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PhD Position on Understanding the Global Movement for Open Research Information

Increasingly, proprietary ownership and restrictions on research information used to inform the governance of research is being challenged. At CWTS we are seeking a PhD candidate to add to our growing interest and involvement in understanding and shaping open research information practices.

What you will do
The purpose of this position is to produce original PhD research that contributes to the goals of the CWTS strategic Focal Area on Information and Openness. The research will entail:

• Developing a theoretically-informed social science account of this emerging reform agenda.
• Mapping, explaining and/or evaluating the contemporary open research information landscape.
• Surfacing opportunities, challenges and frictions in attempts to challenge closed, proprietary forms of research information ownership and control.
• Empirically exploring what it means in practice to promote and implement broad values such as openness, transparency, inclusiveness, and community ownership of information.

Further information about the potential problems you might wish to address are available in this document: CWTS PhD extended project description.

Where you will work
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences consists of five institutes: Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Political Science, and Psychology. The faculty has approximately 7000 students and 1000 staff members. Within the institutes, not only education is provided but also groundbreaking research is conducted that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of human behaviour and societal structures. What makes our faculty unique is the diversity of research topics, the various styles of teaching, and the way professional support is organized; this provides you with the opportunity to explore and develop your interests and expertise. Visit our website for an impression: Welcome to the Leiden Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences - Leiden University.

Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS)
The Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University is a renowned research institute in the field of research on research. Our mission is to improve how science is practiced and governed and how it serves society. We perform cutting-edge research in which we use large datasets to analyze the activities of researchers, the outputs resulting from these activities, and the downstream impact of these outputs. We also support research organizations by providing them with sophisticated data-driven research analytics and research intelligence. For more information, please visit our website.

The appointed candidate will join an interdisciplinary team of researchers and data practitioners in the Information and Openness Focal Area of CWTS. With the guidance and support of your supervisors, you will develop a piece of original research that fits within the strategic focus and ambitions of the Focal Area. Our Focal Area members have extensive international networks with researchers, practitioners and other stakeholders working on opening up research information. Our Focal Area has been a founding contributor to the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information, a key trans-national initiative campaigning for changes in ownership, access and re-use of research information.

What you bring

• An interest in theoretically-informed empirical social science research
• Fluency in English language
• Degree in sociology, science and technology studies, organization studies, information studies, or related relevant discipline.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Impeccable project management and time management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

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!

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 expect an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or 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:

• An employment contract (38 hours per week) as a PhD candidate, initially for a period of 1 year, with the possibility of extension for 3 years after a positive evaluation. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary of a minimum of €2.541 in the first year and a maximum of €3.247 in the last year 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;
• 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 and a mobile telephone (if applicable for the position).

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden

What we find important
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?
If you want to apply straight away, click the application button.

If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Kathleen Gregory, researcher at CWTS k.m.gregory@cwts.leidenuniv.nl. You can apply until June 4; applications will be processed immediately.

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden

• We believe mobility is very important. That is why we are also publishing this vacancy internally. In case of equal suitability, we will give priority to the internal candidate.
• A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this. #LI-Hybrid

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