For this four-year long fully funded position, you will perform a number of different tasks:

• get trained / train yourself in becoming a well read, open-minded and educated academic;
• design your own research project within the broader framework of this ERC research proposal;
• conduct qualitative research / ethnographic fieldwork in different public organizations;
• collaborate with your fellow team members in team research;
• write academic articles with the PI, your fellow team members, and independently;
• present your work to academic, professional and lay audiences;
• teach in our undergraduate (Bachelor) Sociology programme (max. 10% of your time);
• be an active part in the new research group on “dealing with distrust”, and assist with administrative and organizational tasks;
• actively participate in the academic communities of the programme group (Cultural Sociology), department (Sociology) and research school (AISSR).

Our ideal candidate is driven by their own curiosity to understand more about the world, without projecting their own worldview on others. We are looking for someone who is creative and ambitious yet down-to-earth and easy going. Being able to relate to different kinds of people is essential, since you will encounter many for your research. You are able to do research in professional organizations, and engage with people from different ranks and levels of experience. You will have your base in Amsterdam, but you should be able to do fieldwork in different locations in your home country. We are looking for a hands-on person who can organize their own research projects independently, yet who is able to work in a team. Being a team player is really important for this project. Most importantly, we hope to find someone who has an open mind, who is willing to learn from others, able to think deeply about issues and who can surprise us with novel insights.

The following qualifications are essential:

• A finished Master’s degree or equivalent in Sociology, or in the adjacent Social Sciences such as Anthropology, Organizational Studies, Public Administration, Political Science and Science & Technology Studies. The degree must have been obtained before the employment starting date.
• Affinity and/or experience with doing ethnographic and/or qualitative research methods in public organizations.
• Affinity and/or experience with doing research methods on conspiracy culture and disinformation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Being native to (or fluent in the language of) the respective research countries (The Netherlands, Italy, and Poland).

The following qualifications are desirable:

• Having networks and connections in (some of) the four institutions/public organizations (media, government, public health, and education) of the respective research countries (The Netherlands, Italy, and Poland).

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 on 1 October 2026. 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. 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.