Are you fascinated by sustainability issues created by Dutch import of natural resources and how these came about? You could be our PhD-candidate who analyses the long-term sustainability and wellbeing effects of Dutch import and consumption of plant oils and fats for the food and feed industries and inspire debates about the ongoing agriculture and food transitions. Then apply for this PhD position at the TU/e History Lab, co-supervised by Wageningen University and Research.

Job Description

How can we explain the developments of the Netherlands' immense effects in global sustainability trade-offs? The Netherlands´ large imports of raw materials and goods have been causing profound impacts in economic, social, and ecological developments elsewhere on the planet. These trade-offs have historical origins. In this PhD project you will study how from the nineteenth century onwards, scientific knowledge, colonial developments and industrial modernization contributed to the development of transnational production chains of edible oils, fats, and protein. These connected the Netherlands food and agriculture with the rest of the world. This historical study analyses the developments and provides perspectives for contemporary initiatives in protein and food transitions. 

Your research is embedded in a larger research program Sustainability Trade-offs in the Netherlands' Entangled Modernisation (STONEM), 1900-2020 at Eindhoven University of Technology (TUe) and Utrecht University (UU), in collaboration with Wageningen University and Research, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and other societal partners. You will contribute to this program with qualitative case studie(s), that in the STONEM research program will be combined with other quantitative studies data in trend analysis and sustainability monitors. More about the research approaches, concepts and context of the program can be found on the STONEM webpage. 

At TUe you will work in the multidisciplinary environment of the Technology Innovation and Society (TIS) research group of Eindhoven University of Technology. Your project will connects to ongoing research on global sustainability histories at the Eindhoven History Lab, transitions studies and development studies at TIS; studies of the protein transition of the Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group of Wageningen University. Furthermore your project connects to ongoing research on Deep Transitions in The Netherlands and research of Utrecht Center for Global Challenges at Utrecht University, that also host a PhD candidate at the Economic and Social history research group. Together with our societal partners your results become visible in (inter)national policy realms on international trade and sustainable developments.

• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Humanities or Social sciences, Environmental and Economic History, Innovation Studies, Transition Studies, Science and Technology Studies, International relations, Anthropology, Area studies or related fields.   
• A strong interest in socio-technical transitions in agricultural and food, contemporary history, and interpretive research on sustainability.  
• Practical experience with qualitative (historical) research methods, such as (historical) ethnography, (historical) document analysis, (life history) interviewing.
• Eagerness to work in an interdisciplinary research team
• Eagerness to publish international articles and write a dissertation
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Good research, writing, organizational, communicative and presentation skills.
• A strong command English language (C1 level);
• Basic (reading) knowledge of Dutch language or willingness to learn.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• 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. €2.443 max. €3.122).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.