Post-doctoral researcher in empirical approaches to rule of law

Post-doctoral researcher in empirical approaches to rule of law (1.0 FTE; 36 months)

The Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA), Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University is looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a full-time, 36-month position for the interdisciplinary Horizon Europe project “Networks and the Rule of Law: Uncovering Socio-Economic Outcomes” (NET-ROL). The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of Prof. Antoaneta Dimitrova and Dr. Jaroslaw Kantorowicz and will support the research and all activities of the NET-ROL project.

The NET-ROL project is funded by the European Commission’s Research and Innovation Horizon Europe programme and will start in the spring of 2025. The project will explore how networks strengthen or undermine the rule of law, affecting crucial socio-economic outcomes, including growth, inequality, and trust. In addition, it will investigate citizens’ role in responding to erosion of rule of law. The project seeks to understand, among others:

• How business, political, and citizen networks either strengthen or undermine the rule of law during various stages of law making and policy making.
• How citizens interpret and value the rule of law, and the conditions under which citizens can effectively support the rule of law.
• The socio-economic consequences of decline in the rule of law.

What you will do

The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for data collection and analysis related to the project objectives described above and in close cooperation with the principal investigators of the project. They will be expected to work on various deliverables of the project related to research, communication and dissemination.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on the determinants and consequences of the rule of law decline as specified in the NET-ROL project.
• Design relevant surveys and experiments to gather data on citizens’ appreciation of the rule of law in collaboration with the principal investigators of the project.
• Collect and analyse data on the role of networks in weakening and strengthening the rule of law.
• Contribute to to the production of a set of peer-reviewed articles and other scientific outputs of the NET-ROL project.
• Participate in communication and dissemination activities of the project in the form of conference papers, blogs, podcasts etc.
• Support the management team of the NET-ROL project.
• Organise events such as periodical NET-ROL consortium meetings.
• Contribute to teaching activities.

Where you will work

The mission of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA) is contributing to society through policy-oriented research. The faculty does this through high-quality interdisciplinary education and (new) scientific knowledge. Whether it is terrorism, security, artificial intelligence or a governance solution to the housing crisis, contemporary issues are comprehensively addressed at FGGA.

The Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) is a scientific institute specializing in security issues. ISGA is part of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs of Leiden University.

ISGA analyses and studies security issues with local, national, transnational and global impact. These include crises, intelligence, terrorism, war, violence and cybercrime. The institute is characterized by a multidisciplinary research approach.

ISGA is based in the city of The Hague, the international city of peace, justice and security. Inspiring interactions are maintained with other knowledge institutions, regional, national and international governments, the private sector and NGOs.

What you bring

In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need and draw up a development plan.

This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

• A PhD in political science, economics, public administration, law or any other discipline fitting a research profile relevant to the NET-ROL project.
• Specific research expertise in quantitative research methods (survey experiments, network analysis, causal inference). Expertise in qualitative research methods is considered an asset.
• Some knowledge of the rule of law and/or democratic backsliding debates and developments.
• Ability and interest to work in an international team that spans eight different institutions in Europe
• A ‘can-do’ mentality and a team-player spirit.
• Ability to work in an independent manner.
• Excellent command of English. Dutch language proficiency is considered an asset.

If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if do you not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application!

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving, and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located in the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• An employment contract for the duration of 36 months (the contract is entered into for the duration of one year and can be extended with another two years if performance is good and the organizational circumstances remain unchanged). This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities.
• A salary of a minimum of € 4,492 and a maximum of € 6,148 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (scale 11).
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8.3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP.
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options.
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands.
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.

What we find important

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.