The research agenda

The research group Food and Healthy Living of Aeres University of Applied Sciences, hereafter referred to as AUAS, focuses on the relation between sustainable food provision, food consumption and healthy living within the city of Almere, one of the main cities in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Almere offers a unique 'living lab' opportunity for PhD research that can inform the transition to sustainable and healthy metropolitan food systems.

Almere aims to produce a large share of its food supply regionally (10-20% by 2020) and to demonstrate - as ‘living lab’- how cities can sustainably produce their own healthy foods. Moreover, Almere, home to residents of 181 different ethnicities and 153 different nationalities, aims to shape its future-proof system of food provision in such a way that it positively contributes to improving the health and wellbeing of all its citizens. But, how to encourage the development of an inclusive, sustainable and health-promoting regional food systems? What are the effects of regional food strategies on promoting sustainable and healthy lifestyles? How can we ensure that sustainable and healthy food strategies are truly inclusive for all groups within the population of Almere city region?

The research program Food and Healthy Living aims to address these questions with the aid of a variety of analytical and methodological approaches. The academic objective is to discover patterns and develop theories for transitions towards sustainable and healthy food consumption practices. The applied research ambitions are to translate the theoretical understandings into concrete actions that contribute to the nutrition and health needs of the urban population with minimal environmental impact. 

The research is funded by the Fonds Verstedelijking Almere (FVA) as part of  the broader agenda ‘Feeding the City’ which is linked to the World Horticulture Exhibition Floriade 2022, taking place in Almere.

AUAS offers a PhD position to complement the research team. The PhD candidate receives the opportunity to write his /her thesis and develop as an academic and applied researcher in the context of the agenda ‘Feeding the City' with the aim of contributing to sustainable and feasible solutions for an urban /metropolitan food system. 

• You have a (research) Master degree: in an area of specialisation that is relevant in relation to the PhD theme such as urban economics, economic sociology, economic geography, sustainable business design.
• You have strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.
• You have excellent results in your first degree /graduate study.
• You have explicit interest in and motivation for scientific research.
• You have a keen interest in food system transformation, healthy living, environmental sustainability and urban development.
• You are fluent in written and spoken Dutch and English.
• You have strong scientific writing skills.
• You are highly motivated to work in a team.
• You have strong social skills and the ability to effectively communicate with different stakeholders.
• You are an enthusiastic and pro-active self-starting personality.
• You have excellent organizational skills.
• You are prepared to participate in educational tasks. 

The attractiveness of working at Aeres University of Applied Sciences, is that you are part of a team that educates professionals in close collaboration with the sector for which we train them. There are also ample opportunities for self-development. The job of PhD researcher has a salary perspective linked to scale 10 of the collective labour agreement for higher professional education (from € 2.459,53 up to € 3.994,25 gross per month for a full-time appointment). The perquisites that come with the job, are good.

The initial appointment is temporary for the period of 1 year with Stichting Aeres Groep. After the first contract, the length of the following contract is equal  to the period of the PhD, in total to a maximum of 4 years.

This project is a collaboration between the research group Food and Healthy Living of Aeres University of Applied Sciences and the Urban Economics (UEC) group of Wageningen University. This allows the candidate to benefit from the combined strengths of two research centres, while being solidly embedded in the Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS).

Aeres University of Applied Sciences

Aeres University of Applied Sciences is rooted in green and instructive higher education. We focus on teaching and research as well as sharing and applying knowledge. Professional development, pushing back frontiers, innovative entrepreneurship, contextual learning, and sustainable action are our key interests. This is how we contribute to the development of future-oriented, innovative professionals. Professionals who are capable of taking well-founded decisions in a complex world. Our faculties in Almere, Dronten and Wageningen cater for approximately 3,200 students. Each faculty has its own profile and focus.

Aeres University of Applied Sciences Almere

The Almere faculty focuses on study programmes and practical research in which the green knowledge domain is linked to the urban environment. Major fields of interest include biology, food, health, circular economy, sustainability, and innovative green planning. Aeres University of Applied Sciences Almere is a partner in the development of the Flevo Campus, which is being created on the Floriade exhibition site over the next few years. The Flevo Campus is a knowledge hub where education, research, entrepreneurs and governments meet around the theme of “Feeding the City”.