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Call for applications for 1 project researcher on migrant integration (100%)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels School of Governance
The Brussels School of Governance (BSoG, Centre for Migration, Diversity and Justice) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is seeking to appoint a Project Researcher to conduct research on integration policy responses regarding post-2014 migrants in small and medium-sized towns and rural areas, and this for the Horizon 2020 Whole-COMM project. The project is carried out within the framework of the Brussels Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Migration and Minorities (BIRMM).
Working under the supervision of Prof. dr. Ilke Adam, Dr. Nick Schuermans and Dr. Laura Westerveen, you will conduct fieldwork in four Belgian localities (Charleroi, Leuven, Verviers and Pelt) to explore the relations between integration policies and community cohesion or fragmentation. You will be expected to collect and analyze data through, mainly, qualitative empirical methods (including interviews and focus groups with migrants, local policy actors and other stakeholders as well as participant observation), write the country report for Belgium, contribute to the deliverables for each of the work packages and co-author publications. The fieldwork includes travel between the four localities in Belgium mentioned above.
Project Description
The Whole-COMM Project, funded by the European Commission through its H2020 programme, explores the integration of post-2014 migrants in small and medium-sized towns and rural areas from a whole of community perspective. The project involves a collaboration between thirteen partner organizations (coordinated by Collegio Carlo Alberto, Italy; Prof. Tiziana Caponio) and adopts a cross-country (8 EU and 2 non-EU countries) and cross-locality (40 localities) comparative approach.
You can find more information about the project on its website.
Profile
Requirements:
- You have attained a master’s degree in Political Science, Sociology, Urban Studies or any other relevant Social Science.
- You are fluent in both Dutch and French and have the ability to communicate and write at an academic level in English.
- You have a proven ability to write up research findings.
Assets:
- Methodological competence in qualitative empirical methods. Experience with fieldwork (interviews/focus groups/participant observation) is considered a particular asset.
- Research experience in topics related to migrant integration and/or equality policies and politics, and/or publications on such topics.
- Work experience in topics related to migrant integration and/or equality policies and politics in relevant sectors beyond academia (e.g. civil society, governmental organizations).
- Expertise in Belgian multilevel politics.
Offer
You will be offered a full-time contract for 10 months with planned starting date 01/10/2021 (or as soon as possible thereafter). You will receive a salary in line with the scales set by the government, depending on qualifications and experience.
At the VUB, you are guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.
As well as this, you will enjoy various benefits:
- Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
- Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
- The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
- Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
- Ecocheques;
- Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
- An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).
How to apply
Applications for the position should include the following:
- Your one-page motivation letter explaining your interest in working as a project researcher on immigrant integration policies.
- Your curriculum vitae listing your academic qualifications, relevant research and/or work experience, and publications.
- One sample of academic or policy-relevant writing (preferably in English but possibly also in Dutch or French).
- A copy of your Master diploma.
- Filled application form (get it here: Application_Form_BSoG_0.docx (102.78 KB) "word").
- The aforementioned elements are to be consolidated into a single PDF file to be sent by email to jobs_bsog@vub.be (mentioning “CMDJ project researcher call” in the subject line).
The deadline for applications is 20/08/2021.
For inquiries about the vacancy, please contact Dr. Laura Westerveen at laura.westerveen@vub.be.
Procedure
The short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews that will take place on 06/09/2021. Short-listed candidates will be asked to submit a short fieldwork plan of maximum 1500 words outlining their intended approach to fieldwork prior to the interview.
BSoG is committed to creating and supporting a diverse work environment in line with the VUB diversity and inclusion policy, and with the policies of the European Commission.