The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning at Utrecht University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in the Geographies of Urban (In)justice. We seek a candidate with a strong social and intersectional justice orientation whose research practice and teaching interests complement and enhance the department’s current strengths in socio-spatial inequalities. Our ambition with this Assistant Professorship is to further extend our teaching and research expertise with respect to the power of community-based social justice movements to further right to the city claims, build public pedagogies and collective affluence, and create more inclusive cities.


As Assistant Professor in the Geographies of Urban (In)justice you will undertake socially relevant research in partnership with societal organizations and communities. This research could critically investigate different dimensions of inclusive cities as places of human togetherness, political participation, civic action, intergenerational and cross-cultural learning, and/or cultural expression. Attention could also be variously directed to ways of living differently within and redistributing the resources of cities. Research could consider how access to public spheres, public services and other realms such as infrastructure, housing, property, culture, and/or recreation can be made more equitable.


Our new colleague will have qualitative methodological research skills that are action-oriented, participatory, and/or arts-based, and may also employ critical cartographic and digital storytelling expertise that centres anti-racist, counter-mapping approaches to archiving and narrating lived experiences of urban spaces.


We welcome applicants who have an interest in the themes of decolonization and anti-racism, applying decolonial knowledge to advance community self-representation and combat structural racism and xenophobia. We especially invite candidates who identify with marginalized social groups and demonstrate ongoing commitments to, engagement with, and connections to these same communities as they are embedded in the social, cultural, and political life of specific cities.

We believe in a balance between individual and collective achievements. That’s why we assess both on individual and team performance. We stimulate inclusive academic leadership at all levels.

We are looking for a colleague who meets the following criteria.

• You have teaching and research expertise in the above mentioned areas;
• You hold a completed PhD in Geography or a related discipline;
• You have an open and collaborative attitude and are able to work comfortably within interdisciplinary and community settings. You take responsibility;
• You can provide evidence of high-quality research and publication, and solid plans for new, future research projects;
• You have a vision on, and perhaps experience with, ways to connect teaching and/or research with other professional and community-based knowledge domains, as articulated through a teaching philosophy.
• You are proficient in English ( level C1) and willing to acquire Dutch language skills. We believe that understanding and speaking Dutch makes it easier to connect with colleagues. Therefore we offer free language courses.
• You have a University Teaching Qualification or are willing to acquire this within 2 years.

We offer a position (1.0 FTE) for a period of 18 months with the prospect of permanent employment. Upon good performance, according to the faculty’s performance indicators, the position will become permanent after 18 months.

You will receive guidance for your teaching and research tasks and training and support regarding the acquisition of external funds. We will support you in developing your academic career.  The Faculty of Geosciences has a professional career and promotion policy. In addition, you will have access to all equipment in our state of the art laboratory infrastructure.

The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €3,974 and €5,439 (scale 11 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.

Sharing science, shaping tomorrow. A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. You can watch the Utrecht University Campus Tour to get an impression of our university.

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth - always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning has its focus on the enhancement of long-term economic developments of cities, how to cope with social inequalities, and how to accelerate sustainability transitions of cities and infrastructures. Research on these topics takes place within our research programme “Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities”.

Our research programme is the basis for our two year Research Master's programme Human Geography, the two-year Geographical Information Management and Applications Programme, and the one-year Master's programmes in Spatial Planning, Human Geography and International Development Studies. The Department also runs a large and highly appreciated Bachelor's programme and is part of the Netherlands Graduate School of Urban and Regional Research for PhD candidates. Unique characteristic of the department are the attention for innovations within teaching methods and its strong involvement in the transdisciplinary sustainability research theme.