Bas van Heur

Postdoctoral position in polluter and wealth elites, decarbonisation and justice The Brussels Centre for Urban Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is advertising a four-year full-time postdoctoral position within the Chair in Decarbonisation and Justice , a collaborative initiative between Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel under the Swifft Collective research project. The position is based in the Urban and Socio-Environmental Transformations Research Hub (USET) and is closely linked to interdisciplinary work on just socio-ecological transitions. The successful candidate will coordinate the Chair’s research agenda on polluter elites and wealth elites , contribute to research on the regulation of carbon-intensive practices and investments, and develop an independent research project aligned with the Chair’s themes. The role also includes co-supervising two PhD projects with the Chair’s co-promoters, Prof. Tom Bauler (ULB-SONYA) and Prof. Bas van Heur (VUB-COSMOPOLIS), and may involve limited MA-level teaching and dissertation supervision. The call welcomes applicants from a broad range of disciplines, including ecological economics, political ecology, political science, sociology, urban studies, economic geography, and political economy . The research focus should relate to polluter and/or wealth elites and their role in just socio-ecological transitions. Applicants are expected to have a PhD in a relevant discipline , a strong research profile, and experience with multi- and interdisciplinary projects. Openness to transdisciplinarity and post-normal science is considered an advantage. Funding and appointment: the post is a salaried postdoctoral appointment; the announcement does not specify a stipend amount. The Chair also aims to strengthen its funding base through third-party research budgets at Belgian and European levels. Deadline: applications close on 3 September 2026 . Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on 22 September 2026 . The expected start date is 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). Upload the documents in the requested filename format through the application link.