PhD IN CLIMATE CHANGE & INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATION

Climate change and associated contemporary societal problems call for innovative and creative solutions on a scale that may be at odds with existing administrative divisions in governmental arrangements. Likewise, such solutions may challenge standing divisions between scientific disciplines and proven methodological traditions. To develop the innovative and creative solutions required, new modes of collaborative governance and transdisciplinary, action-oriented research are needed. However, professionals working in governments and research performing organizations often have difficulty in stepping away from existing routines and task perceptions. What today's problems need, is constructive and integrative action to instigate learning and transformation, fueled by the active creation of trust among actors, and actively engaging these in the process (think for instance of policy makers, researchers, farmers, and citizens).

If this description stirs your curiosity and interest, please apply to join a vibrant and growing team of researchers within the Athena Institute that focuses on societal transformation processes and institutional innovation!

Organization of the research trajectory

The Athena Institute within the Faculty of Science at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is looking for a researcher interested in governance, institutional and methodological innovation in the fields of climate change governance, the physical environment and environmental policy to develop their own research which will result in a scientific dissertation. As a PhD student, you will participate in research projects of the Athena Institute, especially ones developed in close cooperation with the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency around the themes of climate policy and region-based innovative policy. You will work closely with other PhD students, as well as junior and senior researchers. During the PhD program, you will be offered opportunities for professional development.

Your duties

• Conducting methodologically innovative, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scientific research on institutional innovation in view of complex social issues in the physical environment
• Designing a research proposal that builds on and fits with current policyoriented projects in collaboration with your VU supervisors and commissioning organizations
• Designing and facilitating interactive methods, such as multistakeholder dialogue sessions aimed at problem articulation and the joint development of solutions, followed by concrete actions and their management
• Writing Englishlanguage research articles that will be submitted to international scientific journals for peer-review and will culminate in a scientific dissertation
• Writing Dutchlanguage, informative articles for policymakers on the results of the research;
• Teaching (up to 40% of the appointment) in the courses provided by the Athena Institute.