Assistant Professor in Sustainability Transformations in Agrifood Systems

We are looking for an interdisciplinary scholar with a strong motivation to contribute to effective interventions and actionable transition pathways towards sustainable agrifood systems, based on a thorough understanding of the individual, instutional and political dimensions of sustainability transformations and societal transitions.

Your job
The industrialised agrifood system of the Global North is at the core of many environmental and social sustainability challenges. Agriculture is responsible for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the single most important driver of freshwater use, land system change and eutrophication, all of which drive biodiversity loss. At the same time, an important share of the world population still does not have access sufficient, nutritious and healthy food. Furthermore, the system leaves many farmers struggling to earn a decent livelihood. A fundamental transformation of this system is therefore paramount for a just and sustainable future. Transformative change, however, is hampered by a strong lock-in of the current system, leading to resistance to change, and limited action perspectives for alternative development pathways.

The position is partly funded by the ReGeNL programme, an inter- and transdisciplinary transition program for Dutch agriculture, to which you will actively contribute for the coming seven years. The programme aims to accelerate a transition towards a regenerative agrifood system by supporting farmers and other stakeholders in a transdisciplinary and bottom-up approach. It aims to take away current barriers for change and create actionable transition pathways. The programme includes amongst others two fully funded PhD positions on agricultural transitions at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, and provides unique opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within Utrecht University and with multiple Dutch universities and research institutes. Furthermore, it provides access to a strong stakeholder network in the Dutch agrifood system, ensuring successful engagement of all relevant stakeholders in the programme.

You will develop an internationally recognised research programme on sustainability transformations in agrifood systems at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, building on and contributing to several of the main focal themes of the institute: sustainable food, sustainable land, sustainable water, and circular economy. You will play an active role in the Future Food network that connects all faculties of the university around the theme of sustainable and healthy food. You will contribute to the acquisition and execution of new externally funded projects, and the supervision of PhD candidates and postdocs.

We achieve major impact through educating the change agents of the future. Sustainable food production is one of the key topics that connects many sustainability challenges and is therefore an important topic in our BSc and MSc education programs. You will contribute to the Sustainable and Healthy Food track of the BSc programme Global Sustainability Science and to the MSc programmes Sustainable Development and Sustainable Business and Innovation, specifically in the course on Sustainable Food Systems. Teaching also includes supervising BSc and MSc thesis projects. Teaching is in English. The teaching load for the duration of the ReGeNL project is 30%, increasing to 56% after the project finishes. You are expected to obtain a university teaching qualification within two years. Depending on previous experience, this may require a temporary increase in teaching load.

We believe in a balance between individual and collective achievements. That’s why we assess both on individual and team performance. We stimulate inclusive academic leadership at all levels.

The ideal candidate for this position has a background in transformative change, transition studies, innovation sciences or a comparable discipline, with a thorough knowledge of and experience with the agrifood system in the Global North, and experience with and affinity for transdisciplinary approaches. We also welcome candidates with a background in relevant natural science disciplines (e.g. environmental science, agronomy, ecology) with a proven track record of interdisciplinary social scientific work on transformative change.

Furthermore you bring multiple of the following qualities:

• You hold a PhD in interdisciplinary social or natural sciences, studying transformative change in an agricultural context.
• You have a strong drive to create impact with research.
• You have a proven track record of successful transdisciplinary projects.
• You are aware of, and can navigate, cultural and political sensitivities in sustainability transitions.
• You are able to critically reflect on your positionality in research and to learn from these reflections by adjusting behaviour, viewpoints and methods.
• You are a team player, cultivate mutual trust and both give and take responsibility.
• You have experience with and an interest in academic teaching (having a university teaching qualification is a plus).
• You have a record of relevant international peer-reviewed publications.
• You are proficient in English and Dutch language at C1 level (CEFR or comparable to level 3 of the Lecturer Assessment Grid), or are prepared to obtain this level by training. We offer free language courses.

We offer:

• a position for a period of 18 months in an international working environment with the prospect of permanent employment;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €4,537 and €6,209 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. 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 Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

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 Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development wants to have a positive impact on the transition to a sustainable society, which includes strengthening risk regulation regimes for chemicals and pharmaceuticals and reducing the need for the use of laboratory animals. We do this by developing excellent and relevant knowledge in interdisciplinary teams and by educating the change agents of the future. The Copernicus Institute has had an excellent research evaluation in 2021 and the institute takes pride in maintaining its leading position in national and international sustainability research, and by developing new, internationally oriented teaching programmes.

For more information, please contact Dr Jerry van Dijk at j.vandijk2@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

The first interviews will take place on 23 and 24 April 2025.