PhD on Wellbeing and justice implications of innovations and transitions

Irène Curie Fellowship

No

Department(s)

Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences

Reference number

V39.7448

Are you fascinated by the question of how we can transition to a circular and sustainable society without creating further damage and injustice? And are you interested in quantifying a range of environmental effects? This PhD project develops improved methods to include future developments and justice aspects into environmental impact assessment methods and applies them to real-world challenges. The research takes place in a multidisciplinary research group, involving social and natural scientists as well as humanities scholars, with a focus to work on sustainability transitions.  

You will do research on prospective impact assessment for just transitions, centered around the question:  

How can we estimate prospective impacts of environmental damage on human health and justice? As a first example we will quantify impacts caused by air pollution related to circular innovations and transition pathways. 

Current methods, like LCA, can assess the sustainability of value chains, business models or behavior. Although they are increasingly capable to take into account future characteristics of emerging technologies and circularity strategies, impact assessment methods are generally lagging behind. Moreover, while many assessment methods focus on environmental or social damages, justice implications of these damages are hardly addressed, let alone quantified. The objective of the PhD project is to develop and apply methods to assess the prospective impacts of environmental pollution on human health impacts and the justice implications of innovations and transition pathways. To achieve this goal you will derive indicators for footprint assessment, work with natural science based environmental models, prospective LCA and/or input-output analysis as well as the justice literature and just sustainability transition concepts. This PhD position is part of the Dutch stimulation program ‘Sectorplannen Bètawetenschappen 2023 (BÈTA II) focus point ‘circulariteit en duurzaamheidstransities’.  

The Technology, Innovation, and Society (TIS) group at Eindhoven University of Technology straddles natural science, social science and humanities disciplines and provides a stimulating and collaborative environment. The TIS group is part of the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS). Research at TIS concerns how humans and societies bring about technological change, and how technological innovations change society. With ~25 tenured staff and a large group of postdocs and PhD candidates, researchers in the TIS group try to bridge the engineering and social sciences in a systems perspective on sustainability transitions. The TIS staff teaches in the BSc program 'Sustainable Innovation', the MSc programs ‘Sustainable Energy Technologies’ and 'Innovation Management’, and in university-wide programs for engineers. 

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in natural, engineering or innovation sciences (for instance but not restricted to Industrial Engineering, Innovation Science, Environmental Science)  
• A clear affinity with environmental topics. 
• A research-oriented attitude.  
• Eagerness to engage with social sciences and humanities.  
• Affinity with working with models. 
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).  

international network. You will work on a modern, green campus, close to the city center and with great public transport and cycling facilities. In addition, we offer: 

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.  
• Salary and great benefits (such as a pension scheme and attractive leave conditions for (prospective) parents)  in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770, max. €3,539).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process . 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus daycare and sports facilities.  
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme for international candidates. 

About us  
Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.   

Information  
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? You can contact the daily supervisor for this position dr. Mara Hauck ([email protected] ). Prof. dr. Heleen de Coninck is the supervisor to award the doctoral degree. Cooperation with Dr. Johanna Höffken, Prof. dr. Mark Huijbregts (Radboud University) and prof. dr. Martijn Schaap (TNO) are expected and encouraged.
Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. Please contact the hiring manager Hanneke Huijs-Palmen ([email protected] )
Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit https://www.tue.nl/en/working-at-tue/scientific-staff . 

Application 
We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a: 

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation to apply and qualifications for the position. Why you want to work with us, and why we would want you.  
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of any publications, grades for your MSc and BSc thesis, and the contact information of three references. 

We look forward to receiving your application. The vacancy will remain open until May 31st. Interviews will be held in week 25 (online).