Arnold Tukker

This PhD position at Leiden University offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ReSURE2 project, focusing on modeling urban resilience and regreening in coastal cities. The project aims to develop quantitative, spatially explicit models and digital tools to support climate-resilient, nature-inclusive, and socially just urban regeneration, with case studies in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Shanghai, and Xiamen. The successful candidate will join the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), a leading center for environmental sustainability research, and work within a highly interdisciplinary and international team. The research will involve developing methods to identify and classify urban climate risk zones by integrating GIS with industrial ecology approaches, capturing both direct and indirect impacts of climate hazards. A significant methodological aspect is the combination of multi-regional input–output analysis with spatial data to assess cascading supply chain risks and systemic effects, supported by system dynamics modeling. The candidate will also model the effectiveness of nature-based solutions, particularly green–blue infrastructure, for heat and flood mitigation at the urban scale, collaborating closely with environmental biologists and other domain experts. The position is embedded in a vibrant research environment, with over 150 staff at CML and close collaborations with other Dutch universities and research institutes. The PhD candidate will be part of a broader cohort working across industrial ecology, urban ecology, spatial planning, health, and environmental policy, and will actively engage with Sino-Dutch partners to test and extrapolate research findings for practical urban planning toolkits. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field (industrial ecology, environmental science, urban studies, spatial planning, geography, data science, or related), strong GIS and spatial data analysis skills, and experience with Python or a willingness to learn. The position offers a four-year contract, with a competitive salary (starting at €3,059 and rising to €3,881 per month), holiday and end-of-year bonuses, pension, paid parental leave, flexible working arrangements, and professional development opportunities through the Graduate School of Science. The intended start date is around May 2026. To apply, submit your application via the Leiden University online recruitment system, including your CV, cover letter, and contact details for at least two referees, quoting the vacancy number. The deadline for applications is 15 April 2026. For further information, contact Dr. Tanya Tsui or Dr. Mingming Hu. Leiden University values diversity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

The Leiden University Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) and the EU DG Joint Research Centre (JRC) invite applications for a Joint Doctorate PhD position in integrated circular economy modelling. This unique opportunity allows the successful candidate to conduct research at both Leiden University in the Netherlands and the EU’s DG JRC in Sevilla, Spain, as part of a four-year trajectory. The position is embedded within the ACT! project, a National Science Agenda initiative investigating the transition to a Circular Economy, and benefits from a collaborative doctoral partnership agreement between Leiden and JRC focused on secure and sustainable supply of raw materials. The PhD candidate will work on bottom-up and top-down modelling of the impact of circular economy transitions, with a focus on wellbeing, value and wealth creation, inclusion, distributive effects, and sustainability. Key responsibilities include building detailed physical stock vintages and flow data using industrial ecology methods (MFA, LCI, LCA), regional and sectoral specification of asset ownership and value-capturing potential, and developing an integrated micro–macro dynamic modelling suite for policy support. The research will involve close collaboration with other PhDs and postdocs at Leiden, Wageningen, and Tilburg Universities, as well as non-university modelling groups and international partners such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The candidate will spend the first few months and the final two years at Leiden University, with two years at JRC Sevilla in between. The Department of Industrial Ecology at CML hosts the PhD, offering a dynamic international environment and access to diverse research areas including industrial ecology and environmental biology. The JRC’s Unit B5 Circular Economy and Sustainable Industry provides interdisciplinary expertise to inform EU policy on industrial transformation, depollution, decarbonisation, and resource efficiency. Applicants must hold a (research) master’s degree in industrial ecology, (ecological) economics/econometrics, or related fields, with strong data and modelling skills. Experience in sustainability research or environmental sciences is essential, along with proficiency in English. Dutch language skills are advantageous but not required. Candidates must be willing to spend two years each at Leiden and JRC Sevilla, and must meet nationality or residency requirements for JRC enrolment. The position offers competitive funding: at Leiden University, a salary ranging from €3,059 to €3,881 per month, holiday allowance (8%), end-of-year bonus (8.3%), pension scheme, and attractive secondary employment conditions including sabbaticals, paid parental leave, sports subscription, bicycle scheme, and childcare options. Hybrid working and home-working allowances are provided. At JRC Sevilla, the candidate will receive a Grantholder contract with an indicative gross annual salary of €46,000. The PhD candidate will be fully embedded in Leiden University’s Graduate School of Science, with access to professional courses, skills training, and personal effectiveness programs. Diversity and inclusiveness are core values at the Faculty of Science, with support for female researchers and equal opportunities for all. For further information, contact Prof. Arnold Tukker ([email protected]) or Dr. Rutger Hoekstra ([email protected]). To apply, submit your application via the online recruitment system, including your CV, motivation letter (max 2 pages), and names/contact details of at least two referees. Applications received via email will not be considered. The deadline for applications is 19 June 2026 at 23:59. The first round of interviews will take place on 25 June 2026, with subsequent rounds including selection by JRC in agreement with Leiden University.

The Leiden University Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) and the EU DG Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Sevilla invite applications for a Joint Doctorate PhD position in integrated circular economy modelling. This unique four-year PhD trajectory is embedded in the Department of Industrial Ecology at Leiden University and the Unit B5 Circular Economy and Sustainable Industry at JRC, offering research stays in both Leiden and Sevilla. The position is part of the ACT! project, a National Science Agenda initiative investigating the transition to a Circular Economy, with over 20 partners collaborating on modelling, visioning, pathways, and case studies across sectors such as furniture, built environment, manufacturing, and households. The PhD candidate will develop and apply advanced modelling techniques to assess the impact of circular economy transitions on wellbeing, value creation, inclusion, distributive effects, and sustainability. Key responsibilities include building detailed bottom-up physical stock vintages and flow data using industrial ecology methods (MFA, LCI, LCA), linking these to dynamic economic input-output models, specifying regional and sectoral changes in asset ownership and value-capturing potential, and developing integrated micro–macro dynamic modelling suites for policy support. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with other PhDs and postdocs at Leiden, Wageningen, and Tilburg Universities, as well as non-university modelling groups and international partners such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), TNO, and Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (PBL). The candidate will spend the first few months and the final year at Leiden University, with two years at JRC Sevilla under a Grantholder contract. The position offers a competitive salary at Leiden (€3,059–€3,881 gross/month), holiday and end-of-year bonuses, pension scheme, home-working allowance, laptop, and attractive secondary employment conditions. At JRC, the candidate will receive an indicative gross annual salary of €46,000 for 24 months. The PhD is fully embedded in Leiden University’s Graduate School of Science, which provides professional, skills, and personal effectiveness training. Remote supervision from Leiden is maintained during the JRC period. Applicants must hold a (research) master degree in industrial ecology, (ecological) economics/econometrics, or a related field with strong data and modelling skills. Experience with sustainability research, life cycle assessment, material flow data, economic modelling, dynamic modelling, data harmonization, and programming is highly desirable. English proficiency is required; Dutch is advantageous. Candidates must be willing to spend two years each in Leiden and Sevilla and meet EU nationality or residency requirements for the JRC contract. Diversity and inclusion are core values at Leiden University’s Faculty of Science. Female researchers are encouraged to join the Researchers In Science for Equality network. The application deadline is 19 June 2026 at 23:59. Interviews will begin on 25 June 2026. For enquiries, contact Prof. Arnold Tukker or Dr. Rutger Hoekstra. Apply online with your CV, motivation letter, and referee details, quoting the vacancy number. Applications via email will not be considered.