03 Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Groningen, Netherlands

This subproject, conducted by a postdoctoral researcher, will analyze the history of democratic thought since the 18th century with a focus on the question of work. Historically (e.g., still in Kant), it was often assumed that only economically independent individuals could be citizens. In the 19th and 20th century the fights for better working conditions and for democratic inclusion often went hand in hand. The fact that workers contributed to society was often brought forward as an argument for democratic inclusion, not least in the democratic gains for women after the world wars. And yet, to this point, no systematic history of ideas about the relation of work and democracy exists. Thus, the research question here is: How have the history, and the history of ideas, of the organization of work and of democratic participation been intertwined? This subproject will focus on the 18th to 20th century (as the centuries in which modern work societies and modern democracies developed in the North Atlantic realm), drawing, in parallel, on four strands: the history of working conditions, the history of ideas about work, the history of democratic practices, and the history of ideas about democratic practices. Such parallel readings can be expected to deliver insights on a number of levels: concerning not only the relation between theoretical ideas and lived realities, but also between ideas about work and democracy, and practices concerning work and democracy. At the same time, the project can help to de-familiarize current ways of conceptualizing work, democracy, and the relation between them. Particular attention will be paid to phenomena (both practices and ideas) at the margins of labor markets that would speak to the contemporary phenomena explored in the first three subprojects [precarious work, digital work, migrant work].

The postdoc will do their own research on this topic in collaboration with Prof. Herzog, and help organize academic events for the project.

We are seeking a highly motivated and independent Postdoctoral candidate with expertise in advanced electronic materials, soft actuators, flexible electronics, and wearable sensors. The ideal candidate should be eager to work in an interdisciplinary environment. As a Postdoc, you will collaborate with our dynamic team of enthusiastic PhDs and Postdocs, who specialize in MEMS, electronic materials, flexible electronics, biomimetics, sensor technology, and biomedical sensors. Together, we aim to drive innovation and advance the frontiers of sensor technology. This postdoctoral position is for a duration of two years.

The postdoctoral candidate will conduct research in the broad fields of flexible electronic devices and soft actuators. The candidate will design, fabricate, and test multifunctional soft actuators inspired by animals and human muscles. Additionally, the role involves developing and characterizing flexible electronic sensors using various printed electronics technologies, including aerosol jet printing, inkjet printing, and 3D printing functional elements.

The Postdoc researcher will work in the project ‘Action plan for ecosystem-based land-sea transition zones [WADWAD]’ funded by the Dutch NWO and the German BMBF. The research team is international and transdisciplinary. Associate professor Frans J. Sijtsma is the Principal Investigator for the University of Groningen work package in the WADWAD project. This work package focuses on the socio-ecological evaluation of future scenarios for land-sea transition zones in the Wadden area.

The work package evaluates from both an ecological and a broad social perspective different long-term land-sea transition zone plans and scenarios using the evaluation method Multi-Criteria Cost-Benefit Analysis (MCCBA). Creating new land-sea transition zones has serious societal impacts (on for instance safety, fisheries, transport routes, scenic appreciation) while it will also affect biodiversity and ecology: key aspects of the Universal Outstanding Value of the Wadden Sea. The postdoc will develop the land-sea transition zone scenarios to be used as inputs for the MCCBA and perform the estimates of the impacts, both on the socio-economic side and the ecology side. This evaluation method includes the use of nature points. Nature points are ecologically weighted hectares: they are a systematic area and ecosystem-based measuring rod for ecological quality changes. While the system of nature points is well-established and has been applied practically in various cases it is not yet available for the Trilateral Wadden Sea. The postdoc will lead and organize the activities needed to create the building blocks for the nature points calculations. The postdoc will report and engage in discussions and deliberations with stakeholders about the evaluation results, and the postdoc will write scientific articles.