Are you familiar with the debate on planetary boundaries, tipping points and social floors? Are you familiar with the related debates on access to resources and allocation of the responsibilities, risks and resources? Are you familiar with environmental and social justice debates?

The Governance and Inclusive Development (GID) team at the University of Amsterdam scrutinizes development dynamics at various geographical, jurisdictional and temporal scales, realizing that these are situated in different but interconnected multi-level processes. GID analyses and rethinks dominant development paradigms, and engages with international, national and local development practices, policies and debates to identify viable and socially just alternatives. The team focuses on the strategic issues of multi-level (glocal) governance and inclusive development.

We are looking for two Junior Researchers with an MSc/MA in environmental studies/development studies/economics or other relevant disciplines to play a part in the research work of a team looking at how we can identify qualitative and quantitative targets for a safe and just pathway to development - which is within planetary boundaries and addresses social justice issues.

The two Junior Researchers will support the work of The Earth Commission's Co-Chair Joyeeta Gupta and Working Group 4:

• Co-Chair of the Earth Commission (see https://earthcommission.org/)
• Co-Chair of Working Group 4 of the Earth Commission (see mandate of Working Group 4 attached).

The Earth Commission is a global commission that is conducting a global scale assessment to define and identify a safe and just corridor for people and the planet. The purpose of Working Group 4 is to find science based evidence of what a just corridor for the Earth's development looks like, what are just targets and levers to ensure global transformation. Understanding how scholarship assesses what is just and how a just transformation can take place is thus a critical element of this project.

What are you going to do

The work of the Junior Researcher will include:

1. support to co-chair in terms of research
   1. identification of all the topics on which work needs to be done;
   2. preparing reading lists for the different topics;
   3. making extensive notes on each of the readings/meetings;
   4. maintaining background documents with all the research materials;
   5. writing draft texts;
   6. possibly helping with graphics, maps, tables, figures.
2. support to co-chair in terms of linking the work of others in the Working Group, and
   1. identifying and collating the comments of the members;
   2. clustering the comments;
   3. suggesting how the comments can be addressed.
3. help with organizing the co-creation and review process
   1. identifying potential reviewers;
   2. sending out documents for the review process;
   3. collecting and collating the reviews;
   4. checking that all review comments are done; and
   5. helping organizing meetings on the subject.
4. double checking all submitted publications for accuracy.

Your experience and profile:

• a Master of Science/Arts in the field of environment/international development/economics/ policy studies/international relations/interdisciplinary studies/human geography or related fields;
• some understanding of the planetary boundaries and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development;
• strong skills in undertaking extensive literature reviews and meta-analysis of the material in the literature (qualitative);
• one of the Junior Researchers must be trained in basic statistics and have strong skills in using SPSS, R or Excel (quantitative), should be skilled in GIS and other quantitative methods. This researcher will in particular help to translate justice notions and SDG targets into quantifiable indicators and be able to calculate its impact on planetary boundaries;
• the other Junior Researcher must have affinity with justice scholarship and operationalizing it and a good understanding of policy instruments and mechanisms; this researcher will help with the further conceptualizations of justice, its operationalization, and its application to policy instruments; and
• both Junior Researchers must be willing to function in a broader team.

Both positions are temporary positions. One of 38 hours and one of 30,4 hours per week for the duration of 12 months. The start dates are ASAP.

For this position the University Job Classification profile Researcher applies.

The salary is €2,846 minimum and €4,490 maximum gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, in keeping with salary scale 10.0, as per the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.

We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position that exposes you to global experts on the subject;
• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued;
• an enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues; and
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

About the University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programs. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.