PhD Researcher - Soil and water-based spatial planning and design (NWO-KIC program RESHAPE)

9 Sep 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Wageningen University & Research

Research Field

Agricultural sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

18 Sep 2023 - 22:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

38.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

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

No

Offer Description

Are you keen to contribute to a resilient climate-proof and sustainable future for the Dutch sandy soil landscapes? Would you like to elaborate the vision of spatial development lead by soil suitability and water availability? Then you could be the ideal PhD candidate to join our team!

We have a unique PhD position at the intersection of two prominent research groups :The Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning cluster (LSP) and the Soil Geography & Landscape group (SGL) at Wageningen University. This is for a 4-year project that aims to develop land use planning and design principles, building on model-based representations of soil-water-land use interactions. To ensure that stakeholders embrace and adopt these principles, they should be clear and intuitive.

Currently, land-use patterns and water systems in the Netherlands are disconnected from natural patterns of water availability and soil suitability. As this system is not sustainable and not climate proof, a paradigm shift is urgently needed towards soil and water system-based spatial planning. In this project we aim to contribute to develop quantitative support for evidence-based spatial planning in sandy soil landscapes of the south and eastern Netherlands.

You will develop a spatial planning support tool that allows users to explore future landscape configurations that reconnect land-use patterns with natural patterns of water availability and soil suitability. Together with the stakeholders involved in this project, you will develop design guidelines for nature-inspired landscapes and integrate these in the spatial planning support tool.

This PhD project is part of RESHAPE, an interdisciplinary research program funded by NWO that aims to develop change-pathways to increase the resilience of Dutch sandy soil landscapes in face of ongoing climate change. Think of droughts, floods, biodiversity loss and deteriorating water quality. The water system of sand landscape goes far beyond the visible rivers and ponds. It is above all the invisible waterflows through subsurface and plants that we can shift and improve by redesigning the landscape. Moreover, in a resilient sand landscape the spatial networks of water, economy, society and governance are strongly intertwined.

Within RESHAPE we study how to stimulate these spatial dependencies, which can catalyse a change towards a future-proof sand landscape. A substantial part of the project will be carried out in the context of the Reshape Academy, a trans-disciplinary innovation lab in which co-creation, validation and dissemination of the project’s results will take place. All RESHAPE PhDs will contribute to making this a vibrant and impactful community.

If you are a highly motivated and skilled researcher who is excited by the prospect of developing land use planning and design principles; if you like working both independently and in a multidisciplinary team; if you are looking for a challenge, we are looking for you!

Requirements
Specific Requirements

The ideal candidate must have the following qualities:

• A completed (or about to be completed) MSc degree in Landscape Architecture, Spatial Planning, Geo-information Science or a related Environmental Sciences field;
• A keen interest in climate adaptive spatial planning and/or quantification of soil-water-land use interactions;
• Affinity and a proven ability to study Dutch landscapes or other comparable North-Western European landscapes;
• Preferably experience with geo-information software such as QGIS or scripting (e.g., python or R)];
• Interest and ability to work independently as well as in a trans-disciplinary team with scientists from various disciplines and societal stakeholders;
• Creativity and intrinsic motivation, initiative in tackling complex problems;
• Strong organizational and communication skills, both oral and written;
• Fluency in English.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level . Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here .

Additional Information
Benefits

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning cluster and Soil Geography & Landscape group . This environment, in combination with the embedding in a large transdisciplinary project, gives you all opportunities to develop new skills and kick-start your academic career.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more;
• there is a strong focus on vitality, and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.770,- per month rising to € 3.539,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.
There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.
You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “ Best University ” in the Netherlands for the 18th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research center for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling. For instance, under the "30% rule", certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

Selection process

For more information about this position, please contact Dr Jasper Candel by email: jasper.candel@wur.nl , or Dr Ilse Voskamp by email:ilse.voskamp@wur.nl .

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, by email: noorien.abbas@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 18 September 2023. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 3 October 2023.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs many people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

Additional comments

For more information about this position, please contact Dr Jasper Candel by email: jasper.candel@wur.nl , or Dr Ilse Voskamp by email:ilse.voskamp@wur.nl .

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, by email: noorien.abbas@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 18 September 2023. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 3 October 2023.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs many people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/332043/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Wageningen University & Research

Country

Netherlands

City

Wageningen

Postal Code

6708 PB

Street

Droevendaalsesteeg

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/332043/phd-researcher-soil-and-water-based-…

Contact

City

Wageningen

Website

http://www.wageningenur.nl

Street

Droevendaalsesteeg

Postal Code

6708 PB

STATUS: EXPIRED