Trui Steen

This doctoral position at KU Leuven is part of the SUNSET Doctoral Network, an international, interdisciplinary consortium focused on city-university partnerships for urban sustainability and digitalization. The successful candidate will join the Public Governance Institute, which specializes in research on public governance from public administration and political science perspectives. The project investigates how universities and their host cities collaborate to achieve sustainability goals, emphasizing the micro-dynamics of knowledge sharing, learning, and multi-stakeholder engagement. It aims to understand and improve collaborative approaches such as citizen science initiatives, Living Labs, and climate assemblies, with a particular focus on the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in local governance and innovation ecosystems. The research will explore best practices and innovative strategies for urban sustainability, providing actionable insights for policy-making and collaborative frameworks. The position includes international mobility and secondments, notably a planned fellowship at the University of Tartu, Estonia. Applicants should have a recent Master’s degree in a relevant social science field, strong research skills, and proficiency in English. The scholarship offers a full-time PhD position for one year, extendable for two more years upon positive evaluation, with funding provided through EU Researcher Allowances and KU Leuven benefits. The application deadline is November 24, 2025, and the expected start date is April-May 2026. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the KU Leuven job portal and may contact Mr. Gert-Jan Put for further details.