About the job
Are you keen to contribute to fostering sustainability in urban logistics? Would you like to do empirical work on perceptions of logistics stakeholders, propose governance innovations and enhance the possibilities for small and medium size enterprises to meet new sustainable logistics standards? Do you have experience with qualitative research methods? Then, you could be the ideal postdoc candidate to join our team!

Job description
The University of Groningen is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher (2 years, 0.8-1.0 fte) to become an integral part of the team for the new interdisciplinary project “Green logistics for a just net zero carbon economy in the North Sea Region” (GLEAM NSR).

This EU Interreg North Sea funded project aims to support cities in their transition towards urban logistics systems that balance environmental stewardship, social inclusion, and economic prosperity. A key focus of the project is on creating local governance structures that facilitate this transition. In doing so, the project recognizes the critical role of SMEs in urban logistics, paying special attention to how their perspectives can be better included in urban planning decisions. Additionally, there is a focus on enhancing digital capabilities to provide the insights cities and businesses need to optimize logistics operations in line with sustainability objectives.

The candidate will become part of the project’s consortium, which includes members from the University of Gothenburg, five European cities leading in green logistics, and several industry and policy partners to help set up local governance structures and facilitate transnational learning. The consortium is led by the University of Groningen. The candidate will be working directly with dr. ir. Paul Buijs (Department of Operations at the Faculty of Economics and Business) and dr. Ward Rauws (Department of Planning at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences). While the position is embedded in the Department of Operations, the work is highly interdisciplinary, as further emphasized by the connection to the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development (link: https://www.rug.nl/rudolf-agricola-school/). GLEAM NSR is a project under the theme Sustainable Landscapes & Regions (link: https://www.rug.nl/rudolf-agricola-school/research/sustainable-landscapes-and-regions/?lang=en)

What you are going to do.
The candidate will become an active member of the project’s consortium and undertake research activities for two years to support a transition to green and just urban logistics in the European North Sea region.

You will
- analyse policy measures relevant to urban logistics and assess their potential impact on SMEs
- interview policymakers and local stakeholder groups to identify the gaps and needs for building the institutional capacity to support the transition to green and just logistics
- perform a desk review on measures, best practices and benchmarking analysis on digital capabilities of local authorities, with a focus on mapping the urban logistics ecosystems and the role of SMEs therein
- create content to get urban logistics stakeholders to act, ensuring that learnings, knowhow and experiences form the project are effectively shared
- design a learning/evaluation framework with representative practice-oriented elements reflecting on the project’s main learnings
- co-create and engage in living labs with solutions for inclusive, safe, affordable and sustainable urban mobility.

The main output you are expected to delivery is to
- publish research results in international peer-reviewed journals and journals oriented to practitioners and policymakers
- contribute to project tasks, milestones and deliverables, and contribute to project management, meetings and activities (e.g., organising workshops).

The position is research focused. But for your career development towards tenure positions, teaching experience may be crucial.

What you have to offer
We are looking for an enthusiastic and critical scholar who would like to work on issues at the intersection of logistics, urban planning, and sustainable transitions in European cities. You can work independently, and you are able to quickly connect with different policymakers and business practitioners in order to conduct research in a large European consortium. You have an interest in developing novel academic insights, but also like to translate academic concepts into hands-on policy advice. You have an interest in conducting comparative research, as well as bridging different theories and disciplines.

Your experience and profile
Candidates should hold a PhD degree in Logistics, Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related field. Candidates who will not hold a PhD upon starting their position will not qualify.

Successful candidates are those who
- have demonstrated experience doing empirical fieldwork in different geographical contexts
- have demonstrated experience with qualitative research methods
- have demonstrated experience with conceptual thinking
- have an in-depth knowledge of the literature on (urban) logistics, urban planning, and/or public policy
- have preferably demonstrated experience with participating in interdisciplinary research projects
- have preferably published at least one or two academic articles, and/or a promising set of articles in the pipeline
- are proficient in English (written and verbal)
- are a team player and able to work independently
- are availability to start the position as soon as possible, but no later than September 1st, 2024.

Fixed-term contract: 24 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- a salary depending on qualifications and work experience, starting from a minimum of € 3,226 gross per month (scale 10) to a maximum of € 5,929 gross per month (salary scale 11) for a fulltime position
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance, as well as participation in a pension scheme for employees
- a temporary appointment for 0.8-1.0 FTE for two years.