Postdoc "Following Frontiers of the ‘Forest City’: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Urbanization in Kalimantan and Beyond” (0.8 FTE)

Postdoc "Following Frontiers of the ‘Forest City’: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Urbanization in Kalimantan and Beyond” (0.8 FTE)

Job description The International Development Studies Group of the Department of Human Geography and Planning at the Faculty of Geosciences has recently acquired the Cooperation Indonesia - Netherlands Merian Fund project “Following Frontiers of the ‘Forest City’: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Urbanization in Kalimantan and Beyond”. For this project we are looking for a postdoctoral Researcher.
The project is inspired by the Indonesian government’s declaration to relocate its national capital city from Jakarta to the forest highlands of eastern Kalimantan, which has become contentious. Through an innovative ‘Forest City’ masterplan, proponents argue that the capital city relocation decentralizes development opportunities and alleviates Jakarta’s environmental problems. Critics contend however that not only does the relocation leave Jakarta’s problems unsolved, but the new city will negatively impact Kalimantan’s ecosystem and societies. Both arguments fail to address how the new Forest City might lead to sustainable and inclusive urbanization.
Although implementing the masterplan has been delayed due to the pandemic, the impacts of Forest City planning and development are already evident in Kalimantan through new forms of land speculation and encroachment, a resource boom and new infrastructure planning. Moreover, frontier expansion is expected to continue and generate ecological and social dynamics after the city’s planned 2024 inauguration and far beyond the formally planned urbanization frontier. To achieve ecological sustainability, disaster risk reduction and socio-economic inclusion in Kalimantan and beyond, it is urgent to establish a framework to study already emerging and future impacts of Forest City planning and development. To do so, this project proposes a framework with three objectives: 

• generate knowledge on how to evaluate the impacts of a mega-project beyond planned areas and timeframe;
• strengthen the existing research infrastructure to develop the capacity of local students and citizens to continuously monitor and analyze the impacts of urbanization;
• and create a multi-stakeholder platform where new tools and impact assessment methods are refined to ensure sustainable and inclusive urbanization. 

Through a highly inter-and-transdisciplinary approach and based on solid existing Indonesian-Dutch research collaboration, this project actively contributes to the global agenda for sustainable and inclusive urban development worldwide as well as the Indonesian government’s commitment to strengthen societal resilience and sustainable development in Indonesia.
Within the FOLLOW project, the postdoctoral Researcher will conduct a relational analysis of national and global processes that generate new flows of finance, materials and people which link to frontier expansion. This includes investments in the surrounding areas. You will closely collaborate with other Researchers and work packages in Indonesia and the Netherlands to generate in-depth knowledge on the political economic/ecological drivers of speculation and new investment flows leading to spatial, environmental and socio-economic transformations and to make investment and governmental development planning and intervention suggestions.
More specifically, the project includes the following activities: 

• conducting a literature study on new city processes and potential impacts;
• conducting empirical research on the drivers of speculation and new investment flows leading to spatial, environmental and socio-economic transformations in Indonesia in general and in Kalimantan in particular;
• writing and publishing the results in academic and professional publications;
• presenting the findings at international conferences; 
• managing the work package and planning workshops;
• teaching relevant courses in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning (max. 10% of the appointment).

Qualifications You are an enthusiastic and motivated Researcher with: 

• a PhD degree in a relevant social science discipline such as development studies, human geography and planning, social/cultural anthropology, development sociology, political science or a related discipline;
• strong qualitative field research skills including interviewing, observation and writing. Experience with the use of mix-methods, including the use of statistics and GIS, is a plus;  
• strong analytical skills;
• strong scientific English writing skills and a proven publication track record;
• the ability to work both independently and as part of an international team;
• preferably you are an Indonesian citizen or someone with extensive experience in Indonesia.

Offer

We offer a temporary position (0.8 FTE) for three years in an international working environment. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €2,838 and €4,474 (scale 10 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions  (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University can be found here.

About the organization

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University , the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old center and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht city has been consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the Netherlands.
The Faculty of Geosciences conducts education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With a complement of 2,600 students (BSc and MSc) and 600 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty is organised in four Departments: Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences, Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, and Human Geography & Urban/Regional Planning.
The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning has its focus on the enhancement of long-term socio-economic developments of cities, how to cope with social inequalities, and how to accelerate sustainability transitions of cities and infrastructures. Research on these topics takes place within our research programme 'Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities'. In this programme, faculty members from different sub disciplines of human geography and spatial planning – urban and economic geographies, international development studies and spatial planning – work closely together on topics like governance of urban transitions, urban infrastructures, healthy urban living, urban inequalities and diversities, transnational mobilities, economic resilience and networks and flows in and between urban regions.
Additional information For more information about this position, please contact:
Kei Otsuki (Associate Professor), via [email protected] or+31 30 253 23 11.
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Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation via the ‘apply’ button below.

The application deadline is 19/09/2021