PhD in Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Infrastructure and Quality of Life among Peri-Urban Communities in Bangladesh
This interdisciplinary PhD position is part of the FLASH project (Facilitating Livelihood through Advancing Smart Habitats in Peri-Urban Bangladesh), which aims to create sustainable, climate-resilient livelihood options for peri-urban populations in Bangladesh. The project addresses complex challenges shaped by environmental change, socio-economic factors, and informal societal processes, using a Living Lab approach for co-creation and collective management. The research is divided into six interlinked work packages, with this PhD vacancy linked to WP4, focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and public health. The successful candidate will investigate the connections between WASH infrastructure, public health, and the resilience of peri-urban communities in Khulna and Barisal, Bangladesh, especially in the context of hydro-climatic hazards and man-made stressors. The research will contribute to understanding how the availability and accessibility of WASH infrastructure affect the quality of life among low-income peri-urban communities, and will help select appropriate water and sanitation solutions that improve livelihoods and facilitate resource recovery and safe reuse. The project involves mixed-methods fieldwork, including quantitative and qualitative data collection related to health and WASH services, followed by econometric and spatial analysis, and active engagement with local communities and decision-makers. The PhD will be awarded by Wageningen University, and the candidate will join the Urban Systems Engineering (USE) research group in the ETE department. Supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Adriaan Mels (Promotor), Dr. Kamonashish Haldar (Co-promotor & Daily Supervisor), and Dr. Farzana Misha (local supervisor, BRAC University). The project is funded by NWO and involves collaboration with BUET, Utrecht University, and other public-private partners. Applicants should have a background in environmental engineering, a focus on WASH, and fluency in Bengali. Experience with mixed-methods research and community engagement is desirable.
