested in the most; the letter should indicate how your qualifications and experience are relevant for the position;
• a CV (curriculum vitae);
• relevant undergraduate and graduate transcripts, including the grades obtained;
• Additional materials such as recommendation letters, longer writing samples, and a short draft PhD proposal may be requested at a later stage for short-listed candidates.

Please do NOT send these materials with the initial application.

The committee expects interviews to take place in early November.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

If you encounter Error GBB451/ GBC451, reach out to our HR Department directly. They will gladly help you continue your application.

No agencies please.

38 hours per week

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