Research assistant for developing educational strategies and material in support of co-designing transformative pathways for just biodiversity and climate actions

We need a research assistant that can support a large EU funded research project on transformative pathways for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss (TRANSPATH) for 4 months starting on 1 September. TRANSPATH seeks to support inclusive deliberation with stakeholders to co-design transformative pathways and identify leverage points and interventions for triggering these transformative changes. The main task for the research assistant is to translate the academic debate on ‘safe and just operating spaces’ with respect to biodiversity, climate change and human rights as well as the global and EU normative goals on these issues into a format that enables learning, reflexive dialogue and identification of action strategies in diverse empirical contexts. The concrete output will be a web based toolkit that is useful both for a broader audience and for researchers that engage with stakeholders in transformation processes.

We are looking for an MSc graduate in educational or communication sciences that has a strong affinity for sustainability transformations. Alternatively you could be a MS graduate in sustainability transformations with a strong affinity for and skills in education and communication. Due to the short timeline we can only consider applications from Dutch residents.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Performing duties under the TRANSPATH project, in particular linked to the deliverable of a toolkit for navigating transformations for diverse stakeholders.
• Reviewing relevant scientific literature and the empirical results of research by other TRANSPATH researchers
• Collaborating with other TRANSPATH partners, in particular those working on stakeholder interactions and communication strategies and tools.

You will work here
You will become a member of the Public Administration and Policy Group at Wageningen, which is led by Prof. Dave Huitema. The PAP group is an enthusiastic, ambitious and rapidly growing group within the Department of Social Sciences. The PAP group's mission is to study the public governance of sustainability transformations in the interrelated domains of water, climate, food, biodiversity and agriculture under the slogan "Changing governance, Governing change".

In our work, we build on a diverse set of social science concepts and theories and apply a diverse range of methods that we use whenever suitable for the research questions at hand, without being completely wedded to one such perspective or method. We take an active interest in the role of the state in sustainability governance and actively seek to think through innovative governance arrangements. The group is impact-oriented and aims to contribute to scientific progress, to societal debates, and to policy practices. More information on the group can be found here..

The PAP group actively collaborates with neighbouring groups in the Wageningen Centre for Sustainability Governance, which employs more than 100 researchers and is at the forefront of global discussions on sustainability transformations. The WCSG was recently assessed and was found to do "excellent, impact-driven and ample research", and to be "in an eminent position to meet the demand for innovation in governance related to sustainability issues".

You will be co- supervised by Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen.

You have:

• A completed Master’s degree in educational or communication sciences or (governance of) sustainability transformations.
• Proven skills in written communication of science in English, ideally for a broader audience.
• Ability to apply educational and communication theories to the development of content for communication
• Knowledge or willingness to learn about scientific approaches to safe and just operating space for humanity and/or integrated governance approaches to biodiversity loss and climate change.

You also possess:

• Strong communicative and writing skills.
• Collaborative and organisational skills.

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.

WUR welcomes applications from international candidates. However, for applicants for this specific position from outside the EU/EFTA zone, immigration restrictions may apply based on Dutch and EU immigration laws. Such candidates may be eligible for an “orientation year” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”.

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;
• 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 year-end 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 € 2,899.- and € 6,209.- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 7-11).

We offer you a temporary contract for the duration of 4.79 month aanstelling in scale 7-9 in 2025 or 4 month in scale 10-11.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

Your team
You will work with Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen who is leading the conceptual and methodological work package of TRANSPATH but you will also be interacting with TRANSPATH researchers in other chair groups in Wageningen University, as well as with partners based in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and The UK.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

For more information contact sylvia.karlsson-vinkhuyzen@wur.nl at the Public Administration and Policy Group, Wageningen University.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jouke van Oostenbrugge, Corporate Recruiter, via recruitment.ssg@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

Applications should include a brief motivation letter and a CV.
You can apply until 28th of July 2025. The first interviews are scheduled for 7 or 8 of August 2025.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.