PRR Project

Summary

NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities seeks to expand its academic staff by appointing an Assistant Researcher in Citizenship, Law, and Childhood, with expertise on field of justice and at-risk children and youth. The selected candidate will develop their research agenda as an active member of the Research Unit Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences – CICS.NOVA and will contribute to the development of NOVA FCSH strategic line on Society and Politics. Key responsibilities addressed: 1.    Design and conduct independent research on topics related with: a) childhood; b) rights; c) delinquency, violence, and crime; d) public policy; and e) justice - child-law and child justice. 2.    Generate and disseminate high-quality research findings, including (but not exclusively) in international, peer-reviewed journals. 3.    Contribute to a supportive and productive research community, namely by supporting the design and implementation of CICS.NOVA strategy, as well as NOVA FCSH strategic area of Society and Politics. 4.    Design and submit applications for competitive research funding. 5.    Actively develop efforts to establish meaningful collaborative work with academic and non-academic institutions, setting the ground for future partnerships and social engagement. 6.    Develop and teach courses, including in their field of expertise, thus actively contributing to the renewal and ongoing improvement of curricula and educational practices at all levels. 7.    Supervise post-graduate students, by providing mentoring and advice. Scientific Profile 1.    PhD degree in Sociology. 2.    Specific expertise on social dimensions of justice and at-risk children and youth, as well as sound knowledge of rights, public policy and social impact methodologies. 3.    Recognized experience in the design and implementation of research projects, including projects with competitive and external funding. 4.    Relevant experience in team coordination, in the context of research projects and/or managerial responsibilities. 5.    Outstanding research qualities demonstrated through an established track record of relevant publications, including peer-reviewed, international journals, books and other relevant outlets. 6.    Proven experience in interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary teams, either as project leader and/or team member. 7.    Active member of relevant networks (academic and non-academic) in the research topics covered. 8.    Strong focus on societal engagement and knowledge exchange with relevant stakeholders and society in general.Rationale: The recruitment of an Assistant Researcher Assistant Researcher in Citizenship, Law, and Childhood, with a specialization and soundtrack-record on childhood; rights; delinquency, violence, and crime; public policy and Justice - child-law and child justice, is scientifically relevant for both CICS.NOVA and NOVA FCSH. Justice and at-risk children’s studies have addressed the question of childhood; rights; delinquency, violence, and crime; public policy and Justice - child-law and child justice but focused mainly on adolescents.  Research on justice and at-risk children’s is a key achievement to make visible research done in peripherical Southern Europe within childhood and socio-legal studies and achieve a better understanding of young children’s socialization processes considering social deprived territories, particularly on their involvement in delinquency. Recruiting an Assistant Researcher in this field would allow to (1) strengthen the research developed under the strategic line on Citizenship, Law and Childhood, at the RU level, by adding complementary expertise to the current group Citizenship, Work and Technology - Rights, Policy and Justice,  and enhance the research outputs, (2) support the Research Unit’s in achieving international recognition in its field and establishing it further as a reference both at the national and international level; and (3) contribute to teaching and mentoring at the post-graduate level, thus shaping a new generation of researchers at the RU.  This position is also crucial to further develop NOVA FCSH ‘Society and Politics’ strategic line, one of the five strategic areas that will support NOVA FCSH educational and research mission until 2030.