PhD Researcher - Participation & Inclusion in Urban Heat Resilience Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium

PhD Researcher - Participation & Inclusion in Urban Heat Resilience at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

This PhD position is based at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in the Faculty of Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, Department of Communication Studies, within the Research Group Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT). The project is part of EUROASIS (EUROpean Adaptive, Systemic and Inclusive Solutions for heat resilience), a 4-year Horizon Europe consortium under the EU Cities Mission. The consortium brings together 29 partners and works across multiple European cities and replicator regions to improve preparedness for extreme heat through systemic innovations, community engagement, and co-creation.

The doctoral researcher will focus on participation and inclusion in urban heat resilience, with particular attention to the involvement of vulnerable and marginalised groups such as elderly people, youth, and low-income residents. The project explores how justice and equity frameworks can be applied to heat-stress policy and how inclusive engagement can support more democratic, effective solutions for sustainable and liveable cities. The PhD is embedded in the project’s societal engagement work packages, where SMIT helps lay the foundations for community engagement, stakeholder involvement, and participatory methods across pilot and replicator cities.

The research combines literature review, qualitative and quantitative methods, and participatory design. The student will work on co-creation workshops, Community Labs, recruitment and engagement strategies, citizen science or other participatory formats, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and digital data-collection tools. The project also includes evaluating the impact of these engagement processes and producing policy advice on inclusive decision-making for heat stress adaptation.

Applicants should hold a master’s degree with good academic results in a relevant discipline. The employer especially welcomes backgrounds in communication studies, political science, and urban studies, while sociology or climate/environmental psychology are also considered valuable. No technical background is required. A good command of English is essential, and Dutch is considered an advantage. Experience with participatory research is helpful, but strong motivation and the ability to develop these skills are also important. Candidates must be prepared to work proactively and independently, complete a PhD dissertation, present at conferences, and travel for international meetings and fieldwork.

The appointment is a full-time PhD scholarship starting on 15/10/2026, initially for 12 months and extendable to a maximum of 48 months subject to positive evaluation. The scholarship comes with a grant linked to government pay scales. Applicants must submit their CV, motivation letter, and diploma via the VUB jobs portal by 15/09/2026 at 23:59 (Europe/Brussels).

For questions about the position, contact Carina Veeckman at [email protected]. The home base for this function is the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene), Brussels, Belgium.