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Apologies if you receive this call for applications more than once. Please forward to anyone you think would be interested in applying for this new position in The Netherlands. ---- Junior Researcher (1.0 fte) Initially located at the Verwey Jonker Instituut (VJI), Utrecht and afterwards at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands Vacancy reference: 208057 Organization The Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FRW) at the University of Groningen (RUG) consists of 75 members and focuses on high quality teaching and research in the fields of economic and cultural geography, planning and demography. The Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI) was established in 1999 and coordinates all research projects in the faculty. Projects, conducted from the interdisciplinary perspective of geography, planning and demography, focus on the relationship between urban and regional structures and real life processes, on the one hand, and human agency and intervention within urban and regional structures one the other (see www.rug.nl/ursi/organisation/index). Job description The Faculty of Spatial Sciences at Groningen in conjunction with the VJI (see www.verwey-jonker.nl/) seeks a Junior Researcher for the EU-7th Framework Programme FACIT project. This project explores Faith-based Organizations and Exclusion in European Cities in a number of EU member states and is coordinated by Prof Jan Vranken (Political and Social Sciences) at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. The research concerns the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in matters of poverty and other forms of social exclusion (such as homelessness or undocumented persons) in cities. From both scientific and policy perspectives, there is a need for better empirical and comparative data on what is going on in European cities in these matters and, in particular, the contribution of FBOs in the reduction (or deepening) of problems. FBOs have direct entrance to the ‘poor side’ of cities because of (1) their activities in deprived urban neighbourhoods and among excluded groups and (2) as in the case of many FBOs with a non-western background because their members often belong to these deprived and excluded groups themselves. The successful candidate will be part of the Dutch team, relate to the Research Nucleus (a unit of researchers on the theme of “Urban Social Justice” at Groningen) and be stationed at the VJI in Utrecht. He or she will be supervised by Dr. Justin Beaumont and closely assisted by Dr. Trees Pels and Drs. Hugo Swinnen. Entry requirements The following are essential for applicants: -Strong grasp of Dutch language: speaking, reading and writing. -MA, MSc or MPhil in relevant geographical and social fields of enquiry and/ or cognate disciplines (e.g. social policy; political science; sociology); -Proven competence in and preference for theoretically informed and politically relevant empirical research using qualitative methods, with awareness and some ability to work with quantitative data; -Conceptual ability; self-confidence; enthusiasm; and drive. These attributes are preferred: -Background in debates on any or all of the following: (1) faith-based organizations from an international comparative perspective; (2) poverty and exclusion in cities; (3) urban governance and politics; and (4) welfare regimes and (localized) social policies; -Good written and oral communication skills; -Ability to work productively, independently and collectively in groups; -Ambition to utilize research findings for an independent but related PhD. Employment conditions The researcher will be employed by the University of Groningen for a period of three years, but initially stationed at the VJI in Utrecht, with possibilities for continuation as a PhD candidate at URSI on the completion of the FACIT project. The starting salary, conforming to the collective labour agreement, will be at Scale 10 with a maximum of 2558 euros (gross) full-time, excluding an 8% holiday bonus. The University of Groningen is committed to equality of opportunity in its recruitment strategy. Applications If you are interested in the vacancy you are invited to submit your application before 07 March 2008, mentioning the vacancy reference. We request the following in your application: 1. A covering letter (max. 2 pages) indicating why you should be considered for the post; 2. An up-to-date CV; 3. A letter of recommendation; 4. An example of your written work (max. 2 papers). You can submit your application by email to: [log in to unmask] or by regular post to: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Afdeling Personeel & Organisatie Postbus 72 9700 AB Groningen Nederland Further information For informal email enquiries please contact Justin Beaumont ([log in to unmask]). ---- Faculty of Spatial Sciences University of Groningen The Netherlands Tel: 00 31 50 363 6910/ 3895 Skype: justin9712 Web: www.rug.nl/staff/j.r.beaumont/index International Conference: Religion, Politics and the Postsecular City, Groningen, 12-15 November 2008 EU-7FP FACIT project: Faith-based organizations and exclusion in European cities Book Reviews Editor: Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie (TESG) SOCREL-PG is the Postgraduate e-mail list of the BSA Sociology of Religion Study Group. 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