Key Skills

Job Description

Tilburg University | School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) is looking for a Refugee research assistant for study on digital technology and civic integration (4x) Department: Communication and Cognition Location: Tilburg Contract size: 0.1 fte (4 hours per week) Full-time gross monthly salary: € 3147,00 Contract duration: 9 months Intended start date: November 2026 We are looking to hire people who have refugee status in The Netherlands and who are completing (or have recently completed) civic integration (inburgering) to join an academic research team at Tilburg University. In this project, we are interested in the ways that refugees use digital technologies (such as translation tools, government apps, and chatbots) to help manage the civic integration process, including the barriers and opportunities of technology. As a research assistant, you will participate as an active team member, providing input and playing a role in key stages of the research process (design, recruitment, data collection, analysis). You will offer your insights as someone with firsthand experience of civic integration as well as contribute your interpersonal and language skills for recruitment and data collection. No previous research experience is required. Why should someone apply for this job? In this position, you will gain experience conducting academic research, working on a professional team in The Netherlands, and contributing to solutions for technological challenges that refugees face during civic integration. Why do we seek the expertise of refugees for this research? We believe we can better understand the challenges that refugees face in The Netherlands by working closely with people who have that firsthand experience. By hiring research assistants who have experience as refugees, we hope to identify more relevant questions, engage in more responsible ways with the community, and develop findings that more impactful for improving the lives of refugees. Your position Research assistant Your profile You are a person who has obtained refugee status in The Netherlands. You have permission to work (part-time) in The Netherlands. You are currently in the process of civic integration (inburgering) or have completed this in the previous 1 year. You have strong English language skills (spoken and written). You are fluent in a language in addition to English, such as Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, Tigrinya, Dari, and/or Pashto (other languages spoken by refugee communities in The Netherlands will be considered). You have strong interpersonal skills, including confidence speaking in group settings and comfortability engaging with people you do not know in multi-cultural contexts. You have strong analytical skills, such as an ability to learn new processes and contribute to strategic conversations in a group setting. Job responsibilities include the following: Attend orientation and training sessions on basic research skills (no previous research experience required). Participate in regular team meetings, weekly or every two weeks on average, in person in Tilburg (remote attendance possible on occasion). Contribute to the development of research questions and study design through feedback on proposed ideas and designs. Assist in recruiting participants through, e.g., distributing recruitment materials and helping contact potential participants through community organizations and refugee networks. Assist in data collection by serving as a co-moderator/co-interviewer for focus groups/interviews alongside the lead researcher, including providing translation as needed. Assist in analyzing data collected from focus groups or interviews through reading transcripts and participating in team meetings to provide input on analysis. Contribute to communicating research findings to the public through feedback on the planning of, and/or participation in, community events or stakeholder meetings. Assist in communication with participants (i.e., translation) throughout the research process, including during recruitment, scheduling, and data collection. Our offer Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment: Employment of 0.1 fte (4 hours per week). The research assistant position will be ranked in the Dutch university job ranking system (UFO) as a research assistant 1. Salary of €314.70 gross per month for this 0,1 fte employment (UFO-profile Research Assistant 1, salary scale 5). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience. This is a vacancy whose work is temporarily funded on the basis of temporary external funding or co-financing, in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 sub a CLA DU, namely NWO XS Grant “Participatory Approach to Digital Inclusion for Refugees in The Netherlands”. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 9 months. Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Over 8 weeks of vacation leave. Reimbursement sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport. Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training. Pension through ABP. Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities. A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport. For more information, please see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities. Want to know more? Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Will Marler at [email protected]. Want to apply? We kindly invite you to apply before October 9, 2026; this can only be done online. To apply, provide a Cover Letter that briefly explains 1) your background, including any relevant qualifications (you may mention specific education or work experience, but this is not required), 2) your interest in the position, and 3) how you meet the Job Profile above. Address your cover letter to Dr. Will Marler. If you would like to attach a CV, you may do so, but it is not required. The letter selection will take place by Oct 14. You will be notified as soon as possible thereafter. Interviews will take place in the week of October 19. The selection of positions is made by Will Marler, assistant professor, Department of Communication and Cognition. You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on Nov 2. About Tilburg University Tilburg University is the university in the humanities and social sciences. Ever since our foundation in 1927, we have been committed to a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. With leading research and inspiring education, we contribute to the interpretation and, where possible, solutions to current societal issues, from climate change to digitalization Our community is personal, engaged, and small-scale. On our green, compact, and vibrant campus there is room for encounter, collaboration, reflection, and personal growth. Read more about Tilburg University. Working at Tilburg University means working in an inclusive team with attractive employment conditions. At Tilburg University, you will receive ample opportunities to strengthen your talents and develop your career, in a warm working atmosphere where we attach great importance to the following values: curious, connected, caring, and courageous. About the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) focuses on humans, technology, culture, and their interactions in a globalizing digital society. From the interplay of our disciplines, our research and education focuses on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies, their influence on communication, culture and society, and moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of six Departments: Communication and Cognition, Computational Cognitive Science, Intelligent Systems, Culture Studies, Philosophy, and the Tilburg Center of the Learning Sciences. Collaboration across disciplines is encouraged among both researchers and students. With this approach, we nurture a way of thinking that takes into account different perspectives and the diverse, sometimes conflicting needs and interests of people and society. At TSHD, we foster a culture of integrity, trust, diversity and inclusion, and constructive and critical dialogue. All members of our community are recognized and valued for their unique contributions. University College Tilburg, with its interdisciplinary Liberal Articles and Sciences program, holds a unique position within the School. This collaboration with other Schools also includes the disciplines of economics, law, and the social sciences. Read more about the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD).

Core Responsibilities

The research assistant will support the design, recruitment, data collection, and analysis of a study on digital technology and civic integration for refugees. Key tasks include co-moderating interviews, translating materials, and providing firsthand insights into the integration process.

Requirements

Applicants must have refugee status in the Netherlands, be currently undergoing or have recently completed civic integration, and possess strong English and additional language skills. No previous research experience is required, but strong interpersonal and analytical skills are essential.

Benefits

• Vacation pay of 8%
• Year-end bonus of 8.3%
• 8 weeks of vacation leave
• Sustainable commuting reimbursement
• Options model for additional leave, pension, bicycle or personal training
• Pension through ABP