2 PhD positions on project Cocreating Research to Improve Science for Policy (CRISP) (2x 1.0 fte)

Teaser Text

Leiden University Institute of Public Administration is looking for 2 PhD candidates for the research project Cocreating Research to Improve Science for Policy (CRISP), funded under the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). The PhD candidates will conduct research within either the sub-project entitled ‘Seeing science for policy through the eyes of the policy worker’ or the sub-project on ‘Organizing science-for-policy arrangements’.

What you will do

The overarching project: Research-based knowledge is an essential building block for effective policymaking. In practice, however, the systematic use of research evidence in policymaking cannot be taken for granted. The research project Cocreating Research to Improve Science for Policy (CRISP) aims to strengthen forms of collaboration between research and policy to foster more usable knowledge and more effective knowledge use.The CRISP consortium brings together several knowledge institutions and government ministries and will include eight PhD candidates and three postdoctoral researchers. The research will be conducted in co-creation with government ministries and other stakeholders and focuses on a set of current policy issues. For a description of the CRISP consortium and its subprojects, please see: www.scienceforpolicy.nl

The PhD research: The 2 PhD candidates will independently conduct research within the CRISP project.

PhD project 1: ‘Seeing science for policy through the eyes of the policy worker’: The PhD candidate will contribute to developing a perspective on science for policy that takes the daily practice of the policy worker as its starting point. Key questions are: What do policy officers need to work in an evidence-informed way? What do they experience as obstacles to using evidence in their daily work? The PhD candidate will review existing research conducted from this perspective and gather and critically assess existing practical advice and toolkits for practitioners regarding evidence-based working. The PhD candidate will also conduct empirical research on the policy impact of behavioral advisors within the Dutch government.

PhD project 2: ‘Organizing science-for-policy arrangements’: The PhD candidate will contribute to developing an organizational perspective on science for policy. Key questions are: How does the organization of science-for-policy arrangements shape the interaction between knowledge and policy? How can these arrangements be (re-)designed to strengthen evidence use in policy-making? The PhD candidate will review existing research on how the organization of science-for-policy arrangements matters for evidence use in policymaking and gather and critically assess practical insights about specific organizational solutions and their effectiveness. The PhD candidate will also conduct empirical research on the policy impact of behavioral advisors within the Dutch government.

The 2 PhD projects will be supervised by Dr. Valérie Pattyn and Dr. Johan Christensen. Together with your supervisors, you will be responsible for:

• developing the research proposal into a coherent and feasible PhD research plan that aligns with the overarching CRISP project;

• conducting literature reviews and mappings of existing practice documents, and collecting and analysing empirical data;

• co-creating research with practice partners by actively involving them in the research process and translating the findings into practice-oriented recommendations and outputs;

• completing an English-language doctoral dissertation within four years;

• publishing in international peer-reviewed journals and contributing to Open Access and professional publications;

• presenting research findings at national and international academic and practitioner-oriented conferences;

• actively participating in meetings and research activities organised by your research group and institute, the subproject and the CRISP consortium;

• making a limited contribution to teaching (max. 15 percent of position).

Where you will work

You will be appointed at Leiden University, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Institute of Public Administration.

The mission of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA) is to contribute to society. The faculty does this through high-quality interdisciplinary education and (new) scientific knowledge. Whether it is terrorism, security, artificial intelligence or a governance solution to the housing crisis, contemporary issues are comprehensively addressed at FGGA.

In the heart of The Hague, where important decisions are made, students and professionals come together to gain knowledge and skills. There is much collaboration with academic and societal partners, which ensures that students leave university with a smile and one foot in the future, ready to make a substantial contribution to society.

FGGA is one of the seven faculties of Leiden University. This young, entrepreneurial, innovative organisation has three scientific institutes, two centres, over 3,700 students and 425 staff members. For more information about the faculty, click here.

The Institute of Public Administration, which is part of FGGA, is one of the largest and oldest institutes on academic research and teaching in the field of public administration in the Netherlands. The institute combines a solid international academic reputation with a central positioning among the international, national, regional, and local governance institutions in The Hague. The institute has an international profile and gets high peer reviewed ratings, both for its research and education. More information on the Institute of Public Administration.

What you bring

We are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need, and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

• By the intended starting date, you have a completed Master’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Public Policy, Organisation Studies, Science and Technology Studies, or another relevant field, or from a relevant interdisciplinary programme;
• You have an interest in evidence-informed policymaking, knowledge use, policy processes or public organisations;
• You have advanced knowledge of social science research methods, both qualitative and quantitative methods;
• You have strong analytical skills;
• You have strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as an interest in working with academic and non-academic partners;
• You have an interest in interdisciplinary research and a willingness to contribute actively to an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary team;
• You have a sensitivity to the administrative, organisational, political and societal context in which the research will be conducted.
• You have excellent written and spoken English skills;
• You have sufficient proficiency in Dutch, or a willingness to develop this proficiency quickly, as this is essential for collaborating with Dutch public-sector organisations.

If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if do you not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application! In your cover letter, you can explain the expertise you would bring to the project and identify the areas in which you would like to develop further.

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located in the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• A doctoral training programme and professional supervision. All our PhD students are embedded in the Graduate School of Governance and Global Affairs. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training and personal effectiveness.
• Project-specific training and an active community of early-career researchers within the CRISP consortium;
• Opportunities to participate in academic and practitioner-oriented conferences;
• Opportunities for collaboration with, or a research stay at, other consortium institutions or institutions abroad;
• An interdisciplinary working environment with direct links to policy practice.
• An employment contract for the duration of four years. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary of a minimum of € 3240 and a maximum of € 4051 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (scale P);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What we value

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

Want to apply or find out more?