The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning (SGPL) has developed the challenging research programme “Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities”. In this programme faculty members from different sub disciplines of Human Geography and Spatial Planning work closely together on topics like governance of urban transitions, smart urban governance, urban infrastructures, healthy urban living, urban inequalities and diversities, transnational mobilities, economic resilience and networks and flows in and between urban regions. The Department is responsible for the undergraduate programme in Human Geography and Spatial Planning and for a number of graduate programmes like Spatial Planning, Human Geography (Urban and Economic Geography), International Development Studies and Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA).

SGPL is involved in The Vitality Alliance (VA), a collaboration between Utrecht University and Eindhoven University of Technology, aimed at developing interdisciplinary research in order to improve the vitality of citizens. One focus of the VA is on how urban environments influence sports and physical activity in public space. To investigate this issue, the VA has received funding to set up a Vitality Data Centre (VDC), which is hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences (UU) and the Faculty of Industrial Design (TU/e).

The VDC will process data about urban environments and individual behavior from a variety of sources and develop analytical tools to identify relationships between the urban environment, sports and physical activity. In the first stage of the project, we will focus on the walkability, bikeabilaty and runnability of urban environments. We are recruiting two Postdoc Researchers for this project: one at UU and one at TU/e.

As a Postdoc Researcher in this project you will set up a conceptual model for the relationship between urban environment, walking, cycling and running, develop the architecture of the VDC based on available data sources, and work on the implementation of the VDC. In collaboration with data scientist and developers of the VA, you will develop data science applications for accessing and integrating walking, cycling, running and land use data, and answer substantive questions in this area that support theoretical development regarding physical activity in urban settings. The focus in this project will be on the relationship between the built environment on one hand, and walking, running and cycling on the other hand.

We are looking for candidates with an excellent track record in data science and analytics who thrive when working in interdisciplinary settings. We encourage you to apply if you:

• have a PhD;
• have affinity with the relationship between urban environments, physical activity and active travel;
• have a strong background in Data Science, Geoinformatics and GIS, or computational data analytics;
• have experience in either application development (either service computing or database technology/big data handling), or in scripting and health and physical activity analytics and quantitative geography;
• have experience in conducting scientific research leading to high-quality publications;
• have a good (international) research network;
• see added value in collaborating in interdisciplinary research projects;
• are able to acquire research funding in competition;
• have the willingness to teach for 10% of your time;
• are proficient in both written and spoken English;
• are preferably proficient in both written and spoken Dutch.

You will be offered a full-time position for a period of one year. Depending on good performance, the contract may be extended to a total period of four years. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €2,984 and €4,084 (scale 10 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8 % and a year-end bonus of 8.3 % per year. We offer a pension scheme, (partly paid) parental leave, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions(multiple choice model). Facilities for sports and child care are available on our main campus (where the Department is situated), which is located only 15 minutes away from the historical city centre of Utrecht. You’ll find more information about working at Utrecht University here.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, colleagues from various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old center and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht city has been consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the Netherlands.

The Faculty of Geosciences conducts education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With a complement of 2,600 students (BSc and MSc) and 600 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty is organised in four Departments: Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences, Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, and Human Geography & Urban/Regional Planning.

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning has its focus on the enhancement of long-term economic developments of cities, how to cope with social inequalities and how to ensure a healthy urban living. Research on these topics takes place within our research programme “Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities”.

Our research programme is the basis for our Research Master's programmes Human Geography and Geographical Information Management and Applications and professional Master's programmes in Human Geography, International Development Studies and Spatial Planning. The Department runs also a large and highly appreciated Bachelor's programme and is part of the Netherlands Graduate School of Urban and Regional Research for PhD candidates. Unique characteristics of the Department are a special team focusing on innovations within teaching methods and a centre of expertise which brings the knowledge from fundamental research outside our university by educational programmes for high school teachers and professional consultancy for public partners.