University of Groningen

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Excellent research assessments and growing student numbers enable the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University of Groningen to hire an assistant professor in Media, Politics and Democracy. We are looking for candidates with, preferably but not limited to, expertise in:

• citizenship, political engagement and participation
• democratic theory
• political communication
• quantitative methods, such as statistics and social media analysis.

Although candidates with expertise in the above fields have a competitive advantage, the position is open to candidates with a wide range of research interests and theoretical and methodological expertise in media studies. Candidates should be able to teach courses in media studies on the BA and MA level, and contribute to our research programme. The position combines teaching (60%) and research (40%).

The successful candidates are expected to teach in our English-taught BA programme ‘Media Studies’ and our international MA programmes ‘Datafication and Digital Literacy’, ‘Social Media and Society’, and ‘Media Creation and Innovation’. Depending on their expertise, they may also teach in our minor programmes Media Studies and Journalism Studies, as well as our Dutch and international MA programmes in Journalism.

The international, English-taught BA programme in Media Studies focuses on the social and informative functions of media. It is rooted in the humanities but also draws upon methods and paradigms developed in the social sciences and other disciplines. The degree aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the affordances of different platforms and the interplay between them; the political and economic underpinnings of media systems; patterns of use, production and content; and the functions and impact of media in culture and society. Throughout the curriculum it provides a comparative perspective by studying media in their cultural, historical, economic, political and international contexts. The programme has an annual enrolment of 120 students from all parts of the world.

The MA programmes ‘Datafication and Digital Literacy’, ‘Social Media and Society’, and ‘Media Creation and Innovation’ provide students with cutting-edge knowledge of the digital transformations which profoundly change society. The MA programmes in Journalism focus on high quality reporting in a cross-media setting with a strong focus on digital skills and innovation, and combine academic reflection with academic skills. Our BA and MA programmes rank first among all Media Studies programmes in the Netherlands in the national student survey.

Research is conducted within the interdisciplinary Centre for Media and Journalism Studies, which has been rated as “excellent/world-leading” in the last Research Review. Members of the Centre have been successful in recent years in attracting external research funding. If appointed, the candidates are expected to actively contribute to a vibrant research environment. They are provided ample support in applying for bids with national and international funding agencies.

The successful applicant is expected to:

• teach and supervise students in the department’s undergraduate and graduate programmes. International candidates will teach solely in English. They are expected to follow a Dutch language course
• participate actively in curriculum development, design and administration of course modules
• conduct and generate top research in media studies or communication studies
• pursue research grants and other forms of external funding
• participate actively in international research networks and build international collaborations
• participate actively in the activities of the interdisciplinary research Centre for Media and Journalism Studies.

Qualifications

In addition to a number of basic requirements set by the University of Groningen, such as excellent social and communication skills, presentation skills, coaching skills and a results-oriented attitude, we are looking for candidates who have:

• a PhD in Political Communication, Media Studies, Communication Science, or related fields
• wide-ranging knowledge in Media, Politics and Democracy, with, preferably but not limited to, expertise in: citizenship, political engagement and participation; democratic theory; political communication; statistics and social media analysis
• teaching experience at university level and proven didactic abilities
• gained their University Teaching Qualification or are prepared to do so within two years
• an excellent research track record, including relevant publications
• an outstanding national and international academic network as well as strong contacts with professionals in the field
• willingness to make substantial contributions to the development of the Department’s research and educational programmes
• organisational experience and skills
• excellent command of English (at least CEFR B2/C1 level for reading, listening, writing and speaking)
• expected to have or gain understanding of the Dutch language (CEFR B2 for reading and listening, and CEFR B1 for writing and speaking) within two years.

Organisation

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 35.000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study- and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: it belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor's programmes and over 35 Master's specialisations. Our research, which is internationally widely acclaimed, covers Media and Journalism Studies, Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, and Linguistics.

Conditions of employment

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• a salary, depending on qualifications and work experience from a minimum of € 3,746 (salary scale 11) to a maximum of € 5,826 (salary scale 12) gross per month for a full-time position
• 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees. Favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants
• an appointment on a temporary basis for 4 years.

For more detailed information about working conditions and working for the University of Groningen, please check: https://www.rug.nl/(...)k-with-us/new-staff/

Starting date: 1 August 2021

Application

Applications should include:

• a cover letter which explains the motivation for applying for this position
• a full curriculum vitae including a full list of publications and talks
• a research plan of 1-2 pages that includes future ideas for projects and grant applications
• a teaching statement that outlines your teaching philosophy and contains a description of courses taught and teaching qualifications
• the names and contact details of two academic referees

You can submit your application until 14 March 11:59pm / before 15 March 2021 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be taken into consideration.

The selection interviews will take place in the fourth or final week of March 2021.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have adopted an active policy to increase the number of female scientists across all disciplines of the university. Therefore, women are encouraged to apply. Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP), https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/sollicitatiecode/ and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers, https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Information

For information you can contact:

Prof. Marcel Broersma, Professor of Media and Journalism Studies, +31 50 3635955, m.j.broersma@rug.nl

Drs. Miralda Meulman, Degree programme coordinator (about the formal procedure), +31 50 3638950, sec.amc@rug.nl

Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.