Postdoc researcher – Terrorism and extremism criminals: the role of social-economic factors

The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement is the national research institute dedicated to fundamental scientific research in the field of crime and law enforcement. The institute is part of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and is co-financed by VU University Amsterdam.
The NSCR is located at the VU University Amsterdam. The institute carries out interdisciplinary and longitudinal research on the cutting edge of theory, practice, and policy. Different clusters within the institute focus on fundamental questions, such as who are the perpetrators of various types of crime, where and how crime takes place, and what interventions are being used to prevent crime.
The NSCR is looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious:
Postdoc researcher – Terrorism and extremism criminals: the role of social-economic factors
The NSCR is participating in a European wide research project on terrorism and organized crime, alongside an international consortium of research institutions. As part of this larger project the NSCR will be carrying out a sub-project focusing on the extent to which socio-economic adversity in life and the experience of insecurity and deprivation contribute to involvement in terrorism and extremism. In this the NSCR will be working with the WODC (the Ministry of Security and Justice research institute).
Data collection
The study will combine two methods. First, detailed quantitative data on the life courses of terrorism suspects will be collected from existing databases. The emphasis will be on indicators of socio-economic disadvantage and adversity, such as education, income, and job loss.
Next, qualitative data will be collected by means of interviews with suspects of terrorist or extremist activities, and with de-radicalized ex-offenders, about their lives and their experiences of deprivation. A control group of suspects of other crimes with similar backgrounds will also be interviewed. The results of the research will be shared with international partners within the consortium and will eventually be incorporated into an overall model of the processes that lead to offending and networking within organized crime and terrorism.
What will you do?
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to carry out the sub-project in collaboration with researchers from the NSCR and WODC. The postdoctoral researcher will collect and analyze data from police records and existing databases, and will be responsible for coordinating and conducting interviews. The postdoc will contribute substantially to the project’s final report, working with the international partners in the consortium.
Candidates must:

• have completed their PhD (or be soon to defend their doctoral thesis)
• have a research background in criminology, sociology, psychology, or other relevant discipline
• have experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research
• have a demonstrable affinity and experience with research into extremism, radicalization, and/or terrorism
• have good analytical and social skills
• write and understand English to a high level
• be able to work well in a team of researchers

More information
For more information on this position please contact Dr. Frank Weerman (020 5983963); Fweerman@nscr.nl. For information on the application procedure and terms of employment please contact Leontien Hulleman, HR advisor, (070 3440726), l.hulleman@nwo.nl
Application
Candidates can apply via vacature@nscr.nl. The closing date for applications is 4^th April 2016.
We offer

• A one year contract, for 38 hours per week (or equivalent thereof), desired start date is 1 July 2016
• A salary, dependent on experience, of minimum €3,469 maximum €4,772 based on fulltime employment (scale 11 in the for CAO research institutes)
• Excellent benefits and plenty of opportunities for further professional development