Are you passionate about exploring the intersections between traditional economic theories and emerging heterodox perspectives? Do you thrive in collaborative, transdisciplinary environments, eager to bridge gaps between diverse disciplines? Do you have a background in micro-economics or related discipline?

If so, we invite you to consider joining us as an Assistant/Associate Professor in Post-growth Economics at the Urban Economics group (UEC) at Wageningen University.

Economic growth brought widespread prosperity in the post-war era. It contributed to rising living standards, reducing poverty and increasing tax revenues to fund public policies. However, the focus on growth, as well as the dominant neo-classical approach has increasingly been criticized for being too narrow and for overlooking negative social and environmental impacts. Within society, be it policymakers, activists and amongst certain researchers, there are increasingly loud voices that call for new economic narratives that include multiple economic, social and environmental goals rather than treating growth as an end in itself. While a part of this debate focuses on indicators (beyond GDP), other ideas explore the options for new economic narratives around growth and eventually bringing about a systemic shift and fundamental transformation (European Parliament, 2023).

The leading question for this position is “how can we facilitate new economic narratives through theory building, falsification of old and new assumptions and a subsequent update of our indicators and metrics”.
The mission of the Urban Economics (UEC) group is to contribute to more resilient cities in terms of social equality, economic advantages and environmental quality. Within UEC we focus on how our spatial context influences behaviour (and choices) and vice versa. To do so, we apply different methods, from spatial econometrics to regional input-output analysis, agent-based modelling, choice experiments and behavioural field experiments.

We appreciate transdisciplinary research: working with different disciplines, but also with a variety of partners, for example in the context of the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS). Thus, we aim to combine rigour with relevance.

The assignment of the person would be to build a bridge between neoclassical economics and more heterodox economics disciplines (like wellbeing and happiness economics, feminist economics, or ecological economics) and also to engage with (relatively) new economic concepts, like broader welfare, post-growth and doughnut economics.

The position will involve teaching activities in interdisciplinary courses; these could involve courses on Health Economics, Urban Economics and Analysis, and Game Theory. In addition to that, the supervision of BSc and MSc students.

In this challenging career trajectory:

• you acquire, lead and implement innovative and creative(inter-) national research projects in Urban Economics
• you collaborate with colleagues and supervise PhD students, BSc and MSc theses and you develop and teach courses;
• you contribute to the further development of the Urban Economics.

Tenure Track is a career path for scientists who pursue to excel in education and research. We seek to attract scientific talent and to stimulate and support their development.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair Urban Economics Urban Economics - WUR and member of the Section Econonomics, which is led by Prof. van Leeuwen prof.dr.ir. ES (Eveline) van Leeuwen - WUR.

You have:

• a completed Ph.D. in (micro) economics, spatial economics, urban economics, happiness economics or a related field;
• experience or interest in behavioral economics, feminist economics, or ecological economics;
• proficiency in Dutch to facilitate teaching in both English and Dutch contexts;
• commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary work and openness to diverse methodologies and approaches;
• fluency in English.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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, 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 be offered a fixed-term, 7 year contract which, upon positive evaluation based on criteria elaborated in the University's Tenure Track policy, can lead to a permanent employment contract as professor. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 4.332 and € 6.737 for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11 or 12).

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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling.

Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
TThe 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 the video below 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.

For more information about this position, please contact Eveline van Leeuwen, Professor/Chairholder Urban Economics, by e-mail: eveline.vanleeuwen@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, , corporate recruiter, by email: recruitment.ssg@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 13 May 2024. We hope to schedule the second job interviews half of May and beginning of June, 2024.

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. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.