Are you passionate about cultural heritage and eager to learn more about the impacts of climate change and how to build resilience? In the context of a HORIZON EUROPE funded collaborative project, we are looking for a passionate PhD candidate, with interests and expertise in cultural heritage and climate change topics to work with communities in European case studies as part of an international multidisciplinary team.

The Chair of Architectural History and Theory in the Department of the Built Environment at Eindhoven University of Technology invites applications for a PhD position focusing on coastal heritage and climate change. You will work as part of a HORIZON EUROPE Research and Innovation Action project, will be based in the Netherlands and will collaborate with a European research consortium.

The Horizon Europe project explores innovative and sustainable ways to safeguard coastal and underwater cultural heritage, particularly monuments, historical buildings, archaeological sites and coastal cultural landscapes from climate change effects, natural hazards and environmental pollution. It aims to achieve this goal through the development, testing and validation of an integrated multiple heritage risk assessment, protection and management system with evidence-based monitoring frameworks, innovative tools and through participatory processes.

The PhD study will be conducted as part of the Work Package concentrating on participatory co-design and co-creation processes. You will be responsible of:

• Identifying the knowledge gaps concerning climate-related multiple risks, challenges and values attributed to coastal heritage and landscapes, and building a conceptual framework to fill this gap
• Designing and developing a participatory Living Lab methodology to actively engage multi-stakeholder and citizen community. This methodology will be used for participatory value and impact assessment, training and capacity building, and action planning.
• Building a local ecosystem of stakeholders in one or two of the case study areas, with the help of local project partners, and implementation of the Living Lab methodology
• Collection and analysis of data collected through the employment of this methodology in the case area(s) that will contribute to the elaboration of the conceptual framework and stakeholder involvement for the integrated multiple hazard and protection system.

• You hold a Master's degree or equivalent in relevant spatial or social sciences (i.e. heritage studies, architecture, planning, urbanism, geography, anthropology, sociology)
• You have proven knowledge on the heritage field. Affinity with vulnerabilities, impacts and climate change adaptation, and/or on participation and citizen engagement topics is considered to be an advantage.
• You have strong communication skills and ability to work in an international and interdisciplinary team.
• You are interested in collaborating with local stakeholders and community members.
• You have excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English (C1 CEFR level or equivalent) is required and knowledge of the Dutch language would be an advantage.

The project requires traveling to the case study locations. The candidate should be willing to collaborate and travel nationally and internationally.

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will have the possibility to present your work at international conferences, workshops and meetings.

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months.
• To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will make a Training and Supervision plan and you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students. At TU/e we challenge you to take in charge of your own learning process.
• A gross monthly salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2541,- max. € 3247,-).
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
• If you come from abroad and comply with certain conditions, you can make use of the so-called '30% facility', which permits you not to pay tax on 30% of your salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.