HOMeAGE

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 36 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/09/2023.

Application deadline = 28th of February 2023

Host: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium 
Primary Supervisor: Professor An-Sofie Smetcoren 
Co-supervisor/mentors: Ann Petermans (Uhasselt), Tine Buffel (University of Manchester), Herwig Teugels (Kenniscentrum WWZ Brussels)  

Duration: 36 months + 12 months  

Required applicant profile: Highly motivated, independent and enthusiastic doctoral researcher with a strong interest in conducting original research on ageing, place, housing, exclusion and wellbeing. A Master's degree and excellent track record of academic achievement. Experience of working on or contributing to ageing/place & inclusion/policy research projects is essential. A good understanding of ageing issues and environmental change in research and policy across different countries is desirable.  

Desired skills:  

Attitude: Open-minded, curious, enthusiastic, and accurate; proactive, capable of working independently, and likes to work in a team; good organizational and communicative skills 

Skills: Demonstrable experience of conducting mixed methods research: i.e. quantitative research skills, particularly in the areas of secondary data analysis using statistical software package (e.g. Stata; R; SPSS); qualitative research skills (e.g., participatory, photovoice elicitation, interviews). Excellent online literature searching and retrieval skills and excellent communications skills in English both written and verbal. Because of interactions with participants, it is preferable that the candidate also speaks Dutch, or has a willingness to learn Dutch and engage with the local context. 

Project Objectives:  Working as a part of the Needs and Systems work package, the successful applicant will complete a research project on: Housing systems, displacement and ageing in alternative housing models. Goal is to (1) analyse system-related mechanisms behind housing displacements among older women and men in urban and rural settings (2) identify innovative, collective housing models; (3) assess accessibility of models for vulnerable older adults, and their links to solidarity and care/support. Mixed-methods: interviews; participatory research; photo elicitation; secondary analysis (EU-SILC; SHARE). 

Secondment(s):  Secondment 1 with Tine Buffel (UoM)(4m) will provide insight into inequalities in lived experiences of home and housing environments. Secondment 2 with Herwig Teugels, (Kenniscentrum WWZ) (4m) will target norm-critical innovation and the inclusion-housing policy nexus. 

Gross salary: 29,532€ plus mobility and family allowances as applicable and in line with the EC rules for Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Networks 2021. As well as this, you’ll enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract). 

Host:  Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium 
Primary Supervisor: Professor Liesbeth De Donder 
Co-supervisor/mentors:  Marja Aartsen (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norwegian Research Institute – NOVA), Julia Wadoux (Age Platform Europe), Lucie Vidovicova (Masarykova Univerzita (MU) 
Duration:  36 months + 12 months 

Required applicant profile: Highly motivated, independent and enthusiastic doctoral researcher with a strong interest in conducting original research on ageing, place, social rights, ageism and policy change. A Master's degree and excellent track record of academic achievement. Experience of working on or contributing to ageing/place & inclusion/policy research projects is essential. A good understanding of ageing issues and environmental change in research and policy across different countries is desirable. 

Desired skills:  

Attitude: Open-minded, curious, enthusiastic, and accurate; proactive, capable of working independently, and likes to work in a team; good organizational and communicative skills 

Skills: Demonstrable experience of conducting qualitative research (e.g., focus groups, interviews). Excellent online literature searching and retrieval skills and excellent communications skills in English both written and verbal.  

Project Objectives:  Working as a part of the Rights and Voice work package, the successful applicant will complete a research project on: Social rights and equitable, non-ageist policy development on ageing in place. Goal is to investigate: (1) the extent ageist practice, prior and during Covid-19, prevents heterogeneous older populations to age in place (community; institutions) with dignity, and the barriers to securing rights to accessible and suitable community supports; (2) how stereotypes and prejudice influences policy reform/investment in ageing in place; (3) value of an age-friendly, inclusive policy framework based on European pillar of social rights. Intersectional approaches and qualitative methods: focus groups; interviews; documentary analysis. 

Secondment(s):   Secondment 1 with Lucie Vidovićová (MU) (4m) will provide training on structural inequalities and public policy.  Secondment 2 with AGE Platform Europe (Julia Wadoux) (4m), will target policy concerning older people’s rights, ageism and anti-discrimination. 

Gross salary: 29,532€ plus mobility and family allowances as applicable and in line with the EC rules for Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Networks 2021.As well as this, you’ll enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).