PhD Candidate in Transnational Retirement across the Netherlands and Turkey

Utrecht University invites applications for a PhD research position at the Faculty of Geosciences that will investigate transnational retirement trajectories between the Netherlands and Turkey. The candidate will be part of the ERC-funded project ‘Retirement across countries: A tripartite analysis of the welfare state, family care networks, and the retirement industry (RETIREWEL).’ RETIREWEL is a comparative qualitative research project led by Dr Dora Sampaio, Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning.

Your job

RETIREWEL investigates retirement experiences across countries, with a focus on the connections to the welfare state, family care networks, and the retirement industry. Today’s older adults are more likely to plan for and retire across more than one country due to factors such as health, climate amenities, socio-economic status, cultural values, and proximity to family, among others. These rapidly evolving retirement trajectories create new and uneven relationships among families, institutions, and places, with far-reaching impacts. The project will identify patterns and trends in transnational retirement and provide novel insights by exploring how older adults plan for and spend their retirement across borders within these systems.

You will study retired individuals and those approaching retirement, their families, and relevant national and local stakeholders through transnational multi-sited fieldwork (the Netherlands and Turkey) and a combination of qualitative methodological approaches. Within this framework, there is scope to tailor the PhD project to your interests and strengths. You will be part of a team researching the complexity and inequalities of transnational (pre-)retirement trajectories across three migration corridors – Portugal-Brazil, Netherlands-Turkey, and UK-India. The team consists of the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Dora Sampaio, two PhD candidates, and one postdoctoral researcher. The team is embedded in the International Development Studies section of the department and will have access to expertise from the staff in this section. The team will work closely together (e.g., workshops, trainings, collaborative writing sessions) to jointly address the project’s overarching questions and objectives.

Your responsibilities and tasks include:

• developing a research and fieldwork plan;
• setting up and carrying out in-depth qualitative fieldwork for a period of eight months in the Netherlands and Turkey;
• writing a paper-based PhD dissertation within four years;
• (co-)authoring publications with other team members;
• participating in group meetings and contributing to organising project events and workshops;
• participating in conferences, workshops, seminars, and other relevant events.

In this role, you will develop strong writing, presentation, and teamwork skills. Additional training will be available through the NETHUR Graduate School. You will also have other opportunities for development through the university-wide strategic themes and platforms, such as Institutions for Open Societies (IOS) and the Migration and Societal Change Focus Area.

Your qualities

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher to carry out a PhD project across the Netherlands and Turkey, within a team setting. Since you will be working closely with the project team, this position requires residence in the Netherlands, preferably in or in the vicinity of Utrecht (except during the fieldwork period abroad).

The ideal candidate has:

• completed a Master’s Degree in human geography, anthropology, sociology, or interdisciplinary fields such as development or migration studies;
• demonstrated passion and experience with qualitative and ethnographic research (evidenced in Master's thesis);
• strong analytical and writing skills;
• familiarity, and ideally, experience with in-depth qualitative and/or ethnographic fieldwork in Turkey and/or the Netherlands in topics related to migration, transnationalism, ageing, and the life course;
• an excellent command of written and spoken English, and fluency in Turkish and Dutch (ideally both languages, but candidates with fluency only in Turkish or Dutch will also be considered);
• interest and/or experience in working with visual, digital and/or creative methods;
• excellent planning and organisational skills (including meeting project goals and deadlines), ability to take initiative, and present research findings for wider audiences;
• enthusiasm to be part of a team and actively contribute to a dynamic, engaging, and collegial academic environment.

Our offer

• A position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 36-38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Dr Dora Sampaio at [email protected].

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send the following documents via the 'apply now' button:

• your motivation letter (max. one page), in which you describe your motivation for doing a PhD and how this position fits with your previous experience and future ambitions;
• a research proposal with a preliminary idea for the PhD project (max. one page, excl. references), detailing how you will tailor the PhD theme of transnational retirement across the Netherlands and Turkey to your interests, skills, and networks;
• your curriculum vitae (max. two pages);
• a writing sample (e.g., a chapter from your Master’s thesis);
• the names and contact details of two people who can provide references.

The first interviews are expected to take place around early/mid-September 2025. A second round of interviews (if necessary) will be held one or two weeks later. The intended starting date is soon after.