The Earth Systems and Global Change group (ESC) and the Environmental Policy group (ENP) of Wageningen University and Research are looking for a post-doc researcher to work on designing/modelling a system of tradable visitation permits for Antarctic tourism. The post-doc project is one of four parts of an NWO-funded research program entitled Proactive Management of Antarctic Tourism: Exploring the Role of ATS Principles and Values and Best Practices Beyond the ATS (PROACT). The PROACT consortium comprises Groningen University (RUG), Utrecht University (UU) and Wageningen University and Research (WUR).

The program’s objective is to develop knowledge for strengthening the proactive management of tourism within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) on four themes, each covered by a PhD or post-doc project: (1) regulating visitor numbers by a cap-and-trade system (post-doc, WUR); (2) constraining diversification of activities by pre-assessment procedures (PhD, WUR/RUG); (3) improving domestic implementation of ATS tourism regulations (PhD, RUG); and (4) enhancing the role of non-use and non-user States (post-doc, UU).

The findings will support the Netherlands position within the Committee of Environmental Protection (CEP) and Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM) by providing concrete, science-based proposals for Antarctic tourism management. Key features of the program include:

• close cooperation between consortium staff (PhDs/Postdoc/supervisors);
• extensive involvement of policy officers;
• identification of best practices from other regions (e.g., the Arctic) and intergovernmental regimes;
• involvement of international experts and external stakeholders.

Whereas the projects based at RUG and UU fall within the discipline of law, the PhD and post-doc projects at WUR are based in the social and economic sciences and interdisciplinary research.
The position that is advertised relates to Project 1. This project seeks to simultaneously address two issues that Antarctic governance is currently grappling with – the challenges that the growth of Antarctic tourism poses to the environment and scientific research capacity; and the lack of resources for environmental research and monitoring – by tapping into the unique value that Antarctica represents for tourists.

The project will explore the viability of a system of tradable visitation permits for Antarctica: capping access to Antarctica and using the resulting scarcity to collect entrance fees, by making a systematic assessment of the available options for the choices concerning the cap, initial allocation, allocation to end-users and trade; and simulating a range of possible systems of tradable visitation permits in order to test and evaluate their performance in the Antarctic context. Budget is available for fieldwork in Antarctica.

You will work here
The project is embedded in the Earth Systems and Global Change group (ESC) and the Environmental Policy group (ENP) of Wageningen University. You will be supervised by Bas Amelung, Assistant Professor (ESC) and Machiel Lamers, Assistant Professor (ENP).

You have:

• a PhD in the field of economics and/or interdisciplinary studies;
• demonstrable experience in modelling and simulation
• a clear interest in inter- or trans disciplinary collaborative research;
• excellent skills in research methods;
• excellent skills in scientific writing;
• an interest in human activities and regulation in the Antarctic context.

In our international working environment, there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1. If you do not yet have this level, we will of course help you and you can go to our language center Wageningen in'to Language.

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). Initially, we offer you a one-year contract, which will then be extended to the duration of the project 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 19th 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.

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.

Wageningen University & Research

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 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.