PhD Researcher in the δelta protein project

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 Delta Climate Center, 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.

Requirements:

• 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.

Salary Benefits:

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 terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, 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 Working at Utrecht University.

28 - 40 hours per week

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