PhD position on the governance of climate change in metro-regions (Environmental Policy Group)

Job description

The Environmental Policy Group (in cooperation with the sub-department of Environmental Technology) offers a position for a PhD student. The successful candidate will investigate the governance of climate change in metropolitan regions, in particular the governance challenges stemming from the emergence of new configurations of material flows and the introduction of new technological concepts, designed to deal with climate impacts on the ground. The project aims to better understand the relationship between adaptive capacities, new technological concepts, and the governance of climate change in metro-regions. Research will focus on different areas of climate governance (energy, transport, water and food) in (Dutch) metro-regions and the roles that local authorities play in multi-level climate governance.

Requirements

· degree (M.A., M.Sc.) in Environmental Sciences or Social Sciences (with a strong interest in environmental issues) and an excellent academic record; · experience with empirical research projects, interdisciplinary research and different research methods would be an advantage;· independent and result-orientated way of working and well-developed social skills;· excellent communication and writing skills in English; willingness to acquire Dutch language skills (if Dutch is not your native language).

Conditions of employment

We offer you fulltime employment (38 hours a week) for 18 months with a possible extension of 30 months after positive evaluation. The gross salary is € 2.042,- per month in the first year and increases to € 2.612,- per month in the fourth year. (based on fulltime employment). In addition, we offer a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-the-year bonus of 8.3% of your annual salary. You will be appointed at the Environmental Policy Group, within the in Department of Social Sciences at Wageningen University. The group has a strong international profile in the area of environmental social science and policy research and education. Our 15 staff and over 35 PhD students focus on topics associated with sustainable consumption and production, sustainable natural resource use and global environmental change. Research has a strongly international orientation with research conducted at the global level as well as in number of countries across Europe, Africa and Asia.(http://www.enp.wur.nl/UK). Additional information can be obtained from: Dr. Kristine Kern (tel.: +31(0)317483917email: kristine.kern@wur.nl or Prof. dr. Gert Spaargaren (tel.: +31(0)317483874email: gert.spaargaren@wur.nl Please do not send your application to the email addresses mentioned above. To apply, please use the button on this page. Deadline for application: 5 April 2010

Contract type

Temporary

18 months with a possible extension of 30 months

Organisation

Wageningen University and ResearchCentre

Delivering a substantial contributionto the quality of life. That's our focus – each and every day.Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search foranswers to issues affecting society – such as sustainable foodproduction, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, wedon’t do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on ‘the qualityof life’, turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. Couldyou be one of these people? We give you the space you need.Forfurther information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look atwww.jobsat.wur.nl.