PhD Position JUST FUTURES: ReStor(y)ing Multispecies Futures Through Digital Media University of Twente in Netherlands

The University of Twente invites applications for a fully funded PhD position as part of the JUST ART project, focusing on 'ReStor(y)ing Multispecies Futures Through Digital Media.' This interdisciplinary research opportunity is embedded within the Knowledge, Transformation & Society (KITES) section of the Technology, Policy & Society department, and is part of a six-year initiative funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to advance climate justice through artistic research across the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The PhD candidate will critically and creatively engage with environmental data—such as pollution metrics, biodiversity surveys, citizen science contributions, and natural history collections—while questioning what counts as 'relevant' data and adding a critical artistic dimension to debates on knowledge co-production. The research will develop multi-sensory, participatory installations that give voice to diverse species and reclaim technology and the digital as immersive artistic practice. Artistic experimentation with data and code will be conducted, focusing on 'rurban' spaces in the Twente region where rural-urban relationships highlight climate and biodiversity injustices. The candidate will make frictions and controversies in these spaces publicly debatable, supporting collective imagination of biodiverse and climate-just futures.

Collaboration is central: installations may be developed with artistic residencies and cultural organizations such as Tetem - Platform for Digital Culture. The scope of the research is open to refinement by the candidate, the supervisory team, and the wider JUST ART community, which includes academic partners, artists, cultural institutions, and societal stakeholders. The project offers 10 fully funded PhD positions at six universities, in partnership with TNO and four universities of applied sciences. More information is available at www.justart.info.

JUST ART aims to cultivate diverse strategies of climate justice through artistic research and creative practice, generating new knowledge and critically assessing approaches that integrate scientific insights with art. PhD candidates will develop concrete cases, enhance expertise in art-based transformative action, and contribute to theoretical frameworks, methods, educational toolkits, and knowledge-sharing platforms.

Applicants should demonstrate excellent research skills, ideally through an outstanding Master’s thesis related to the topic, and be able to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, intercultural environment. Experience with climate justice frameworks, artistic practices (hacking, reappropriation, up/re-cycling, DIY culture, immersive art, multi-sensory methodologies, data feminism, critical making, speculative design), and strong English proficiency are desirable. Regular physical presence at the University of Twente in Enschede is expected.

The position offers a full-time, 4-year contract with a gross monthly salary starting at €3,059 and rising to €3,881, plus excellent benefits: holiday allowance (8%), end-of-year bonus (8.3%), pension scheme, 29 holidays per year, training programme, employee status with healthcare and parental leave, and a stimulating, family-friendly research environment. The Twente Graduate School provides a personal development program and mentorship.

Applications are due by 27 March 2026. Required documents include a CV, cover letter, writing sample, portfolio (if available), names and contact details of two references, and official diplomas and transcripts. Two rounds of interviews will be held in May, and selected candidates will submit a brief research proposal. The desired start date is 1 September 2026.

Join a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking academic community at the University of Twente, where you will contribute to positive social impact through research at the intersection of art, technology, and climate justice.