Vacancy for core team members Contesting Governance

People protesting with fists in the air

Do you enjoy thinking about creative ways to bring together researchers working on similar issues and having conversations across disciplines? Are you committed to creating a space at UU for scholars working on issues related to governance, power, human rights, and contestation to come together and strengthen each other’s teaching, education and public outreach? If so, please consider applying to the vacancy below! 

The Contesting Governance Platform is seeking new core members to strengthen its interdisciplinary team. As one of the Platforms within the Strategic Theme of Institutions for Open Societies (IOS), we investigate how societies contest government using a wide range of tools, from legal instruments to violence and cultural contestation. We find newness and inspiration in interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration and prioritize synergies between research, education and valorisation.  

Bringing together more than 50 Platform members within the UU, the Platform is steered by two coordinators and a team of core members that lead the main activities of the Platform, such as seminar sessions, network meetings, lecture series, community engaged learning (CEL) activities, and so forth. We operate with various underlying values and principles, such as openness, transparency, inclusivity, diversity, and equality. We also believe in a rotating coordination system. Due to the departure of several core team members in September, we are looking for three new Platform members to join our core team at the start of the next academic year. We are especially seeking candidates willing to take on a coordination role in the future.

As a core team member, you will be expected to: 

  • attend regular core team meetings; 

  • participate in and organize existing (interdisciplinary) activities; 

  • represent the Platform and liaise with other UU initiatives and Platforms.  

Core team members hold their position for at least two years and a maximum of four years. All core team members will (in principle) receive some kind of compensation in –fte (although this will depend on the availability of funds and the specific terms of each member’s employment contract) for their participation.   

Are you interested in strengthening our team? Please send a motivation letter of maximum 1 page outlining 1) why you would like to join our team, and 2) what and how you will contribute to the Platform’s existing activities, by Monday March 18th, to contestinggovernance@uu.nl. In addition to the motivation letter, candidates will be selected on the Agreed principles of diversity, disciplinary spread, and representation. For any questions, contact the current coordinators, Thijs Jeursen (t.j.j.jeursen@uu.nl) and/or Katharine Fortin (K.m.a.Fortin@uu.nl).