Postdoctoral Researcher on the Horizon Europe project ''#DEMOCRACYINACTION''

at  Universiteit Leiden

Vacancy number
15230
Job type
Academic staff
Hours (in fte)
0,8
External/ internal
External
Location
Leiden
Placed on
22 October 2024
Closing date
17 November 2024 24 more days to apply
The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) invites applications for a

SUBPROJECT “NIGHTIVISM: NIGHT SPACES FOR POLITICAL EXPRESSION”

We are looking for a highly motivated, enterprising and enthusiastic Postdoc candidate to join the project team and conduct research on night spaces’ potential for political expression, with a special focus on the use of online spaces.
Today’s 24-hour economy is increasingly impacting on social dynamics and economic well-being and is an intrinsic, yet overlooked, aspect of the EU’s strategy on economic growth, innovation, sustainable cities. The project focuses on nighttime urban spaces, specifically on independent, grassroot nighttime arts and entertainment organizations and municipal commercial venues, as well as virtual nightclubs (metaverse) and the use of social media and other online spaces by night venues for strengthening democratic values and social cohesion. An example of this is the fact that nighttime venues are often unsung heroes of struggles for creating spaces of inclusivity (such as LGBTQA+ safe spaces). The project focuses on nocturnal public spaces as sites of belonging, as safe spaces for intercultural exchange for diverse age groups and racial and ethnic communities, acknowledging the ‘worlding’ of urban centres. It recognizes that social gatherings ‘after hours’ are precious opportunities for free self-expression and for bridging social divides.
The post-doc will work closely with the Leiden team on its focus on ‘nightivism’ and will be expected to collaborate with partners within the project consortium as whole, whenever appropriate, on the collection and analysis of data related to the use of online spaces for fostering grassroots culture and democratic values in all the thematic areas covered by #DEMOCRACYINACTION.

• Conducting (digital) fieldwork research on digital spaces used by night venues and cultural productions for strengthening social cohesion, empowerment and democratic values. This will involve some collaboration with other teams in the consortium (e.g. metaverse; youth research areas).
• Contribution to the co-design and co-organization of team meetings, events, knowledge exchange and dissemination activities, especially in connection with the Leiden team (e.g. project final conference in Leiden, Europe Night Labs).
• Contribution to the project’s publication plan, which is expected to involve 2 (co-authored or single-authored) peer-reviewed journal articles and one co-authored book chapter for the planned edited volume, as well as contribution towards other related deliverables (e.g. policy recommendations, data set).
• Data management
• Participating in meetings of the project research group, both in Leiden and the yearly consortium meetings abroad.
• Presenting papers at conferences, both in the Netherlands and internationally
• Participating in the intellectual life of LUCAS. This will involve being in Leiden 2/3 days a week.