PhD ‘Governance of Complex Urban Transformations’

Are you passionate about understanding the transformation of cities over time? Do you want to find out which kind of governance arrangements drive or hinder such transformations? Then this PhD position ‘Governance of Complex Urban Transformations’ might be something for you.

Job description
The team Governance and Pluralism (G&P) of the Erasmus School for Social and Behavioral Sciences (ESSB) and the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) are looking for a PhD researcher with a keen interest in the governance of complex urban transformations. This is a 4-year project; regular conditions for a Dutch PhD apply. The position is part of the network Chair Governance of Complex Urban Transformation that is positioned at the intersection of the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies and Team Governance and Pluralism. This allows you to benefit from expertise in both groups.

Description of the overall project
Cities transform over long time. From the very first settlements in Mesopotamia that we now consider the birthplace of the city to the megapolises of Asia, Africa and Southern-America, the city has transformed time and again in response to social, political, economic and environmental pressures. Cities, by their very nature, don’t ‘do’ anything by themselves. It is the people living in them who shape and transform the social and built fabric of the urban. Cities evolve or transform over time as a result of a multitude of factors that include governance and planning. Governing urban transitions is very much about acting here and now in the face of an uncertain future, and hoping that targeted policy and planning help cities to move into new and better states. Therefore, this project focuses on three questions: (1) Under what combination of conditions do cities transform from one stage to the other? (2) In what ways does governance influence these urban transformations? (3) Under what combination of conditions are attainable futures more likely? Answers to those questions require comparative and longitudinal research. Given the profile of the Chair (see below), the focus will be on cities in the majority world.

Job description
The PhD researcher will design and implement the research independently and under guidance of the promotor and supervisor. This entails the set-up of the research, the selection of methods and theories, data collection and analysis. Given the nature of the question, the researcher is expected to cover multiple cities in multiple countries in the majority world. The longitudinal approach covering multiple decades likely calls for the digital processing of archival, newspaper and policy data. Year 1 will focus on refinement of the research project, selection of fitting theories, and articulation of the data collection and associated methods. Years 2 and 3 will be primarily focused on data collection; with year 4 focused on the finalization of the thesis. Ideally, you will graduate on the basis of an accumulative dissertation.

You will have the opportunity to attend courses at the Erasmus Graduate School for Social Sciences and the Humanities. You will be embedded in lively PhD Networks both at ESSB and IHS which helps you to find your way in academia.

For this PhD research, we are looking for a talented researcher with an affinity for transdisciplinary and data-driven research. Ideally, you have some or all of the following characteristics:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, including (but not limited to) Urban Studies, Public Administration, Political Science or Sociology, from an internationally recognized university.
• Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods / mixed-methods designs.
• Affinity with and / or knowledge of digital tools to build and analyze big datasets.
• Affinity with the complexity sciences.
• Ability to independently shape and structure research projects, as evidenced in e.g., the research carried out for obtaining the master’s degree.
• Ability to express complex issues in a clear fashion, verbally and in written form.
• Willingness to contribute to open and responsible science.
• Excellent proficiency in both English and (preferably) another non-Dutch language.

We’d appreciate it if candidates who are unsure they are meeting all of the above to still consider applying or reaching out in case of questions.

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is 1 January 2026 (or soon after) and you will be based at Campus Woudestein in Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). This position is for 0.8 fte - 1 fte. The salary ranges from a minimum of € 3.059 (start P0) to a maximum of € 3.881 gross per month Scale PhD on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is entered into the duration of 1 year, with possibility for an extension of another 3 years.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

• Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!
• Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.
• Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.
• Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.
• Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).
• Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) combines various disciplines such as public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College is affiliated with the faculty. Within ESSB, we work in teams on education and research, emphasising interdisciplinarity, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. Together, we strive for societal and scientific impact.

ESSB distinguishes itself through inter-, multi- and transdisciplinary research, in which academics and students work together on complex social issues. Thanks to this approach, ESSB successfully attracts national and international research subsidies and funds, with which we continuously strengthen and renew our education and research.

ESSB serves almost 6,000 students annually with a wide range of bachelor's and master's programmes and has more than 600 employees. These programmes are highly rated by students and alumni. Within ESSB, developing new insights and realising positive societal impact are central, always with a focus on people and society.

Visit our website for more information about the faculty, and click here for more information about our academic teams.

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS encompasses the disciplines Public Administration and Sociology: two related scientific fields each with a unique profile. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes far beyond the public realm to also pay attention to public-private cooperation and the networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structures of societies and the way these evolve. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus, inter alia, on processes of globalization and individualization, and the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market and family relations. Social issues that are studied under this banner include migration, flexibilization and solidarity. The perspectives of Public Administration and Sociology complement each other. Together they guarantee a highly relevant and scientific approach to topical administrative and social issues. The bachelor- and master programs of DPAS are built on this profile and develop students into scientifically schooled professionals.

Team Governance and Pluralism
The Governance and Pluralism team studies complex, multi-value, and multilevel issues related to various societal challenges. We take the pluralistic nature of these challenges as a given and approach them from various social layers, lifestyles, and identities. We investigate how these complex societal issues can be addressed through different forms of governance, such as public-private partnerships, multilevel collaborations, community initiatives and triple helix partnerships. Our team’s work is highly regarded by (inter)national colleagues, civil society organisations, policymakers, and governments. This is reflected in their visibility within design, impact, and academic research projects and programs.

For more information, please visit our website.

Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
With its roots in the Rotterdam Bouwcentrum (est. 1948)), the IHS is a transdisciplinary institute focused on urban issues, primarily in the majority world. Our staff includes urban planners, sociologists, geographers, economists, and many other disciplines. Our work is grounded in the the cross-fertilisation of our main three activities: education, advisory services, and applied research. Our academics actively engage in the field, bringing first-hand insights from diverse urban contexts across the globe. This unique positioning allows IHS academics to bridge theory and practice, enriching both the services we provide and the learning experience of our course participants. Because our staff are simultaneously involved in education, research, and advisory work, they are able to deliver targeted support, practical training, and tailored solutions to our students and partners. Lessons from ongoing projects directly inform the classroom, while student insights and academic developments feed back into our external engagements creating a dynamic loop of learning and impact.