Jaap van Slageren

Utrecht University is recruiting a fully funded PhD candidate to study the politicization of science and knowledge, with a specific focus on how these politicizations can be addressed in university education. The project is based in the Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, with close collaboration with the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. It examines how political movements, societal debates, and contested knowledge claims enter academic research and teaching, and how educators can facilitate meaningful discussion in the classroom. This interdisciplinary PhD combines perspectives from Science and Technology Studies, Political Science, and Educational Sciences. The research focus is especially relevant to geosciences and sustainability, where natural and social science perspectives intersect and where politicization of knowledge can be particularly visible. Applicants are welcome from backgrounds in Science and Technology Studies, Political Science, Educational Sciences, Geography, sustainability-related educational programs, or related disciplines. The university seeks candidates with strong interest in the topic, a willingness to learn across disciplines, and the ability to work with both qualitative and quantitative methods. Excellent English is required; Dutch proficiency is preferred. The position is a 4-year PhD trajectory, initially offered for 1 year and extendable after a successful first-year assessment. The salary is €3,059 to €3,881 gross per month for full-time work, plus holiday pay, year-end bonus, pension, and other employment benefits. Application deadline: 27 July 2026. Applicants should submit a CV including grades list and a motivation letter via the university’s application portal. International candidates may need to provide diploma and grade documentation, and visa/work-permit processing can take at least four months after selection.