Do you want to work on the big challenge of bringing together climate change mitigation and adaptation? Do you want to work in a large project with more than 10 case studies across Europe to help develop scenarios and identify solutions in an interdisciplinary team? Then maybe this is the job for you!

Climate change impacts are large and increasing worldwide, while the latest IPCC assessment reports are showing how possibilities to limit warming to 1.5 degree Celsius are quickly disappearing. This creates the double challenge of adapting to negative impacts to limit exposure and vulnerability, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow and eventually stop global warming. Holistic approaches to tackle mitigation and adaptation must be tailored to the context-specific situation and this requires a flexible and participatory planning process, which addresses the given socio-economic conditions as well as the anticipated future climate conditions, and ensures robust action, carried by all important stakeholders. As PhD candidate you will be part of a large project with more than 30 partners across Europe, in which all aspects of the issues are covered. A post-doc will also be appointed to help realising the assigned tasks.

As PhD candidate, you will be responsible for the work in 5-6 so-called "core case studies" across Europe in the project. Most activities relate to the active engagement of stakeholders in co-producing scenarios, and include:

• What could happen? Co-production of long-term socio-economic scenarios that explore the future outlook of Europe and for the core case studies until 2050.
• What are climate change impacts and vulnerability? Integration of socio-economic and climate changes to understand local, contextualized current and future climate change impacts.
• What should happen? Co-creation of local-scale, robust solutions that consider climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

You will use a range of different methods. These will focus on interviews and stakeholder workshops, but might potentially also include more quantitative, model-based tools. Overall, the work is highly interdisciplinary, working from an environmental science foundation, but using social sciences methods.

You will work closely together with project partners from the core case studies to design the best approach for each situation. You will be supported by other partners in the project, importantly those that are responsible for stakeholder analysis and engagement. You are expected to visit all case studies and to be involved in carrying out part of the work in some of them. Core case studies are in the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, and the European forest sector.

The research is embedded within the chair Environmental Systems Analysis, which is led by Prof. Lars Hein.

• have an MSc-degree or equivalent in environmental or social sciences, or a related field
• have a successfully completed MSc degree in Environmental Sciences, or Social Sciences.
• are a dedicated, creative individual, with broad academic skills and excellent communication and collaboration skills
• have a genuine affinity with integrated, multidisciplinary issues and a demonstrated interest in interacting with decision makers and other stakeholders
• are familiar and/or have worked with quantitative models
• have excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page

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

• 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, up to 40 hours 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 receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

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 17th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. 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 helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

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. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University and 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, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named the best university of the Netherlands by students for the 17th time in a row.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video 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.