Postdoc on the Development of Societal Wellbeing

Interested in exploring how institutions influence societal wellbeing beyond GDP? Join our SCOOP project focusing on historical and comparative analysis

Interested in exploring how institutions influence societal wellbeing beyond GDP? Join our SCOOP project focusing on historical and comparative analysis

Social welfare, or wellbeing, can be achieved through many channels. This can be by way of well-functioning, open markets or by way of state interventions, including welfare programs and regulation, but of particular interest in the SCOOP programme is how other organisational solutions such as unions, charities, cooperatives, or corporate paternalism could play a role. What sort of solutions were dominant in given cases, how did this change over time, and how successful they were at increasing wellbeing in society?

This project relates to the shift in policy and academic debates from measuring success of societies in terms of GDP per capita to wanting to measure wellbeing in more direct ways. Increasingly, we want to go "beyond GDP". It also links to the question how economic growth and wellbeing are related – a founding question in the field of economic history. Periods where they were seemingly decoupled have been studied intensively. A next step would is to better understand the drivers of well-being and the role of different organizational solutions in this.

You, as a postdoc researcher, will work on these themes. You will reconstruct wellbeing developments for a case and period of your choice, with particular attention to the link between variations in organisational solutions, differences in well-being outcomes and their distribution, and with a view for the possibilities to set up within-country or between-country comparative analyses.

You will have the following tasks and responsibilities:

• conducting research within the period of appointment;
• publishing peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters;
• helping with the organisation of workshops and an international conference;
• participating in project meetings, and closely collaborating with the other members of the research team;
• helping with setting up and managing project data;
• assisting with knowledge dissemination and other activities of the project;
• presenting research results at national and international workshops and conferences.

Resilient societies are able to maintain high levels of care, work, and inclusion, despite the challenges posed by changing circumstances. In the ten year-long transdisciplinary research programme SCOOP, we depart from the idea that a key component in the potential of societies to achieve this resilience is their ability to sustain cooperation within and between families, organizations, and communities. However, cooperation is difficult to sustain over time. Cooperation in one area (in organisations) can undermine it in another (the family). There can be undesirable consequences, for instance for individuals not involved. Also, the conditions on which cooperation was established can change. Whereas much is known about what helps cooperation to get started, so far much less is known about what makes cooperation sustainable. SCOOP aims to identify the secrets of sustainable cooperation and to elucidate its effects on care, work, and inclusion.

Supervisors will be: Professor Bas van Bavel, economic and social history (UU), Professor Rafael Wittek, sociology (RUG) and Dr Auke Rijpma, economic and social history (UU).

General qualifications:

• You hold a PhD degree in a relevant field (as most notably history, sociology or economics) at the time of appointment.
• You are able to write academic publications and publications aimed at wider dissemination of research.
• You have excellent command of spoken and written English.
• You have team spirit and experience working in an interdisciplinary, international setting.
• You have strong interpersonal, analytical and organisational skills
• You possess a combination of relevant quantitative and qualitative skills.

We offer:

• a position for 36 months;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary of € 4,332 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Humanities has around 7,000 students and 1,100 staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city centre of Utrecht, where the faculty is located, contribute to an inspiring working environment.

For more information, please contact Professor Bas van Bavel at

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your documents via the 'apply now' button. Your application should include the following:

• an academic curriculum vitae, including: full address and contact details, education, list of academic publications, relevant work experience and language proficiency, as well as grants/honours, conference presentations;
• a letter of motivation, stating your reasons for applying and detailing why you are an excellent candidate for the position and how you intend to contribute to the project;
• academic transcripts of your PhD and Master's degree;
• a writing sample (max words) that showcases your research and academic writing skills (please upload under the heading 'copy of PhD diploma');
• the names and contact details of two references familiar with your academic record and research skills. One of the references must be your PhD thesis supervisor. The referees may be approached by the selection committee.

Please note that the first round of interviews will take place on 1 July 2024. The preferred starting date of the position is 1 September 2024. It is possible to start later upon agreement with the PI.