Post-doc co-producing solutions for climate justice and desirable biomass uses

We are looking for a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher. Do you want to work on the big challenges of climate (in)justice in the global North and South, and on the desired use of biomass across Europe? Do you want to work in two large projects with more than ten case studies across the world by engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and co-producing mental models, scenarios, and solutions on these issues? Do you want to work in large interdisciplinary teams? Then maybe this is the job for you! 

As post-doctoral researcher you will be involved in two large European projects that recently started – BALANSED and Just in Clime. Both deal with some of the largest (environmental) issues that the world is facing today. The overall topic of Just in Clime relates to climate change impacts, the possible solutions that are put forward, and particularly issues with climate justice that this raises, also between the Global North and the Global South. The overall topic of BALANSED relates to the different ways biomass can be used (for food, feed, biofuel, etc.) and how these uses can be socially desirable. Despite topical differences, both projects have a similar approach to centralising stakeholders and stakeholder perspectives, with a large focus on a process of co-producing solutions to the issues of climate justice and biomass uses. Series of workshops in multiple case studies are planned to engage with stakeholders. In both projects, issues are seen as complex/messy problems that need a systemic approach to understand how systems function and how they are perceived by stakeholders. A range of methods and tools will be used to in a flexible methodology that is catered to specific case-study circumstances, but with similar elements to facilitate synthesis and upscaling. One crucial tool in both projects is a group-model building tool called Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping. This tool will be used to co-produce ‘mental models’ of how stakeholders perceive the system, focusing on feedbacks and complex interactions. An increased understanding of how stakeholders perceive problems and value possible solutions is one of the main outputs of the part of the work. Note that there is no need to be familiar with the specifics of FCMs.

As post-doctoral researcher, you will contribute to activities in both projects – BALANSED and Just in Clime.  With a small team of researchers within the Environmental Systems Analysis Group (ESA), you will be responsible for streamlining the process, methods, and co-production of mental models and FCMs and linking outputs to other parts of the projects. Overall, you will closely interact with many other partners in both projects, both scientific and case study partners, and act as a main contact person for ensuring co-produced outcomes fit objectives of local case studies, of social learning and deliberation, and useful outcomes for quantitative models.

Concretely, your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Develop a (flexible) methodology to co-produce knowledge with stakeholders
• Help executing workshops and interviews
• Develop mental models that allow understanding of stakeholder perspectives
• Summarise, synthesise, and upscale case-study findings to European recommendations
• Work with a large variety of scientific partners from both qualitative social sciences and quantitative environmental modellers

Your team

You will work with colleagues within ESA to form a core team to execute activities, but also closely with partners across Europe and the world in the context of both BALANSED and Just in Clime. You will be stationed in Wageningen, but you are expected to travel regularly to case studies to assist with the stakeholder engagement work. 

You will work here 

We are the Environmental Systems Analysis Group, where we advance understanding of complex systems, including interconnected challenges across food, biodiversity, water, and climate, requiring integrated, nexus-based approaches linking environmental and societal processes across scales. The sub-group that you will be part of – Empower Sustainable Futures – is specifically working on stakeholder engagement and human-nature relationships. 

BALANSED and Just in Clime total about 30 partners across Europe and the world, many of which you will interact with, providing a rich interdisciplinary knowledge base.

This position is unique in that it relates to applying the same methodology and the same tool, but in two very different large projects. First and foremost, we are looking for someone who is comfortable and has experience with working in larger interdisciplinary projects. You need to possess demonstratable skills in working not only with scientists from a range of different disciplines, but also with local case study partners, as well as non-science stakeholders. For this, you need to have excellent communication and collaboration skills, while you need to be capable of handling sometimes conflicting interests. As most of the case studies will involve non-English workshops, speaking multiple languages besides English can be an advantage. Given these considerations, we prefer someone with a few years of working experience after PhD graduation.   

You also possess: 

• a PhD-degree or equivalent in environmental or social sciences, or a related field
• broad academic skills and you are a dedicated, creative individual with excellent communication and collaboration skills
• a genuine affinity with integrated, multidisciplinary issues and a demonstrated interest in interacting with decision makers and other stakeholders
• knowledge of / familiarity with co-production techniques and/or quantitative models
• excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page

In our international working environment, there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1 .

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, 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;
• 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.546,- and € 5.538,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 32 hours per week can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance, for the duration of the project (3 years in total). 

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 

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. 

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs 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.

For more information about the position, please contact Kasper Kok, Assistant Professor, kasper.kok@wur.nl;
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via jessa.rozema-stol@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply up to and including Monday 28 September 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for October. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 8 September 2026.

To apply, please send the following documents:

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter.

Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​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.

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