Publisher
source

University of Amsterdam

PhD Position in Strategising for the Green Urban Transition in Amsterdam University of Amsterdam in Netherlands

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Environmental Science

Funding

Paid PhD employment at the University of Amsterdam for 38 hours per week, initially for one year and extendable up to four years total upon positive assessment. Salary is €3,059 gross per month in the first year and €3,881 gross per month in the final year, plus 8% holiday allowance, a year-end bonus of 8.3%, pension contributions, and other employment benefits.

Deadline

Sep 1, 2026

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Country

Netherlands

University

University of Amsterdam

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Keywords

Environmental Science
Sociology
Political Science
Geography
Urban Planning
Energy Transition
Qualitative Method
Climate Resilience
Urban Governance

About this position

PhD Position: Strategising for the Green Urban Transition in Amsterdam at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

This PhD project examines how climate change is reshaping cities and how urban governance systems can support long-term strategies for the energy transition and urban greening. The research focuses on urban planning, urban governance, political science, geography, and related social science approaches, with an emphasis on qualitative and interpretive research methods.

The project asks how spatial decisions are embedded in long-term strategies for green urban transitions, and how governance arrangements enable or constrain Amsterdam’s strategic capacity. The candidate will study a specific transition challenge such as an energy cluster in the Amsterdam harbour, expansion of the urban heat network, urban greening for heat and rain resilience, biodiversity-oriented greening, or electrification for decarbonising housing and industry. Comparative case studies with other cities are part of the design.

Methods include document analysis, interviews, case study research, and the development of innovative methods for complex multi-actor urban environments. The PhD candidate will also contribute to academic debates, produce a dissertation and publications, and teach about 10% of the appointment.

Eligibility highlights: a master’s degree in urban planning, human geography, political science, or a related social science; Dutch and English proficiency; and an interest in political and bureaucratic decision-making and the physical urban environment. Experience with urban governance is an advantage.

Funding and contract: this is a paid PhD employment position for 38 hours per week, initially for one year and extendable up to four years total after positive assessment. Salary ranges from €3,059 gross per month in year one to €3,881 gross per month in the final year, plus 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus, pension, and other benefits.

Application deadline: 1 September 2026. Applicants must submit a CV (max. 2 pages), motivation letter (max. 1 page), and a research proposal based on the provided template, merged into a single PDF.

Supervisors: Dr. Jochem de Vries and Dr. Michiel Stapper.

Funding details

Paid PhD employment at the University of Amsterdam for 38 hours per week, initially for one year and extendable up to four years total upon positive assessment. Salary is €3,059 gross per month in the first year and €3,881 gross per month in the final year, plus 8% holiday allowance, a year-end bonus of 8.3%, pension contributions, and other employment benefits.

What's required

Applicants need a master’s degree in urban planning, human geography, political science, or a related social science, with specialisation in qualitative and interpretive research methods. Dutch and English language proficiency is required because fieldwork will be conducted in Amsterdam and in cities outside the Netherlands. An academic affinity with political and bureaucratic decision-making and the physical urban environment is expected; lived experience with urban governance is an advantage.

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