PhD researcher - Integrative and inclusive governance of healthy climate adaptation in Dutch rural regions

We are looking for

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD researcher on the governance of integrating climate change adaptation measures with public health and other regional challenges.

Regions are increasingly confronted with implementing various transitions including climate change adaptation, health, agriculture, biodiversity, and energy. However, these transitions are often poorly integrated, resulting in missed opportunities and negative consequences. Three structural characteristics of regional governance systems hinder integration: fragmentation within the governmental administration, focus on the short term benefits and actions, and exclusion of important stakeholders such as marginalized groups. This PhD project will contribute to advancing the scientific and societal basis for developing regional governance systems that are better able to develop and implement climate change adaptation and health solutions in a connective, forward-looking and inclusive manner.

In your position as a PhD researcher, you will:
- develop a framework for integrative, inclusive and forward looking governance systems
- critically assess and compare current regional governance systems
- identify and analyse innovative governance practices
- co-design policy interventions in rural living labs with Dutch practitioners

The PhD project is embedded within the larger transdisciplinary NWO funded MANTRA project (CliMate AdaptatioN for HealTy Rural Areas ). MANTRA aims to develop an innovative system approach that integrates rural priorities for climate change with health risks and opportunities for local communities. It will co-create data, assessments, measures and interventions for healthy climate adaptation in 3 rural living labs. The MANTRA projects involves different disciplines (health, climate, ecology, governance) and various actors such as universities, applied science institutes, assessment agencies, organizations for societal issues and citizen participation, health organizations and various regional stakeholders.

The candidate will be based at the Public Administration and Policy Group of Wageningen University, the Netherlands, which has the mission of studying the governance of wicked problems in the life sciences domains to develop more effective and legitimate governance arrangements. The supervisors of the project will be Prof. Dr. Katrien Termeer and Dr Robbert Biesbroek.

We ask

We are looking for a PhD candidate who:

• has a master’s degree (or is near completion of a master program) in the field of Public Administration, Political Sciences, Environmental Governance, or another relevant field;
• has affinity with climate change adaptation and health issues;
• likes to engage in transdisciplinary research, collaborating with scientists across disciplines and with societal actors;
• is able to perform tasks independently and in teams,  has good organization and writing skills, and is fluent in both English and Dutch ( For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level ).

We offer

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, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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 € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- 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 17th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre 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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief , known as the 30% ruling. 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, and other issues.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of 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. For more information please go to our inclusivity page . A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

More information

Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Prof . Dr. Katrien Termeer ([email protected]).

For more information about the procedure, please contact [email protected] .

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  25 June 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 4 July 2022.

We are

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University and Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

The Public Administration and Policy Group
The Public Administration and Policy Group is an enthusiastic, ambitious and steadily growing group within the Department of Social Sciences of Wageningen University. Our mission is to study the governance of wicked problems in the interrelated domains of water, climate, food, and agriculture, and to use the generated insights to develop innovative governance arrangements. By doing so the group aims to contribute to scientific progress, to societal debates, and to policy practices. More information on the group can be found on www.wur.nl/pap .