PhD Researcher in the δelta protein project

Faculty of Geosciences

Department:
Department of Sustainable Development

Hours per week:
28 to 40

Application deadline:
10 May 2024
More than 500 million people worldwide live in deltas, which are under pressure from sea level rise and ecosystem degradation. How do we create sustainable, climate-resistant and prosperous deltas?

Your job

This question is the focus of the
, a new research centre located in Vlissingen, in the heart of the Zeeuwse delta between the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. It aims to address sustainability challenges for the local Scheldt-Meuse-Rhine delta as an exemplary case study for other deltas around the world.

The project "δelta protein" of the Delta Climate Center aims to explore opportunities for a transformation towards sustainable protein production and consumption in Zeeland, creating a more sustainable delta within planetary boundaries and with futureproof business models for entrepreneurs. Concretely, this means an evolution of terrestrial and marine food production practices, changes in the downstream value chain, and dietary adaptations. This is part of the development and implementation of a broader vision for the future in which the Zeeuwse delta is the source of healthy, sustainable, tasty and affordable food from the marine and terrestrial environment.

The Delta Climate Center is hiring a full-time, four-year PhD candidate to carry out transdisciplinary action research in this project. You will be supervised by researchers from Utrecht University’s Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development and the HZ University of Applied Sciences’ research group working on sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation (KCOI).

The aim of your position will be to:

• generate a Theory of Change for the transformation towards sustainable protein production and consumption in the Zeeuwse delta;
• investigate how the local ecological, economic, social and cultural contexts affect the different trajectories for transformative change;
• generate insights in systemic changes and innovations required for this transformation;
• investigate consumer needs and behaviour, and design interventions helpful to understand what generates consumer demand;
• co-create solutions (such as business models, institutional innovations, or partnerships) with local stakeholders (such as entrepreneurs, consumers, retailers, knowledge institutes) and follow up on the impact of these solutions.

Your qualities

• Strong motivation for developing sustainability solutions for delta regions under threat of global change, and for the Zeeuwse delta in the Netherlands in particular;
• affinity for and experience with co-creation processes and direct stakeholder engagement in research;
• successfully completed Master’s degree in social sciences with a focus on innovation, sustainability transitions, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, human geography, sociology, political science, or similar;
• proven affinity with natural sciences, demonstrated through study electives, extracurricular activities and courses, or interdisciplinary cooperation;
• good interpersonal communication skills;
• good time management, organization, and planning skills;
• written and spoken proficiency of English and Dutch at B2 level or above;
• willingness to locate to Vlissingen, travel within Zeeland, and periodically travel to Utrecht for meetings with supervisors.

Our offer

We offer:

• a position for four years;
• a working week of 28 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,770 and €3,539 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the
laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating
, leave schemes and schemes for
, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit

.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At
, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major
. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability.
.
Utrecht University’s
studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The
is a vibrant international research community that aims to help accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. We do this by developing excellent and relevant knowledge, collaborating with citizens, politicians, policymakers, NGOs and firms to learn from each other and influence decision-making, and by educating the change agents of the future.

Formally, we are organised as one of four departments of the faculty of Geosciences. We occupy a unique position as an interdisciplinary natural/social sciences department. While we are the only department at Utrecht University that solely focuses on sustainability research, it is a key topic for Utrecht University in general. Notably, the

strengthens our collaboration with many other groups across the university. We also actively contribute to
, bringing in our research on the role of institutions and institutional change in understanding transformations to sustainable development.
With its research programme around sustainable innovation & business models, HZ University of Applied Sciences'
(Entrepreneurship and Innovation Knowledge Centre; KCOI) is fully committed to accelerate the transition to a future-proof Zeeuwse Delta. In a future-proof delta well-being for now and later is paramount and companies are key actors realizing the transitions needed. KCOI investigates how companies, together with all other players in the (regional) ecosystem, can bundle and deploy their innovative power and entrepreneurial practice for socially relevant production and consumption. KCOI works closely together with front-running companies and research institutes and uses qualitative and participatory research to achieve insights that are both state of the art and practice-oriented. Research areas are protein transition, materials transition, sustainable tourism and mobility and fresh water. The KCOI teams consists of 6 full-team researchers and who work closely together with other researchers within the HZ.

More information

For more information, please contact
at
or
at
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.
The first round of interviews will be conducted on 20 May 2024. Envisioned starting date is 1 September 2024.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a
for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

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