PhD ‘From historic injustices to empowered futures’

23 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

The Open Universiteit (OU)

Research Field

Language sciences
Cultural studies

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

4 Apr 2024 - 21:59 (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

From historic injustices to empowered futures: examining the role of marginalized communities in shaping inclusive and resilient sustainability transitions

Are you ready for the start of your academic career? Do you want to become part of an enthusiastic group of colleagues, who seek to push the boundaries of environmental knowledge and cultural studies, and teach in the highest graded educational programs in the Netherlands? Do you have the right skills to do cutting-edge research in an interdisciplinary setting? Then apply for a PhD-position in the project “From historic injustices to empowered futures: the role of marginalized communities and intergenerational values in shaping inclusive sustainability transitions” at the Department of Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Sciences) and the Department of Culture, Diversity and Inclusion (Faculty of Humanities).

Background

Modern societies grapple with escalating discursive polarization across social, cultural, and economic lines. These divisions impede sustainability transitions, such as addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Calls for just transitions therefore require a more interdisciplinary approach to understand challenges and opportunities for change and for finding ways forward that are truly inclusive. From a decolonial perspective this research seeks to move the debate on sustainability transitions beyond its technicalities, and recognize the role of knowledges and practices created within marginalized communities, prompting a shift towards social engagement in environmental governance. Indeed, environmental governance often advocates inclusivity and a just transition, but the focus must evolve beyond calls for participation and redistribution. This research therefore proposes an interdisciplinary participatory approach in order to take the perspectives of marginalized communities seriously, aiming to understand their experiences with environmental policies and systemic pressures (e.g. racism), and fostering mutuality about their role in sustainability transitions. The study aims to uncover non-mainstream practices, combining critical decolonization theories with future-oriented sustainability perspectives, fostering a multilevel resilience: social, economic, political, anthropological and ecological.

Objectives

Starting from the field of environmental governance as well as from insights from decolonial theory, the fundamental idea is that to understand how particular communities experience sustainability transitions, we need an approach that integrates insights from other, more interpretative disciplines, such as cultural studies, anthropology, and philosophy. This combination is for this research project both necessary and innovative; this unique perspective might generate a new type of insights that are now rarely discussed.

The research project consists of four parts. The first part will examine theoretical frameworks at the interface of decolonization and sustainability studies (e.g. environmental justice, intersectionality, decolonial ecology): reviewing, identifying gaps and constructing a framework for empirical research, that is both practice and future oriented. In the second part, it aims to examine, through case studies and ethnographic research, how particular marginalized communities experience systemic pressures (e.g. racism) and sustainability discourses. Thirdly, it aims to examine how a co-creative approach (e.g. deliberative experiments) focused on intergenerational values can contribute to the empowerment of marginalized communities and/or the strengthening of sustainability values. Fourthly, a comparative analysis of different cases will be made. This will also be used for policy and research recommendations.

Tasks

The PhD project is a collaboration between the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities with supervisors from both Faculties. The PhD candidate will:

• engage in supervised scientific research that will ultimately result in a doctoral thesis (literature review, theoretical framework, critical study, case studies, findings and recommendations, etc.), including action research in marginalized communities;
• participate in the relevant activities of the “Innovating for Resilience” Program, the two Faculties involved in the project, the Department of Environmental Sciences and the Department Culture, Diversity and Inclusion;
• participate in the organization of scientific and practice-oriented events (workshops, conferences), in close collaboration with the supervisors;
• follow a tailor made course program for PhD-candidates of the OU Graduate School (and/or other national Graduate Schools);
• publish research results in the form of conference papers, contributions to peer-reviewed scientific journals, as well as through popular publications and presentations;
• participate for 10 to 15% of his/her time in educational activities.

Requirements
Specific Requirements

Candidates must:

• have a Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as Anthropology, Philosophy, Sustainability Science, Cultural Studies, Political Science, Environmental Sciences, History or any other discipline that seems relevant;
• have the ability to conduct research (ethnographic study, interviews, deliberative experiments) in marginalized communities, working closely together with (non-academic) stakeholders;
• be open to go beyond disciplinary restrictions;
• think out of the box, be creative and experimental in methods and thinking;
• have experience or interest in environmental sciences, social and cultural anthropology, comparative analysis, ethnographic research, critical theory;
• be able to demonstrate excellent scientific writing and communication skills, as well as relevant collaborative and social skills;
• have experience working in an interdisciplinary team;
• have excellent knowledge of English (spoken and in writing).

Applicants must be strongly motivated for doctoral studies, possess the ability to work independently and perform critical analysis and also possess good levels of cooperative and communicative abilities. Teaching experience and publications are not required but are considered an advantage if the candidate can demonstrate experience in these areas.

Additional Information
Benefits

Station
Heerlen, the Netherlands. You are present in Heerlen (at least) two days a week.

Salary

The salary is determined in accordance with salary scale P of Appendix A of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities and amounts to € 2.770,= gross per month upon commencement, in case of full employment.

The PhD candidate will be appointed for a period of 15 months. The appointment will be extended to 4 years when progress and performance are good.

Selection process

Please apply to this position by sending an email with your motivation letter together with your resume, stating the vacancy number to: [email protected] .

Closing date: April 4, 2024.

Additional comments

Information

For more information about this vacancy you can contact: Dr. Stijn Neuteleers ([email protected] ) or dr. Sibo Kanobana ([email protected] ).

The PhD supervising team will consist of Dr. Stijn Neuteleers, Dr. Sibo Kanobana, Prof. Dr. Sarah de Mul and Prof. Dr. Raoul Beunen.

NOTICE: please note that the email addresses mentioned above is provided for obtaining information about this vacancy.

The Open Universiteit provides good secondary benefits such as training, mobility, part-time employment and paid parental leave.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/338139/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Open Universiteit

Country

Netherlands

City

Heerlen

Postal Code

6401 DL

Street

Postbus 2960

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/338139/phd-from-historic-injustices-to-empo…

Contact

City

Heerlen

Website

http://www.ou.nl/

Street

Valkenburgerweg 177

Postal Code

6419 AT

STATUS: EXPIRED