The world’s population is becoming increasingly urban. Over 50 percent of the world’s population is living and working in urbanized areas, expectedly reaching 66 percent by 2050. The increasing urbanization leads to challenges for reaching smart and sustainable cities and communities. Sustainable cities are about upholding social justice, ecological resilience and economic vitality for current and future generations. Many social movements and organizations across the world, including activists, entrepreneurs, researchers, policy-makers and other actors, are collaborating to create more sustainable and just cities. They are striving for access to basic needs (e.g. housing, energy, water, food, healthcare), while also respecting future generations and other living creatures.

Nowadays, all kind of smart city technologies and approaches are developed to realize sustainable cities. Smart innovations in energy, infrastructure, but also in public, private and societal governance take place that can help to realize a sustainable and just future for cities and their urban residents.  However, people hold different perceptions of how a sustainable and just future for cities and their urban residents looks like, as defining the concepts “smart” and “sustainable” is an inherently political process. As we are particularly interested in the social-cultural component of smart and sustainable cities, the aim of this postdoc project is to explore ongoing struggles and negotiations over justice, power and resources in the smart and sustainable city, while engaging critically with the notion of participation or various forms of hybrid governance in cities. Questions could relate to: What does a smart and sustainable city entail for different stakeholders? How are people and networks empowered to transform their cities into more sustainable and just environments? What are important lessons for city planners with regards to how to involve stakeholders (collaborative innovation) and urban residents (public participation) in the decision-making of their 'smart and sustainable city'? What are effective modes of smart urban governance to realize sustainable cities and communities?

The postdoc position is embedded in the interdisciplinary research program Vital Cities & Citizens (VCC), an interfaculty research program of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. For more information about VCC see “additional information”.

• Must have a PhD in social sciences and/or humanities, like public administration, culture and communication studies, sociology, social psychology, or organization & management studies or a related field;
• Must have a proven affinity with research on smart and sustainable cities and communities
• Must have a desire to contribute to creating societal impact and therefore must have a proven ability to translate scientific knowledge in practical solutions
• Must master a rich plethora of methodological skills (preferably both quantitatively and qualitatively)
• Must be able to combine different project activities at the same time within complex and demanding stakeholder environments;
• Some experience in project acquisition (scientific grant schemes or external funding) and/or management is a pre.

Your initial employment term will be one year at first, it can be extended up to a maximum of three years if your performance proves satisfactory. The trial period is two months. Your remuneration will depend on the position, your specific knowledge and experience It will be calculated on the basis of full-time salary ranging between EUR 3.746 and 5.127 gross per month (salary scale 11, CAO NU).

Internationally-oriented and varied work within an enthusiastic team, with attractive fringe benefits in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). Your employment term will be one year and can be extended with another year if your performance proves satisfactory.  If we have opportunities in the organization further temporary extension is a possibility. Your remuneration will depend on the position, your specific knowledge and experience It will be calculated on the basis of full-time salary ranging between EUR 3.746 and EUR 5.127 gross per month (salary scale 11, CAO NU ). Erasmus University Rotterdam offers attractive terms of employment, including a holiday allowance of 8%, a year-end payment of 8.3% and 41 annual leave days in case of a full work week. In addition, EUR takes part in the ABP pension scheme, and we also offer partially paid parental leave. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Moreover, EUR staff members are allowed to make use of the EUR facilities, including the Erasmus sports centre and the University Library.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is a research university with a strong international orientation and a pronounced social focus, both in its education and research activities. On the lively, modern campus, more than 28.000 students and scholars of more than 100 nationalities are constantly encouraged to develop their talents and meet their ambition. Our more than 2700 scientists and employees work together with all our students to solve challenges faced by global society, drawing their inspiration from the consistently dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. The academic education offered at our faculties is intensive, engaging and strongly focused on practical application. We increasingly perform our research in multidisciplinary teams, which are closely interwoven with international networks. In terms of research impact and the quality of its degree programmes, EUR can compete with the foremost universities in Europe, which is reflected in its consistent top-100 position in most major universities’ rankings. Erasmus University Rotterdam’s key values are daring, curiosity, social involvement, breaking new ground and striving for success www.eur.nl

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit www.eur.nl/essb).

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS covers the disciplines of Public Administration and Sociology. Two related scientific fields with different profiles. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on the institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes well beyond the public realm itself and pays attention to public-private cooperation and networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structure of societies and the way it evolves. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus among other things on processes of globalization and individualization and on the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market or family relations. Related social problems that are studied are 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 programmes of DPAS are built on this profile and educate students to become scientifically schooled professionals.

Vital Cites and Citizens

Vital Cites and Citizens (VCC) is an interfaculty research program of the Erasmus University Rotterdam that combines high excellence research, with interdisciplinary orientation and societal impact. VCC starts a second investment term, from 2021 to end of 2024, and provides a stimulating environment in which scholars from multiple disciplines are active. All VCC members are used to collaboratively work on the knowledge agenda of VCC. Collaboration across fields and disciplines is key to our work. The host organization will be the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (ESSB) and specifically the Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS).

The mission of Vital Cities & Citizens (VCC) is to advance our understanding of the ways in which social, technological and cultural transformations affect quality of life in cities, and help cities to thrive as inclusive, resilient, smart and sustainable places to live, grow up and work in. VCC is part of the EUR broad strategy and is one of the four inter- and transdisciplinary Erasmus Initiatives that provides a stimulating research environment to work on creating positive societal impact.