PhD1 Housing Inequalities across Societies

The HOU-EQUAL PhD Housing Inequalities across Societies tackles a foundational macro-level assessment of how housing mitigates, reflects, or amplifies inequalities across national and (select) urban contexts. The project will take a multi-dimensional approach to housing and inequality to understand the many dimensions of housing advantage and disadvantage that households may experience and how these map onto socio-economic positions. In explaining differences in the role of housing, data on the welfare regime and housing system context will be assessed.

Using a wide selection of secondary data sources, the PhD will explore housing inequalities across EU countries and key international cases. Given a lack of high-quality comparable research,  this will provide a major scientific and societal contribution in comprehensively assessing housing inequalities. Beyond the primary quantitative analyses, the PhD will additionally  delve into a more detailed tracing of housing system policy changes in relation to changing housing inequality across three of the focus cases: the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland.

Summary of key tasks:

• Engage with relevant theories across housing studies, geography, sociology, urban studies, etc.
• Operationalize dimensions of housing advantage/disadvantage and housing system measures
• Compile and harmonize datasets across country contexts on housing conditions and housing systems
• Analyse relative inequalities over time across countries and select major cities
• Analyse relationship between housing inequality dynamics and housing system contexts
• Trace housing system and policy change across three focus cases: Netherlands, Spain, Ireland
• Write up and publish research in academic journals
• Contribute to research and policy reports
• Collaborate with project team and (international) partners
• Participate in (international) research visits, conferences, workshops
• Help jointly organize project events

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong academic background and theoretical engagement in a relevant field. The ideal candidate must demonstrate excellent quantitative skills, particularly in working with and harmonizing large international datasets.

We are looking for a candidate skilled at problem-solving, translating complex concepts into operational research frameworks and effectively communicating these to broader audiences. They should be adept at collaborating effectively within a research team and be independently motivated.

Required capabilities:

• A background and theoretical engagement in a related field: preferably in housing studies, but relevant academic trajectory in geography, sociology, urban studies or other social sciences fields are acceptable.
• Excellent skills in quantitative methods, especially in working with larger international datasets
• Proven experience in preparing, compiling and especially in carefully harmonizing diverse datasets
• Proficiency with either Stata, R, or SPSS
• Ability to problem-solve, operationalize complex concepts, and work collaboratively in a research team
• Ability to participate in local and international short-term research visits, workshops, seminars and conferences
• Ability to help jointly organize workshops, seminars, or conferences

Additional preferred capabilities:

• Experience in policy analysis
• GIS skills
• Data visualization/design skills
• Language: Competency Dutch is very useful, Spanish language skills is a bonus
• Presentation and public speaking skills

The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year. 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. You will also be tasked with teaching Bachelor's students.

For this position the University Job Classification profile promovendus applies. 

Your salary will be €3.059 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3.881 in the final year, based on full-time employment 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.