We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow to participate in our project ‘Connecting education, research and society: inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability education’. Society is facing grand challenges like a changing climate, declining biodiversity and feeding the world’s population. Addressing these challenges requires excellent disciplinary grounding, as well as the integration of various disciplines and collaboration with societal stakeholders. Dealing with these challenges thus calls for interdisciplinary collaboration and transdisciplinary interaction with society. The new leaders of the future in management, science, policy and societal endeavours need to be trained accordingly. For this reason, interdisciplinary programmes have been set up, and new educational methodologies like challenge-based learning and community-engaged learning have been explored and implemented. In this postdoc project, you will focus on creating an educational vision on inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability education and on implementing the vision in our curricula.

You will be embedded in the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. The educational programmes this institute offers (2 Bachelor programmes and 6 Master programmes) are all focussing on inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability education, and are linked to our research themes. In this project, you will lead the development of a shared vision for our educational programmes, together with the educational coordinators, and you will evaluate this vision in our programmes. You will actively participate in the development of a new group linking research, education and society within the Copernicus Institute. You will implement and disseminate your finding by publications and workshops within and outside of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development.

We encourage applications from candidates who:

• hold a PhD in Educational Sciences or related sciences (Psychology, Pedagogy) and have proven affinity with sustainability education, or;
• hold a PhD in the field of sustainable development and have proven affinity with educational sciences;
• have an interest in inter- and transdisciplinary education;
• are creative and productive in their scientific work, as for instance evidenced by publications in (international) peer-reviewed journals;
• have excellent organizational and communication skills, are team players;
• have affinity with working in an interdisciplinary academic environment. 

You will be offered a temporary position (0.8 - 1.0 FTE), initially for one year with an extension to a total of three years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €3,974 and €5,439 (scale 11 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

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

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth - always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Sustainable Development conducts teaching and research across a large range of sustainability challenges, with a special focus on environmental sciences, environmental governance, business and innovation, and energy and resources. The department hosts a highly international staff of over 200 junior and senior scientists and lecturers. Research and education in our department thrives on inter and multidisciplinary collaborations, which are highly needed to address today's intricate sustainability issues.