Postdoctoral Position in NWO Funded Project "Fostering the Resilience of the Dutch Knowledge Sector" (KNOWSEC-NL)

The Dutch knowledge sector traditionally focuses on international collaboration. Such practices are, however, increasingly challenged due to geopolitical developments. Knowledge security and the risk of unwanted foreign interference in Dutch research are critically important.

Researchers in KNOWSEC-NL try to find a new equilibrium between the interest of collaboration and the associated geopolitical risks. They do so together with many societal partners, such as ministries, research universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions, and they bring these partners together in a new network on knowledge security. The main objective is to increase the resilience of the Dutch knowledge sector.

What are you going to do?

Contribute to Project Work Packages 2 (conceptual) and 7 (normative) coordinated by Prof. Dr. M. Kanetake (UvA). This post-doc position is co-supervised by dr. Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn (RUG) and dr. Clare Shelley-Egan (TUDelft).

As part of the conceptual work package, you will identify the key concepts shaping the discourse and practice of knowledge security in the Netherlands and research security in the EU more broadly.

As part of the normative work package, you will:

• Identify key knowledge security risks and the scientific or societal benefits of international collaboration through a scoping review of literature.
• Evaluate the actual and potential effects of existing and proposed knowledge security measures (e.g., partner screening, risk classifications).

Undertake group model building sessions with domain experts and knowledge security professionals within the Dutch knowledge sector. Such sessions will draw a particular emphasis on four technological domains: quantum technology, AI, biotechnology, and energy transition technologies.

Contribute to the organisation of research activities and events of the project, interfacing with other consortium participants including other postdocs and PhDs based at University Maastricht, Twente, Rathenau Institute and University of Amsterdam as well as participating consortium partners in this WP at Nederlandse Defensie Academie, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Universtiet Utrecht, Amsterdam, Neth-ER, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), Barcelona (Spain), Liège (Belgium), Helmholtz (Germany).

Complete and publish (both as sole author and as coauthor) 2 to 4 journal articles.

Present research results at (inter-)national workshops and conferences.

Requirements

• You hold a PhD in (international) security studies, higher education studies, or a related field.
• You have a good command of spoken and written English (and preferably Dutch).
• You are a team player with good communication skills.
• You have strong organisational skills, committed to delivering by the deadlines.
• You are able to work in an international, diverse environment.

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: A fixed-term contract for the duration of 36 months, starting 1 January 2027.

What can you expect from us?

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

Employer

University of Groningen

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

Department

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is a large and dynamic faculty located in the heart of the city of Groningen. More than 5,500 students and 900 staff work every day at the frontiers of knowledge. The Faculty offers a diverse range of academic programmes, with 16 Bachelor's programmes and over 40 Master's programmes. With its strong international orientation, the Faculty conducts research in fields including archaeology, cultural studies, history, international relations, journalism, literature, and linguistics. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Arts, visit rug.nl/let.

The position is 1.0 FTE for 3 years, starting 1 January 2027. It is based at, and managed from, University of Groningen where you will be supervised by dr. Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn. A total of 0.5 FTE will be spent on secondment at TU Delft where dr. Clare Shelly-Egan will serve as supervisor.

The Department of International Relations and International Organisation (Cluster 1), Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen

The Department of International Relations and International Organization (IRIO) is committed to top-tier research combined with high quality education and research. Students and staff are drawn to studying international relations and the role of international organization in an integrated manner from historical, political, economic and legal angles. The Bachelor and Master degree programs are taught in English. There are currently about 1,000 students registered for the various IRIO programs. Additionally, the Department contributes to the EMJMD 2-year Master degree program in Humanitarian Action, coordinated by the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA), and the Research Master in International Relations with a specialization in Modern History. Research in the department is organized through the Centre for IR Research (CIRR) around five research groups, respectively in: History & Theory of IR; IR and Security Studies; International Political Economy (IPE); Global Politics of Europe; and Global Political Anthropology. The position will be based within the Chair Group ‘International Political Economy’ although contribute also to the wider research environment of the Centre for International Relations Research (CIRR), of which ‘International Political Economy’ is part.

The Department of Values, Technology & Innovation, Faculty of Technology, Policy & Management, Delft University of Technology

The Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) at Delft University of Technology provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. The candidate will take up their secondment at the Department of Values, Technology and Innovation (VTI). VTI studies innovation in sociotechnical systems from the perspective of social and moral values. Research on responsible innovation is carried out across the themes of design for values, the management of responsible innovation and responsible risk management. This research entails expertise in the fields of economics, safety science and philosophy.

Additional information

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn (Associate Professor): M.A.Campbell-Verduyn@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Emma Siegersma (Human Resources Adviser): e.m.siegersma@rug.nl

Working at University of Groningen

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