Postdoc position: Climate adaptation and economic valuation

Do you have experience with research on climate adaptation and assessing the economic (co)benefits of adaptation using nature-based solutions, and would you like to work on these themes in an academic environment with a multidisciplinary team of professionals? Please apply to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 0.8 - 1

The Postdoc will be involved in a new Horizon Europe project called PIIASA (Piloting Innovative Insurance Solutions for Adaptation) as a researcher (between 0.8-1 fte). Within the project the Postdoc will evaluate the climate adaptation strategy of stimulating insurance policyholders to adopt green roofs in the Netherlands. A broad range of societal (co)benefits will be assessed using economic valuation methods and included in societal cost-benefit analyses of climate adaptation strategy. The Postdoc will also examine the effectiveness of incentives, offered through insurance, of stimulating homeowners to invest in green roofs, and identify public-private partnerships that facilitate sustainable finance arrangements to encourage investments in green roofs. Research results of the Postdoc will be disseminated in workshops that aim to examine the applicability of green roofs as an adaptation measure in other European countries. Moreover, based on the outcomes of stakeholder interviews and workshop meetings, cost-benefit analyses of climate adaptation will be adjusted to local conditions in areas outside the Netherlands to investigate whether green roofs can be scaled as an insurance solution as well as whether additional barriers and enablers should be considered.

The second main task of the Postdoc is to contribute to teaching activities that match the expertise of the Postdoc (0.1 fte). This may mean teaching in a course on, for example, economic methods or on the economics of ecosystem services, and supervision of BSc and MSc student projects. Other tasks (0.1 fte) involve limited administrative and organisational duties in support of the strong teaching and research base at IVM and supervision of PhD students where relevant. Also, the candidate may be asked to contribute to writing research proposals for Dutch and EU research calls.

Your duties

• develop innovative research within the PIIASA project, and publish research outcomes in international peer-reviewed journals and policy-oriented journals
• coordinate and teach in the domain of environmental economics
• limited administrative tasks
• PhD, MSc and BSc thesis supervision

• PhD in environmental economics or a related field
• research interest in one or more of the following themes/methods: climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, economic valuation using stated preference methods (e.g., choice modelling), experimental and behavioural economics, economics of ecosystem services, business model development and sustainable finance
• the candidate should have knowledge of and experience with academic teaching, have strong quantitative methodological skills, and have good organisational qualities

A challenging position in a socially involved organisation. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and ranges from € 2960 gross per month (salary scale 10) up to a maximum of € 4670 (salary scale 10), based on full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE. The starting date of the position is on or before 1 June, 2023. The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 3 years.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as (for details see www.workingatvu.nl ):

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

About the institute
Established in 1971, IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognised for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM’s research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Geography, Environmental Policy Analysis; and Water and Climate Risk. Since 2001 IVM has been part of the Faculty of Science at VU Amsterdam (legal name Stichting VU).

The department of Environmental Economics (EE) leads the institute’s efforts in improving insights into the interaction between the environment and the economy. The department is one of the main groups of environmental economists in Europe, consisting of around 30 scientific staff and PhD researchers. The department strategy is to consolidate and further strengthen its position as a major player in the European field of environmental economics. Important fields of application include climate change, energy, water, ecosystem services, and environmental and natural resource management. The philosophy of the EE Department is to closely integrate its research projects with its teaching programme and to initiate and conduct research jointly with stakeholders and collaborating institutes. In the coming years, the EE Department will further explore new research fields related to the economics of climate change and risk management, the economics of ecosystem services, and renewable energy economics.