Postdoctoral Researcher in Decarbonisation, Justice, and Polluter/Wealth Elites Université libre de Bruxelles in

Brussels Centre for Urban Studies is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for the Chair in Decarbonisation and Justice, a collaborative initiative between Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) within the Swifft Collective and the Urban and Socio-Environmental Transformations Research Hub (USET).

The position focuses on polluter elites, wealth elites, and just socio-ecological transitions. The successful candidate will coordinate the Chair’s research agenda, co-supervise two PhD projects, and develop an independent 4-year research project aligned with the Chair’s broader themes. The post is especially relevant for researchers working in political science, sociology, urban studies, economic geography, political economy, or ecological economics.

The role emphasizes interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration across two universities and two research centers. The postholder will contribute to science-policy dialogue on just decarbonisation in Belgium and may also have limited MA-level teaching and dissertation supervision duties. The announcement notes that the candidate should have a PhD in a relevant discipline and ideally an existing research profile connected to the Chair’s agenda.

Funding details are not specified as a stipend amount, but the post is described as a four-year full-time postdoctoral position. The Chair also aims to strengthen its funding base through third-party research budgets at Belgian and European levels.

Deadline: 3 September 2026. Start date: Autumn 2026.

How to apply: Submit a CV, motivation letter (max 2 pages), two references, a statement on expertise (max 1 page), and a 4-year research project (max 4 pages) via the application link. Questions can be directed to Tom Bauler and Bas van Heur.