Professor in sociology of solidarity

→ Apply until 04/12/2026 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels time) → Discipline: Sociology of solidarity, with a focus on voluntary association and collective action. → 100% Assistant professor tenure track → Reference number: 202610/PS/ZAP/001 ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY Ghent University is a world-class, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university. Our credo is 'Dare to Think': we are a haven for courageous thinkers. With one of the most progressive career models for academics in the world, Ghent University evaluates its scholars not only by the length of their publication list but also by the impact they pursue, what they achieve and how they collaborate. Are you a good ‘fit’ with our university? Discover here our vision on education and research. ASSIGNMENT The candidate has developed a research programme situated at the intersection of contemporary sociological time diagnoses and the sociology of solidarity, with a particular focus on voluntary association and collective action (including civic associations, nonprofit organisations, social movements, informal groups, and citizen initiatives). The candidate’s research examines changing dynamics in the ways citizens voluntarily engage and organise around contemporary public issues, societal challenges, and alternative visions of the future. The programme seeks to make innovative contributions to the sociological study of solidarity in contemporary societies. The research adopts primarily, though not exclusively, a meso-sociological and critical perspective on organisational characteristics, practices, and processes, with particular attention to power relations, inequalities, and forms of exclusion that also emerge within ostensibly “civil” organisations and movements. How do these forms of collective organisation function both as producers of solidarity, inclusion, and social innovation, and as sites where such societal benefits are symbolically and instrumentally bounded and selectively distributed? This also entails examining the interplay between such organisational mechanisms and individual motivations and determinants of civic engagement. Potential developments that may form the focus of this research include the digitalisation and datafication of society, ecological disruption and post-apocalyptic future imaginaries, political polarisation and illiberal democratic tendencies, global migration and transnational identities, superdiversity, and post-secularism. More generally, the research is characterised by a strong theoretical ambition and a predominantly qualitative methodological orientation. It is ideally informed by critical, decolonial, and other reflexive traditions within social theory, as well as by reflexive approaches to social-scientific research methods. Profile text Academic education You lecture various course units in the discipline of general sociology, sociology of organizations, sociology of solidarity, and applied sociology. Academic research You conduct innovative and internationally recognized research in the field of the sociology of solidarity, with a focus on voluntary association and collective action. Institutional and societal engagement Based on your expertise and experience, you will contribute to the university's operations and/or take on external assignments. PROFILE
• You have a strong academic CV with international visibility in the requested field:
• Your achievements in the field of research and education contribute to the development of the scientific domain (e.g. publications, presentations, or other academic output);
• You are capable to initiate and supervise educational and research projects and to acquire the necessary funding for this;
• You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences;
• Mobility is recommended (e.g. education, research, economic, or societal).
• You work in a collaborative way and integrate smoothly into the department/faculty. You look for opportunities inside and outside the university and actively use your network to do so.
• You show leadership potential/have leadership experience. More information about leadership at Ghent University.
• If you do not know Dutch, you are willing to learn it within a period of 5 years and reach CEFR level B2. When taking up a teaching assignment, you must have a command of the language of instruction of the course unit at CEFR level C1. More information about the language requirements and appropriate language guidance at Ghent University. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
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We offer
you a temporary appointment in a tenure track system for a term of five years. If positively evaluated by the University Board, the term of office will be transferred into a permanent appointment as an associate professor.
• Should you already be a member of the professorial staff or hold an equal post at a university or research institution, you can immediately be appointed as an assistant professor, without prejudice to the possibility of a temporary appointment. The recruitment is from 1 september 2027. OUR OFFER Ghent University has developed a new inspiring career model for professors. Academic freedom and academics' responsibility, talents and ambitions act as a natural drive to advance their careers, as part of teamwork. Ghent University is specifically committed to guiding international professors in the process of coming to Ghent. At Ghent University, our view is as broad as possible, because internationalisation creates synergies within and outside the institution.

We offer
you a wide range of employee benefits. The basic teacher training and courses in 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are just a few of our wide range of courses and training. Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment of at least 50% receive a Starting Grant of € 240,000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs. Furthermore, professors who meet the conditions may be eligible for Basic Research Funding. DIVERSITY Ghent University pursues an equal opportunities policy and values everyone's talent, regardless of gender, age, philosophy of life, skin color, sexual orientation, migration background or disability. We encourage everyone to apply. Interruptions in research careers and/or atypical career paths (e.g. relevant experience outside the academic sector) will be taken into account when assessing the application. SELECTION PROCEDURE The selection committee will carry out an initial, substantive screening of the admissible applications on the file. This assessment takes into consideration both the candidate's merits and potential. Ghent University emphasizes the qualitative assessment of academic performance. Therefore, candidates are asked in the application form to mention their most important academic or non-academic achievements with the most impact. For shortlisted candidates, the following steps in the selection procedure shall consist of at least:
- a selection interview in which the vision and planning regarding education, research, and institutional and societal engagement as well as the embedding in the bigger picture are discussed
- a trial lesson on a subject in the relevant field
- a screening of leadership and interpersonal skills ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
• You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma or certificate that is recognized as equivalent.
• You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on 1 september 2027. This term of two years is determined by the date mentioned on the required diploma.
• Your application meets the formal requirements (submitted on time, complete: with a completed application form and a copy of the diploma, delivered via e-recruitment).

HOW TO APPLY
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late or incomplete applications, or applications that are not sent through the online system. Your application must include the following documents:
• In the field ‘Application form’: the application form + any attachments merged into one pdf file. Additional documents may be requested from shortlisted candidates.
• In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of your doctoral degree. If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
• In the field ‘Certificate of equivalence’: only for diplomas awarded outside the European Union: certificate of equivalence (NARIC) (if already in you possession). For diplomas awarded in the UK before January 31st of 2020, a certificate of equivalence is not required. Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB. MORE INFORMATION For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Professor Lesley Hustinx (lesley.hustinx@UGent.be, +32 (0)9 264 84 71) at the faculty of Political and Social Sciences, department of Sociology. Vragen over online solliciteren? Lees de FAQ of contacteer ons via selecties@ugent.be.