Postdoctoral Researcher in Survey Methodology

Want your research to shape how international survey data is collected and used? Join the GGP as a postdoc in survey methodology at NIDI in The Hague.

The Project

The Generations and Gender Programme (GGP) is a cross-national research infrastructure that provides high-quality, open-access data on population and family dynamics. Its core component is the Generation & Gender Survey (GGS) – a unique longitudinal study on life courses and family structures across countries. New GGS data is currently being collected in several European, Asian, and South American countries.

The GGP Central Hub is located at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) in The Hague. It oversees the daily management of the GGP, including the implementation of governance structures, support to national teams during data collection, and processing of survey data for scientific use.

What you will be doing

The position

This postdoctoral position is ideal for a researcher interested in working at the intersection of scientific research and data infrastructure. You will contribute both intellectually and operationally to the GGP, playing a key role in advancing its survey methodological foundations while also supporting its implementation. The focus will be on validating newly collected GGS data and coordinating efforts to ensure its quality, usability, and relevance for cross-national comparative research.

Your tasks will include:

• Shaping and coordinating GGP’s internal research agenda on data quality and methodological development, including initiating and overseeing the production of outputs such as technical papers and data quality reports. This may involve exploring topics like nonresponse, mode effects, or longitudinal consistency, depending on your interests and expertise;
• Engaging with national teams, external researchers, and thematic experts to ensure methodological work aligns with infrastructure needs and substantive research priorities;
• Supervising and collaborating with junior staff, and contributing to day-to-day infrastructure tasks as needed.

What you will be bringing

As our new postdoctoral team member, you bring a strong methodological background, a keen interest in sociological, economic or demographic topics, a proactive mindset, and the ability to balance research with practical implementation. You enjoy coordinating joint efforts across teams and are motivated by contributing to shared goals that support the infrastructure and the broader research community.

You hold a PhD in survey methodology, social sciences, or a related discipline, and have a solid understanding of survey design, data quality assessment, and the challenges related to cross-national and longitudinal data. Having working experience with large-scale survey data (e.g., GGS, SHARE, ESS) and being familiar working with paradata is a plus. You are proficient in statistical software such as R or Stata, and your technical affinity allows you to work comfortably across tools and formats, including version control systems like Git.

You are detail-oriented, well-organized, and capable of planning and delivering complex tasks. Your excellent communication skills in English (both written and spoken) enable you to work effectively with international partners, support junior staff, and translate methodological insights into accessible documentation and guidance for a broader audience.

What do we offer?

We offer a postdoctoral position that goes beyond the typical academic postdoc. As part of the GGP Central Hub, you will contribute to a leading international research infrastructure with global reach and societal relevance. This is a unique opportunity to conduct research on pressing methodological questions and to directly implement your findings in the way GGP data is collected, validated, processed, and shared.

The role places you at the heart of a large-scale data infrastructure. You will coordinate cross-national research efforts, contribute to methodological developments, and support the production of outputs that benefit the wider research community. While the focus is on applied, collaborative research, you will also have opportunities to publish and present your work—particularly when it enhances the quality, transparency, or usability of GGP data.

The initial appointment will be for a period of 24 months. Any extension will be contingent on performance, availability of funds, and the human resource needs of the infrastructure. Dutch law stipulates a maximum of 4 years in total for a temporary research-based contract. This may be followed by another contract for a maximum of up to a total of 4 years (including the initial contract). This will be dependent on funding and performance.

More information

For additional information you may contact dr. Yuri Pettinicchi (pettinicchi@nidi.nl).

Application procedure

Candidates are invited to submit their application in English. Applications must include:

•             A motivation letter.

•             A full curriculum vitae

•             Names and contact information of two references

The deadline for submitting your application is 16 July 2025. Please address your application to the director of NIDI, prof. dr. H.A.G. de Valk (using the Apply Now button). The interviews have been provisionally scheduled for 29 or 30 July 2025.

About NIDI
The Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) is a leading European demographic research institute. NIDI is part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and affiliated with the University of Groningen. It is located in the center of The Hague providing a unique and stimulating research environment in the broad field of population studies. Currently the staff of the institute consists of about 65 employees of different levels of seniority and organized in a rather horizontal structure within five thematic research groups. The working environment is highly international and NIDI provides ample opportunities for training and development.

Conditions of employment
Depending on education and experience, the salary will amount to a minimum of € 3,378 and the maximum salary is € 6,209 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 - 11 cao Collective Agreement for Dutch Universities/Academy). This is exclusive of 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, Internet and home-working allowance, and pension accrual with the (Dutch) General Pension Fund for Public Employees (ABP)

The Academy offers its employees an excellent package of fringe benefits, which meets their different needs depending on their stage of life, lifestyle, or career ambitions. By working an extra two hours a week, for example, employees can increase their number of holiday days from 29 to 41 days a year (in the case of full-time employment).

Non Dutch applicants are required to relocate to The Netherlands. If and when necessary, NIDI will apply for the residence permit. Non Dutch employees may qualify for a Tax break (30% Ruling).

A full overview of the conditions of employment can be found at: werken bij de KNAW.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Academy attaches great importance to a working environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, where individual talent is nurtured, and where development opportunities are paramount. Together, we aspire to an inclusive culture that embraces differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates whose background and experience will help us to achieve our goals. Where two or more applicants are equally qualified, preference will be given to the candidate who contributes most to diversity at the Academy in this respect.

Please do not contact us for marketing purposes.