(Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Ghent University)
The Faculty of Political and Social Sciences at Ghent University is hiring a tenure track assistant professor in the field of Sociology of Solidarity, with a focus on voluntary association and collective action, starting on 1 September 2027. The new colleague will be affiliated to the Centre for Social Theory (CST) research group in the Department of Sociology.
The Department of Sociology at Ghent University aims to develop theoretically grounded, conceptually rich, and empirically substantiated insights into the dynamic relationship between humans and society. These insights are passed on to students and translated into policy (at various levels) and societal debate.
The department strives for research of the highest possible quality, both in terms of theoretical frameworks, quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches, and communication. The department aims to conduct leading international research that is innovative and both scientifically and socially relevant. This research is reflected in international peer-reviewed articles in highly ranked scientific journals, book publications, and PhD's. The department aims at diversification in terms of input (research funding channels) and output (publication and other valorization channels).
The department is responsible for organizing around 50 unique courses in the Dutch and English bachelor's and master's programs in Sociology, in addition to service education on basic theory and research methods in other programs. The education is of the highest possible quality, linked to current research, and aims at creative knowledge development under the motto 'Imagine Sociology'.
The research within the department will be organized into three research groups:
The new colleague will be part of the CST. This research group is dedicated to advancing critical and engaged sociological inquiry into contemporary societal transformations and the socio-technical production of knowledge. Research at the centre combines theoretical innovation with empirically grounded and methodologically reflexive research. CST brings together expertise in global social theory, sociology of knowledge, political and economic sociology, citizenship and civil society studies, science and technology studies, digital sociology, feminist theory, and postcolonial and decolonial scholarship.
More specific, ongoing research focuses on the following themes:
The research group has extensive expertise in qualitative and critical research methods (and an emergent interest in decolonial and digital methods). It has developed strong capabilities in attracting external research funds, with an emphasis on fundamental scientific funding sources.
The new assistant professor is expected to integrate into ongoing research, teaching, and service activities in the field of the sociology of solidarity, with a focus on voluntary associations and collective action, and further strengthening these activities and developing innovative paths, and will explore paths to strengthen research collaboration with the other two research groups.
Candidates must have demonstrated experience in conducting high-quality and innovative scientific research, in publishing on sociological themes, including in highly ranked scientific journals, in attracting external funding, and in supervising PhD-students. In addition to strong individual performance, we expect candidates to be team players who guide both junior and senior researchers in a respectful, inspiring, and coaching manner.
Candidates should have extensive experience in high-quality academic teaching, with proven positive evaluations, and be readily deployable to teach courses at both bachelor's and master's levels, such as (not an exhaustive or limiting list):
A standard teaching assignment consists of three full courses as the main lecturer, in addition to supervising bachelor's and master's theses. Besides being a good teacher, the new colleague is expected to be a good educational organizer and an innovative inspirer for academic education, both for small and large groups of students.
Finally, the new colleague is expected to actively participate in both internal service (e.g., participation in councils and committees at department, faculty and university level) and the scientific and societal valorization of research (e.g., through participation in societal debates and formulating policy advice).