Assistant Professor in Social Inequality and Diversity in International Institutions

Welcome to Maastricht University!

As societies become more diverse, inequalities also become more complex, with social, cultural, and economic differences intersecting and reinforcing one another. International institutions play a key role in addressing these challenges by promoting cross-national research, policy coordination, and evidence-based strategies to foster inclusion and social cohesion. This vacancy is part of the SSH Sector Plan on “Social Inequality and Diversity”. As an Assistant Professor in Social Inequality and Diversity in International Institutions you will contribute to advancing our knowledge on the causes and consequences of multiple inequalities and by developing approaches that strengthen resilience, health, and well-being for diverse populations worldwide. 

Assistant Professor in Social Inequality and Diversity in International Institutions

• Our goal: We aim to strengthen our expertise in the Social Inequality and Diversity theme, and respond to growing global inequalities in life chances and well-being that are increasingly shaped by factors such as socio-economic background, ethnicity, health, and migration status. We welcome candidates whose research engages with these topics from the perspective of international institutions and who can teach broadly within European Studies and international relations. Expertise in quantitative methods would be considered an asset.
• Your colleagues:  You will join the Department of Political Science and the research program ‘Europe: Society, Politics and Global Order’ at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS). Our academic community brings together political scientists, historians, philosophers, and international relations scholars who study European political actors and institutions through interdisciplinary, collaborative, and comparative research. 

What you do

You will contribute to teaching in BA and MA programs at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, including the BA and MA programs in European Studies, and potentially across other interdisciplinary programs within the faculty. Teaching tasks may include tutoring, coordinating, and lecturing courses, as well as supervising internships and BA and MA theses and mentoring first-year BA students At the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, academic duties follow the standard division of 60% teaching and management and 40% research. Research time may be extended through the acquisition of external funding.

What you bring 

• You have a PhD degree in international relations, political science, political economy, or another relevant social science discipline with a focus on international institutions. You have strong expertise on international organisations, multilateralism and global governance and focus (or are willing to focus) on problems of social inequality and diversity. You may, for instance, study the legitimacy, politicization and support for international institutions, the representation of rising powers, other states, and non-governmental actors, or inequalities with regard to the distribution of funds and projects by international institutions. Quantitative methods are a clear asset.
• Interdisciplinary thinker. You connect empirical research with broader theoretical debates and ongoing political developments, and you enjoy working across disciplinary boundaries.
• Inspiring teacher. You have demonstrated experience in course coordination, teaching innovation, engagement with alumni or professional networks, and thesis supervision. You encourage active student participation and value team teaching within our Problem-Based Learning (PBL) system, including innovative and skills-oriented forms of assessment.
• Experienced researcher. You have a growing record of international, peer-reviewed publications and are motivated to further develop your research profile, including through collaborative grant proposals.
• Collegial and community-minded. You contribute to our academic environment through openness and collaboration, and you are willing to gradually take on shared responsibilities, including participation in academic governance and coordination roles in education, as well as engagement with student and alumni communities.
• Multilingual communicator. You are fluent in English (C2 level, written and spoken). Non-Dutch speakers are expected to acquire an intermediate level of Dutch within a reasonable timeframe. 

What we offer 

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 18-month contract (1,0 fte) with the prospect of a permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction. 
• A gross monthly salary between €4728,00 and €7297,00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)
FASoS is a close-knit, international community of thinkers, doers, and connectors. We offer interdisciplinary education in cultural and social sciences, and our research focuses on societies in transition. Creativity and collaboration are central; ranging from European integration, digitalization, and culture to innovative educational projects. FASoS is small-scale, informal, and diverse, with room to follow your own path.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Prof. Dr. Esther Versluis at e.versluis@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

The end date of the publication is 30 March 2026. The first interview round is planned on 21 April (online) and the second interview round is planned on 12 May (on site).

You are kindly invited to submit your application, which should consist of: 

1. A 2 to 3-page letter of motivation;
2. Your PhD degree certificate;
3. A full CV (including a complete list of publications with clear differentiation between peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications, an overview of funding acquisition, management experience, outreach activities)
4. Teaching evaluations;
5.  A statement on teaching and how it relates to the BA and MA programs mentioned above;
6.  A statement on research interests and plans and how these link to the research conducted within the Research Program ‘Europe: Society, Politics and Global Order’;
7. Two writing samples: published article(s) and/or book chapter;
8. The contact information of two referees (including e-mail, phone number, mailing address, and relationship to the applicant). 

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.