Utrecht University has opened a Postdoctoral Researcher position in the field of Global Sustainability Governance/Earth System Governance.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will become part of the new, cutting-edge international research programme “Global Governance through Goals? Assessing and Explaining the Steering Effects of the UN Sustainable Development Goals” (GlobalGoals). This research programme is directed by Professor Frank Biermann and funded through an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council. The postdoctoral researcher will analyse the global steering effects of the Sustainable Development Goals as part of a team of four faculty members and four PhD candidates within the broader framework and research design of the GlobalGoals programme.

We expect successful candidates to bring a strong interest and broad expertise in the field of global sustainability governance/earth system governance, as evidenced by a doctoral dissertation and/or related postdoctoral experience in this field of study. There is no special disciplinary requirement. With a view to the research design of the GLOBALGOALS project, we are looking especially for a postdoctoral researcher with a strong affinity to, and experience in, the theory of international relations and world politics. Affinity with quantitative methods and approaches in political science/international relations, especially in social network analysis, and/or a strong affinity to, and experience in, discourse analysis with a focus on international relations, is especially welcome.

In addition, we expect the Postdoctoral Researcher to have excellent communication skills, to be a good team player and to have a strong affinity with working in an interdisciplinary and international research environment. The working language of the Institute is English.

Teaching is not formally required in this position. However, if so desired, a limited involvement in the Faculty’s teaching programmes is possible.

We offer a fulltime position (1.0 FTE) for the duration of 2 years, with the possibility of extension. The gross monthly salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranges between €2,709 and €4,274 (scale 10 Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8 % of annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of annual salary per year. We offer a pension scheme, (partly paid) parental leave, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). Facilities for sports, childcare and a subsidized international school are available on our main campus, the Utrecht Science Park, located only 15 minutes away from the historical city centre of Utrecht. 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, colleagues from various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Sustainability, Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, and Life Sciences.

 

Utrecht University has been ranked in the 2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities as the best university in the Netherlands, and as one of the leading research universities in Europe. Utrecht University’s sustainability research has the greatest citation impact worldwide according to a study conducted by Times Higher Education (2016). 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 has been consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the Netherlands.

 

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences offers education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organized in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Urban & Regional Planning, Physical Geography, and the Department of Sustainable Development. The research of this Department is organized in the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development.  

 

The Copernicus Institute is part of the Faculty of Geosciences. The Copernicus Institute has been evaluated in a 2014 international review as the highest ranked research institute in environmental sciences in the Netherlands. Since then, the Institute has intensified its efforts in maintaining its leading position, among others by investing in several new international Faculty appointments and by developing new, internationally oriented teaching programmes.

The GlobalGoals project team is directed by Professor Frank Biermann and further includes, at Utrecht University, Assistant Professor Rakhyun Kim, Associate Professor Agni Kalfagianni, Assistant Professor Marjanneke Vijge and four PhD candidates; along with an international network of prominent scholars in the field.

Institutionally, the Postdoctoral Researcher will be affiliated with the Environmental Governance group, one of the four sections of the University’s Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. The Environmental Governance group is a dynamic, ambitious and internationally leading team of over fifty researchers with a focus on fundamental and policy-oriented research of governance processes, from local to global levels.