PhD position on diversity, equity and inclusion in medical education

About the project

Minoritized students—including first-generation citizens, racialized minorities, women, LGBTQ+ community members, and those from low-income backgrounds—are still underrepresented in Dutch academia. These groups face barriers such as prejudice, resource scarcity, and microaggressions, which discourage participation and lead to a loss of diverse perspectives in academia. Our project uses innovative research to explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) challenges shape minoritized students’ experiences and how we can equip them with skills and strategies to facilitate systemic change. The project focuses on minoritized students in medical and teacher education. This vacancy falls under the project ‘Participatory Theatre as a Pedagogy to Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Teacher and Medical Education‘, which is funded through an Open Competition Large grant from the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO). This project is carried out in a consortium led by the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), in collaboration with the ICLON Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching, the University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU), and the Radboud Teachers Academy of the Radboud University Nijmegen.

Research focus
This project will use a longitudinal participatory action research approach with theatre and aims to (a) examine power dynamics and inequalities in educational systems; (b) develop educational interventions using co-construction, critical pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed; and (c) empower and support students to implement transformative DEI changes. The PhD candidates’ tasks will be to (a) actively engage in the design, development, and assessment of the Theatre of the Oppressed interventions, (b) organise, facilitate, and participate in theatre sessions with professional actors at multiple institutes, and (c) collect and analyse data. The candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with (inter)national partners, develop workshops and (online) educational content, and share research findings in scientific journals, newsletters, and conferences. The PhD candidate at the UMCG will focus on medical education, while their counterpart at Leiden University will focus on teacher education. Both will collaborate with a diverse international research team. This vacancy focuses on the PhD position at the UMCG. In the medical education PhD, the candidate will also work closely with researchers from the UMCU. This may entail regular research visits to the UMCU to facilitate interventions and collect data.

Working environment

The UMCG offers a supportive research environment fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and professional development. This research project will be carried out at the Wenckebach Institute for Education and Training (WIOO), specifically within the LEARN research programme (Lifelong Learning, Education, and Assessment Research Network), in collaboration with the UMCG Center of expertise for personal development (SCOPE) and the Julius Center of the UMCU. Our work spans social, educational, and health sciences, and the arts, promoting lifelong learning, social justice, and patient-centred care.

What do we need

We seek an enthusiastic candidate with a strong affinity for intersectionality and empowering minoritized groups in medical education. Ideal candidates will have:

• a (Research) Master’s degree in social, behavioural or educational sciences, humanities or health professions (such as medicine and nursing).
• interest in Theatre of the Oppressed and Critical Pedagogy; affinity with theatre or similar performing arts is preferred.
• strong analytical skills and experience with or interest in mixed-methods research and participatory research methods.
• social, organizational, and self-regulatory competencies.
• ability to connect and collaborate with students, professionals, and fellow researchers.
• proficiency in English, and preferably also in Dutch.

We explicitly invite candidates to apply who feel strongly connected to the topic of intersectionality and DEI for minoritized groups, but who do not check all the boxes.

What do we offer

The UMCG offers a fulltime employment contract for a duration of 4 years (36 hours per week). The initial appointment will be for one year and if possible starting on 1 February 2025. After one year, the candidate's performance will be evaluated to determine whether there is sufficient progress to expect a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years. Fulltime salary ranges from € 3.017,- gross per month in the first year, increasing to a maximum of € 3.824,- gross per month in the last year (scale PRO). Additionally, the UMCG will provide you with 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

For questions about the position

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