Following the development and implementation of a new Urban Futures Research Programme at the Department of Human Geography and Planning, Utrecht University is now looking to appoint a Chair in Economic Geography to help drive this research theme within the Department.

The Chair aims to develop innovative, new research lines for the Department with respect to the locational behaviour of firms and people, as well as the meso- and macro-economic contexts that determine regional structural changes and transitions. Research will take place in, and in collaboration with various domains, such as urban and regional economics, innovation studies, entrepreneurship, growth and development analyses, and network theory and analysis.

In line with the Department’s Urban Futures Research Programme, a dynamic, actor, regional and policy-based approach of economic geography is envisaged in addition to an institutional and network approach. As evolutionary economic geography is already strong in the Department, the Chair can decide to further build on that expertise.

A Chair is a full-time appointment including a management component. The appointee will be expected to spend 50% of time on research activities and 50% on teaching, however, this percentage is dependent on responsibilities and management tasks.

The appointee requires the following qualifications:

• PhD in a relevant field;
• outstanding problem- and theory-guided research achievements demonstrated by an excellent publication record and evidence of research outputs which are consistently recognized as internationally excellent, with some outputs identified as world-leading; 
• Iiternational visibility and reputation, and an international network;
• an inspiring research vision, linking to the Urban Futures Research Programme and the expected developments in this field;
• content-related and management qualities required to be a research leader in the field of economic geography and to engage in multidisciplinary research projects;
• proven ability to successfully recruit and supervise to completion PhD students and postdocs;
• proven experience in successfully obtaining (inter)national research grants;
• didactic qualities in order to be able to provide, develop and organise high-quality educations, and a clear vision on scientific education; experience with developing innovative teaching methods for the design and delivery of education;
• teaching leadership and management skills required to organise, to provide and to develop teaching programmes that enable students to achieve their potential; 
• excellent, social, organisational and management skills in teaching and research: a team player, bringing out the best in other people; 
• interest in societal challenges related to sustainable development, and the ambition to engage in interactions related to these topics; strong and proven ability to communicate with the non-academic world.

Utrecht University employs a system of quality assessment for teaching and research, with consequences for career development. This system implies that, in addition to having a PhD in a relevant field of research, an eligible candidate also possesses appropriate senior level academic teaching and research qualifications; the Faculty may use an assessment as an instrument in the selection procedure.

The gross monthly salary will be dependent on previous qualifications and experience and ranges between €5,582 and €8,127 (salary scale H2 CAO NU as of Feb 2019) gross per month for a full-time employment. The primary salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers an excellent pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions.

Facilities for sports and child care are available on the main campus, which is located only 15 minutes away from the historical city center of Utrecht.

The University’s International Service Desk will provide support to new international faculty members with an onboarding process, as well as provide career services for their spouse. 

Utrecht University specifically encourages female and foreign candidates to apply.

More information is available at: working at Utrecht University.

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 societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University offers a unique environment to study societal challenge as it combines knowledge on energy efficiency, economics, energy policy, behavioural sciences, innovation systems, and knowledge on (sustainable) urban development.


The Department of Human Geography and Planning has its focus on the enhancement of long-term economic developments of cities, how to cope with social inequalities and how to ensure a healthy urban living. Research on these topics takes place within its new research programme “Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities”. This research programme is the basis for the research Masters Human Geography, and Geographical Information Management and Applications, and professional Masters in Human Geography, International Development Studies, and Spatial Planning. The Department also runs a large and well regarded Bachelors programme and is part of the Netherlands Graduate School of Urban and Regional Research for PhD candidates.

The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht city has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands.