Vacancy
PhD position- Innovative spatial planning mechanisms to control nutrient emissions in the Netherlands
Your job
Are you interested in securing biodiversity while allowing farmers to continue farming? Would you like to explore how spatial planning mechanisms can ensure that farming activities are aligned with the landscape in which they are situated? Then you could be the ideal candidate to join the Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning team!
We are hiring a PhD candidate for a 4-year project that aims to investigate how overall levels of nutrient emissions in the Netherlands can be kept within safety limits without impairing the ability of farmers to keep thriving businesses. This can be achieved through cap-and-trade systems that are fair (all agents have equal access to resources), legitimate (in line with national policies) and sustainable (not generating any side effect both spatially and temporally).
Designing such systems, however, requires crucial decisions about how large the cap should be, how rights to pollute get distributed among actors, and at which spatial scale (e.g., provincial, national) the system should work. This in turn calls for an in-depth knowledge of farmers’ preferences and behavioral response to economic incentives. In your PhD, you will dive deep into these considerations and develop an agent-based model (ABM) that simulates the behavior of multiple agents under such systems, helping us assess the comprehensive effects of the above-mentioned design aspects on nutrient pollution and biodiversity conservation.
As this project is funded through the NL2120 Growth Fund, commissioned by the Dutch Government, your PhD can provide a tangible contribution to the planning of the Dutch landscape and economy over the next 100 years. Within the project, you will collaborate with other PhD candidates on designing innovative solutions for a more sustainable economy in 2120.
If you are a highly motivated and skilled researcher who is interested in spatial development and natural resource management; if you are excited by the prospect of having a real impact; if you like working both independently and in a multidisciplinary team; if you are looking for a challenge, we are looking for you!
You will work here
The research is embedded within the Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning cluster, and particularly the Land Use Planning group, which is led by Prof. Martha Bakker. Our group has a professional and scientific environment that gives you all opportunities to develop new skills and kick-start your academic career. You will be co-supervised by Dr. Francesco Orsi of the Land Use Planning group and Dr. Andries Richter of the Environmental Economics and Natural Resources group.
Your qualities
You are / you have:
- an MSc in Spatial Planning, Geography, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Economics, Environmental Engineering or a related field;
- a keen interest in spatial planning policy and instruments related to nature and agriculture;
- affinity and a proven ability to study Dutch landscapes, including both the natural aspects (e.g., soils, water bodies) and socio-economic ones (e.g., urbanized areas, firm locations);
- demonstrated experience with geospatial modeling, agent-based modeling and quantitative methods;
- interest and ability to work independently as well as in a multi-disciplinary team with scientists from various disciplines;
- creativity, motivation and willingness to take initiative;
- strong organizational and communication skills, both oral and written.
We offer you
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- 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.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.770 - per month rising to € 3.539,- 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 19th 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.
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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands
Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Francesco Orsi of the Land Use Planning Group, francesco.orsi@wur.nl
For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, noorien.abbas@wur.nl .
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 16 September 2024. We plan to schedule the first job interviews in the first or second week of October. The intended starting date of this position will be in December 2024.
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. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.
We are
The mission of Wageningen University & 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, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.