Postdoctoral Researcher - DEMOTAPE project

Your job

Are you passionate about tackling hydroclimatic extremes through innovative research? Do you thrive in collaborative environments, engaging with diverse stakeholders across different continents? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The chair group Sociology of Development and Change at Wageningen University and Research is  seeking an enthusiastic and research-dedicated postdoctoral researcher to join DEMOTAPE (Designing multi-knowledge protocols to transform transboundary policies for hydroclimatic extremes) project, funded under the Water4All 2022 Joint Transnational Call. The project aims to develop shared knowledge systems that are sensitive to context and meets the informational needs of stakeholders, beyond environmental impact analysis or environmental and social governance. The position with Wageningen largely focuses on social science elements, where we concentrate on social learning processes in two river basins in the Netherlands and India. Following the living labs and learning alliances participatory processes, we desire to reduce the climate-induced disasters across the lines of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and other social categories. If you have experience of working with multiple stakeholders and in both European and non-European settings during your PhD and Post-PhD, you are encouraged to apply. 

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• a positive, co-operative and responsive attitude that fosters positive and safe working relationships.
• conducting individual and collaborative research complying with and following research ethical standards.
• engaging  in the wider research and scholarly activities of the DEMOTAPE research project and DEMOTAPE team at Wageningen University, University of Geneva, King’s College London & University of Berlin.
• engaging  in the dissemination of results of the DEMOTAPE project by producing at least two high-quality academic papers as a lead author.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair group Sociology of Development and Change (SDC), led by Professor Bram Buscher. You will be jointly supervised by Dr. S (Sumit) Vij, Assistant Professor SDC and Jeroen (F) Warner, Associate Professor, SDC.

Your qualities

You have:

• a PhD in the area of: disaster governance, human geography, development studies, environmental politics and policy, environmental governance and politics;
• knowledge and experience in governance, transdisciplinary research, and multi-stakeholder platforms or living labs. Please note that this post-doc position requires proven record of research on the governance of flood risk in (larger) river basins.

You also possess:

• excellent and proven research skills, especially gathering and analysing qualitative data following ethical research practices;
• experience in publishing as a lead author in high-quality international peer-reviewed journals, with a minimum of three published papers at the time of the application;
• experience in conducting and analysing structured and semi-structured interviews, large and small workshops, focus groups and/or other kinds of transdisciplinary research activities;
• experience in presenting research findings at an international level;
• excellent command of the English, Dutch, and/or French languages (in both written and oral form);
• ability to work across different, interdisciplinary research projects and research initiatives simultaneously;
• ability to think independently and overcome difficulties in research process.

The following qualifications are considered assets:

• experience in co-organising expert focus groups and workshops (multi-stakeholder platforms or living labs) in a professional way and co-producing knowledge;
• awareness of political and bureaucratic procedures in the Dutch and Indian context;
• knowledge of European/Dutch and Indian water politics and policies;
• experience in organizing international research seminars, workshops and other events.

We offer you

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;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, 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.

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 €3.226  and € 5.090 for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10 ). This position is for 0.7 FTE (28 hours) for 3 years. Initially, we offer you a one-year contract, which will then be extended for 2 more years if there is mutual enthusiasm. Of course, we would be happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. 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 19^th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the Dutch 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 Sumit Vij, Assistant Professor, +31 317 487 626 or by e-mail sumit.vij@wur.nl or alternatively Jeroen Warner, Associate Professor, by email: jeroen.warner@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, , corporate recruiter, by email: recruitment.ssg@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.

Please note :

• only applications submitted through the link provided in this vacancy will be considered. Applications submitted over email will not be considered.
• only applicants who have research experience during their PhD or post-PhD on multi-stakeholder platforms or living labs will be considered;
• only applicants with a completed PhD will be considered. If you have submitted your PhD and awaiting approval or the PhD defense to take place, you are encouraged to apply.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including  20 May 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews soon after the closing date.

Procedure
Applications will neither be pre-assessed nor pre-evaluated by Sumit Vij and Jeroen Warner. Post-assessment, candidates will be invited for a round of interview. If necessary, second round of interview will be included in the procedure.

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

Wageningen University & Research
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.