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

Leiden University via AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Doctoral training

Project-specific training

Conferences participation

Interdisciplinary environment

4-year contract

ABP pension

Holiday allowance 8%

End-of-year bonus 8.3%

Job summary

Leiden University Institute of Public Administration seeks two PhD candidates for the CRISP project, funded under the Dutch Research Agenda. Researchers will work under two sub-projects and co-create knowledge with government ministries and stakeholders.

The position emphasizes evidence-based policymaking and organizational aspects of science-for-policy. You will develop a research plan, perform literature reviews, collect data, publish, and participate in international conferences, with a

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Administration or related field.
• Interest in evidence-informed policymaking and policy processes.
• Advanced knowledge of social science research methods, qualitative and quantitative.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Sufficient proficiency in Dutch or willingness to learn quickly.

Responsibilities

• Develop a coherent and feasible PhD research plan aligned with CRISP.
• Conduct literature reviews and mappings of practice documents.
• Collect and analyze empirical data and co-create research with practice partners.
• Translate findings into practice-oriented recommendations and outputs.
• Complete a four-year English-language doctoral dissertation.
• Publish in international journals and contribute to Open Access.
• Present research at national and international conferences.
• Participate in research group meetings and CRISP consortium activities.
• Contribute to teaching up to 15 percent of position.

Education

Master's degree in Public Administration

Master's degree in Political Science

Master's degree in Public Policy

Master's degree in Organisation Studies

Master's degree in Science and Technology Studies

Job description

Offer Description

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.

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.

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;