PhD position on The campus as an urban living lab: Examining the transformative learning experiences and outcomes of students from engaging with biodiversity at the UU Campus

15 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Utrecht University

Research Field

Geosciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

30 Apr 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE / MSCA

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101119845

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are seeking a PhD researcher to investigate the transformative learning experiences and outcomes for young people by connecting with nature on campus. The research will involve multiple actors, including students, student associations, business actors, and National Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug. The PhD researcher will theoretically innovate and empirically deepen the understanding and evaluation of transformative learning (pathways, outcomes, and experiences) from engaging with biodiversity in urban spaces and university campuses.

The PhD research will result in a review of the learning experiences and outcomes, including shifts in mindsets and paradigms of young people, and new people-nature connections. The research will result in a critical examination of what, and how transformative learning takes place, with a focus on different biodiversity enhancing measures, and a new conceptual framework on how to transform university campuses to living labs enhancing people-nature connections.

Planned secondments:

• University of Stavanger, Norway (3 months in Fall 2026): Visiting Fellowship at the Research School in Economics and Business Administration
• City of Utrecht, the Netherlands (3 months in Fall 2025)

Requirements

Research Field

Geosciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Excellent command of the Dutch language (in both written and oral form);
• Experience in publishing, as lead author, at least one paper in a conference or in a high-quality, international peer-reviewed journal;
• Knowledge of European environmental policies;
• Willingness to acquire new skills as required for the required research of the PhD project.

Specific Requirements

• A Master of Science in Urban Planning, Geography, Social Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Policy Studies, or Sustainability Science, or related disciplines. A completed Master of Science degree by Spring 2024.
• You did not reside or carry out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account;
• Excellent research skills and ethical practices, including the ability to gather, analyse and interpret qualitative data, experience in conducting and analysing structured and semi-structured interviews, large and small workshops, focus groups, and participatory research activities;
• Excellent command of the English language (in both written and oral form);
• Ability to work both independently and in a team, collaborative and team-player skills;
• You are a pro-active and motivated person, eager to participate in network-wide training events, international mobility, and public dissemination activities;
• Good time management skills and ability to balance between the PhD and the research project demands;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

You did not reside or carry out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account. 

Website for additional job details

http://www.sunsetproject.eu

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Utrecht University

Country

Netherlands

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

http://www.sunsetproject.eu

Contact

City

Utrecht

Website

https://www.uu.nl/en

STATUS: EXPIRED