This is a fixed-term, 24-month post-doctoral position under the supervision of Prof. Dimitris Ballas, involving the development and application of spatial microsimulation and agent-based models as well as spatial econometric models in relation to the tasks and deliverables of two Horizon Europe projects: RISKADAPT and MOBI-TWIN.
RISKADAPT is an EU Horizon project that involves academic partners, end-users and other stakeholder in order to develop a novel, integrated, modular, interoperable, public and free, customizable user-friendly platform (PRISKADAPT), to support systemic, risk-informed decisions regarding adaptation to Climate Change induced compound events at the asset level, focusing on the structural system. PRISKADAPT will explicitly model dependencies between infrastructures, which, inter alia, will provide a better understanding of the nexus between climate hazards and social vulnerabilities and resilience. The post-doctoral researcher will contribute to the work needed for the quantitative modelling of social impacts, including the development of a spatial microsimulation model aimed at estimating geographical distributions of relevant socio-economic indicators in the affected regions (including estimates of the distribution of estimated earned income from industries affected by damage to assets of interest). This model will be based on an econometric model to map and connect all different domains that are affected and then obtaining suitable data to operationalise appropriate variables for a model and including them in the model. The social impacts will be cast in a form that can be used everywhere in Europe with local parameters and data.
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ΜΟΒΙ-TWIN argues that major global transition processes, such as green and digital transition, require to constantly redefine the changing nature of regional attractiveness for capturing shifts in the drivers and effects of spatial mobility. To that end it uses big data and agent-based modelling to analyse the impact of those changing patterns of spatial mobility on EU regions and envisage policies to counterbalance their effects in terms of demographics, society, welfare system and labour market. The project has a four dimensional scope: (i) it will analyse the changing drivers of spatial mobility based on human mobility behaviour, encompassing the structural changes caused by twin transition in the definition of regional attractiveness; (ii) it will examine the new balance rising between the different forms of spatial mobility (permanent, circular, temporal) and their effects on EU regions following the changing nature of regional attractiveness; (iii) it will use agent-based modelling to capture and assess the impact of changing patterns of spatial mobility on EU regions in terms of demographics, society, welfare system and labour market; and (iv) it will use the insights to envisage place-based policies for harnessing the positive outcomes of twin transition. The post-doctoral researcher will contribute to the tasks involving the development of spatial microsimulation and agent-based modelling.The post-doctoral researcher will work with an international team of researchers across Europe. The University of Groningen team of researchers also includes Dr Richard Rijnks and Dr Wander Jager. You will be based in the Faculty of Spatial Sciences and will be responsible for liaising with relevant partners and for collecting and analyzing suitable datasets as well as for developing suitable quantitative spatial econometric frameworks for socio-economic impact assessment as well as spatial microsimulation and agent-based models. You will also take the lead in the analysis of model outputs and writing up the results as scientific manuscripts.
Organisation
The University of Groningen (founded 1614) is a research university with a global outlook and is currently in the top 100 universities worldwide on several influential ranking lists. The University creates and shares knowledge through its outstanding research, scholarship and education. With an academic tradition dating back to 1614 and a rich heritage, the University is a unique academic community with a strong sense of belonging and a culture of innovative education and research.
The Faculty of Spatial Sciences is a growing faculty with an open character that has short lines between staff and students. There are four departments: Cultural Geography, Demography, Economic Geography and Planning. The mission of the faculty is to produce research which is world-leading, distinctive, and policy-relevant to these major issues faced by contemporary society and that is communicated and communicable to the global academy and to societal stakeholders. The distinctive character of the Faculty’s research is that it explore the roles place, space, identity and culture play in the social and spatial transformation of society from a multi-methods perspective. The policy-relevant features of the Faculty’s research derive from the issues investigate. The research is built on evidence and experience, while addressing issues of perception and identity.
Qualifications
We are looking for candidates who have:
- a PhD in Economic Geography, Economics, Regional Science or any other related discipline (with a strong quantitative social science component)
- excellent English for written and verbal communication
- experience with regional or spatial analysis (including spatial econometrics)
- experience with micro-level analysis and willingness to learn and apply relevant micro-analysis methods (such as spatial microsimulation and agent-based modelling)
- experience with handling large datasets
- a track record of working in R or Stata
- a willingness and ability to liaise with local project partners and stakeholders in relation to the RISKADAPT socio-economic impact assessment in Finland, Greece and Italy
- familiarity with socio-economic datasets in Finland, Greece and/or Italy would be desirable; knowledge of or familiarity with Finnish, Greek or Italian languages would also be desirable although not essential.
Organisation
Conditions of employment
We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:
- a salary, depending on qualifications and work experience, with a minimum of € 3,557 to a maximum of € 4,670 (salary scale 10) gross per month for a full-time position
- excluding 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, participation in a pension scheme for employees and excellent secondary benefits. We offer 232 holiday hours per calendar year for a full-time employment
- an appointment on a temporary basis for 24 months.
For more detailed information about working conditions and working for the University of Groningen, please check: https://www.rug.nl/about-us/work-with-us/
The appointee will ideally commence on 1 August, 2023
Application
Do you meet our qualification criteria? If yes, your application should include:
- a motivation letter stating your motivation to apply for the position and your key qualities relevant for this position [max 1 page]
- a brief, up-to-date curriculum vitae that focuses on aspects that are directly relevant to the position
- contact information of two academic references. Please do not submit letters of reference. If necessary, we will contact the referees ourselves.
You can submit your application until 4 July 11:59pm / before 5 July 2023 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).
Interviews will be held in week 28, 2023.
De Rijksuniversiteit Groningen streeft ernaar een universiteit te zijn waar medewerkers en studenten zich gerespecteerd en thuis voelen, ongeacht verschillen in achtergronden, ervaringen, perspectieven en identiteit. Het werken aan onze kernwaarden inclusiviteit en gelijkwaardigheid zien we als een gezamenlijke verantwoordelijkheid en wij werken constructief aan het creëren van een sociaal veilige omgeving. Diversiteit van studenten en medewerkers verrijkt het academische debat en draagt bij aan de kwaliteit van ons onderwijs en onderzoek. Daarom moedigen wij met name sollicitanten uit maatschappelijk ondervertegenwoordigde groepen aan te solliciteren. Voor meer informatie zie ook onze pagina over ons diversiteitsbeleid: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/
Onze selectieprocedure volgt de richtlijnen van de sollicitatiecode NVP: https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode en de Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code van de Europese Commissie.
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Information
For information you can contact:
- Prof. Dimitris Ballas, d.ballas rug.nl
- Dr Richard Rijnks, r.h.rijnks rug.nl
- Dr Wander Jager, w.jager rug.nl
Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.
