Postdoc Position: the Migration-Class Nexus

1. Introduction

How does social class shape the migration journey before, during, and after mobility? Through a mixed-methods case study, you will contribute to a deeper understanding of the ‘class-migration nexus’ — a crucial but often overlooked dimension of migration research.

2. Job description

The role of social class for people on the move is understudied. This social class position of immigrants shapes their ability to navigate migration laws and acquire a legal migration status. Once settled, laws and policies determine which constraints immigrants face and which opportunities they are offered, thereby affecting their class position. By analysing the interaction of social class and laws and policies both pre-and post-mobility, the ‘class-migration nexus’ project will make it possible to paint a complete picture of this interaction, thereby addressing a gap in our knowledge on the functioning of social class in immigrants’ lives.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will contribute to the research project by performing a case study among participants who share the same nationality but hold various social class positions and legal migration statuses (family migrants and refugees). Examples of nationalities that could qualify for the case study are Iranian, Syrian, Venezuelan, Nigerian or Pakistani. We encourage ‘peer researchers’, who share the nationality of the participants in the case study, to apply. Please note that a case study among migrants with Turkish nationality is already being conducted within the framework of the project.

You will apply a mixed-methods approach to the case study, which will consist of:

1. Mapping the requirements for obtaining or changing legal migration status, as well as the rights, obligations and opportunities that are linked to legal migration status.
2. Conducting in-depth, ‘time-line’ interviews with immigrants with various legal migration statuses.
3. Analysing available statistical data related to the social class position of migrants with different legal statuses.

The organisation of an international academic workshop is part of the tasks to be carried out within the framework of this position.

3. Profile

• You have obtained, or are about to obtain, a PhD in a relevant field, such as migration law, migration studies or social sciences.
• You have strong analytical skills.
• You have an excellent command of English as well as of the language spoken by the group of participants among whom the case study will be performed.
• You preferably have knowledge of the Dutch language and of Dutch migration law.
• You preferably have experience with conducting qualitative research interviews.
• You have a proactive and flexible attitude. 

4. We are

You will conduct your research as a member of the internationally renowned Centre for Migration Law (CMR). CMR researchers conduct international and interdisciplinary research which focuses on European, international and Dutch migration law and minority protection, and is characterised by a strong empirical component. The research conducted at CMR includes both legal analyses and socio-legal research into the effects of migration law and policy.

At CMR, you will closely collaborate with the other participants in the research project, Dr Ricky van Oers (Assistant Professor of Sociology of Law and Migration Law), Prof. Ashley Terlouw (Professor of Sociology of Law) and Nesli Soylu (PhD candidate).

CMR is part of the Research Centre for State and Law (SteR), which is one of the main research centres of the Faculty of Law at Radboud University. SteR conducts research into developments in the field of public law, focusing on the relationship between state and law.

For the last 100 years, the Faculty of Law at Radboud University has successfully carried out its mission of nurturing the sustainable learning capacity of the rule of law through the continuous cross-fertilisation between theory and practice.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 1 year.
• Your salary within salary scale 10 (max. step 7) or salary scale 11 (max. step 0) depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. 
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Ricky van Oers. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The interviews will take place on Friday 22 August. You will start your employment no later than 15 November 2025.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.