Full Professor - Political Sociology

Are you an outstanding scholar with an international reputation, a thematic profile in Political Sociology and a strong commitment to teaching and research?

The Department of Sociology invites applications for a Full Professor of Sociology position to begin in September 2025 or earlier upon mutual agreement. We are seeking candidates with an outstanding record of scholarly achievement in the field of sociology. We are specifically interested in candidates with an array of thematic specializations, including urban sociology, health & medicine, (post-)welfare states, social movements, populism, nationalism & the radical right, racism, decoloniality or violence. The chair will be embedded in the programme group Political Sociology, and should therefore have strong and demonstrable affinity with the group’s wider research program (see below). We particularly welcome applicants who can offer a robust, theoretically strong research programme in political sociology with the potential of integrating diverse research interests of the Political Sociology programme group. A successful candidate will moreover contribute to teaching at the BA, MA and Research MA levels and to PhD supervision.

The Department of Sociology is one of the largest and among the leading sociology departments in Europe. It has a long tradition of theoretically informed, conceptually innovative and empirically driven research. Research at the department can be characterized by its critical and publicly engaged approach to urgent societal problems and questions. The department is thematically broad and pluralistic both when it comes to theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. Faculty focus on a wide variety of sociological fields including labour markets and policies, education, stratification, organizations, urban studies, migration and citizenship, culture, health and care, gender and sexuality. These themes also figure in the course offerings in the several teaching programmes: a BSc programme (with both English and Dutch as languages of instruction), a one-year MSc programme, and, together with the faculty’s other social science departments, an interdisciplinary two-year Research Master’s programme.

Research at the department is organized in three ‘programme groups’ – Cultural Sociology; Political Sociology; Institutions, Inequalities and Life courses (IIL) – under the auspices of the Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research (AISSR).

The vacant chair will be embedded within the Political Sociology group. Members of the programme group Political Sociology share an understanding that the operations of power and difference are crucial to understand human social life, and notably the formation of society, communities, and subjectivities/identities. The operations of power and difference are investigated in a methodologically pluralist way and in a wide array of thematic areas, such as urban life and communities; health, risk, and vulnerabilities; migration, gender, and sexuality; social welfare and precarity; and social movements and change.

What are you going to do

In this position you will:

• develop and lead educational programmes in the field of sociology, tailored to meet societal demands and the needs of students;
• teach and coordinate general, specialist and methodological courses in the BSc, MSc, Research Master’s- and/or PhD programmes of our department and the research school AISSR;

• carry out core managerial tasks and make a positive contribution to the organisation and cooperation within the programme group and the department;
• carry out and supervise empirical sociological research at a high academic level, further developing international leadership in this field, developing a research line in collaboration with junior staff members and other researchers working within the programme group, department, and AISSR;
• acquire and help to acquire external funding for research (also on behalf of junior researchers);
• actively contribute to the development of sociology by publishing and participating in national and international research networks, educational and policy initiatives;
• seek (knowledge) exchange and (research) cooperation with professionals in their research area and engage with organisations and groups beyond academia;
• take a leading role in the valorization of research activities;
• contribute, through teaching, research and management, to diversity and inclusion within the Department, as well as the AISSR and the University.

What do you have to offer

In order to qualify for the position, you have:

• a doctoral degree in a relevant field within the social sciences;
• strong general, empirical and theoretical knowledge in the field of sociology;
• a proven record of high-quality teaching, coordination of education and leadership in developing teaching programmes, preferably at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level. You are also committed to teaching general and specialist courses in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Sociology and in the interdisciplinary Research Master Social Sciences within the context of diverse and international classrooms;
• an outstanding track record in empirical research that pertains to the priorities of the Programme Group Political Sociology, as exemplified in a strong publication record in internationally peer reviewed journals and/or books published by internationally recognized press;
• thorough mastery of research methods and ability to teach methods at several levels of university teaching;
• a commitment to the research agenda of the AISSR and the Programme Group Political Sociology, and commitment to enhance interdisciplinary collaborations in this specific field;
• demonstrated ability to acquire research funding from external sources (e.g. Netherlands’ Organization for Scientific Research, the European Research Council, or other research councils, European Union, or other national and international funding agencies);
• a track record in administration and commitment to carry out administrative tasks in the context of a research university;
• a commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion within the department in particular and academia more generally.
• adequate knowledge of Dutch, or a willingness to learn the Dutch language within a reasonable period, no longer than five years;
• the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ/BKO) or an equivalent international teaching qualification.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values which the Sociology Department is striving for. Applicants who have a commitment to building a diverse and inclusive environment are essential. Considering the current composition of our staff, and our commitment to diversity, we prioritize hiring people from currently under-represented groups within our department. In particular, because of the current senior staff composition in terms of gender, and following the faculty diversity policy (see Working at the FMG - University of Amsterdam (uva.nl), in case of equal suitability preference will be given to a woman.

What can we offer you

The position concerns permanent full-time employment of 38 hours per week, of which 60 percent is to be devoted to teaching and managerial tasks, and 40 percent to research. Preferred starting date is 1 September 2025 or earlier upon mutual agreement. For this position the University Job Classification profile “hoogleraar 2” applies. Depending on past education and relevant work experience, the minimum salary is €6,648 and the maximum salary is €9,680 gross per month, based on a 38-hour working week (in keeping with scale HL2, as per the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary employee benefits, including a generous holiday scheme and year-end bonus. Because we value your continued personal development and professionalisation, we also offer excellent opportunities for study and development.
 

What else can we offer you

A stimulating work environment with a variety of tasks and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organisation. Working at the UvA means working in a critical, independent, innovative and international climate, characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with multiple stake-holders in Amsterdam and across the world. The social and behavioural sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The faculty of social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions
 

For questions about the position or the department please contact:

• Prof Olav Velthuis, head of the department of Sociology, O.J.M.Velthuis@uva.nl, or Prof Sarah Bracke, programme group director of Political Sociology, S.A.E.Bracke@uva.nl

Job application

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? If so, we are eager to receive:

• a concise statement of motivation (2 pages max.);
• your CV and list of publications;
• a statement outlining research plans (2 pages max.);
• a statement outlining teaching philosophy, including a section on diversity (1 page max.);
• contact details of three referees.

Please mention the months (not just years) in your CV when referring to your education and work experience.

You can apply online by using the link below. All documents should be collected and sent as a single pdf. At this stage of the procedure, please do not send letters of reference or proofs of your academic writing.

The application period closes on 30 September 2024. Applications received after the deadline, which are not sent via the link or are incomplete, will unfortunately not be considered.

The selection process will consist of a first round of online interviews, followed by a second round of on-campus guest-lecture, research presentation and interview.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise 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.

No agencies please

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