项目介绍

2026年4月24日

DWELLWELL: Towards a political economy of housing and health

We are looking for a PhD-candidate to be part of the project DWELLWELL: Towards a political economy of housing and health, led by dr. Cody Hochstenbach. This project is funded through a Vidi-grant from NWO, the Dutch Research Council. The DWELLWELL project will involve two PhD-candidates working with different methods on different research questions.

While housing is recognized as an important social determinant of health, this relationship is predominantly analysed at the level of the housing unit or neighbourhood. Hardly any attention is paid to the structuring role of housing policies and housing systems. DWELLWELL therefore develops a political-economic understanding of housing’s impact on health. Simply put, it addresses how housing policies and housing systems can make people sick and generate health inequalities. It develops the political economy of housing and health combining insights from literatures in (1) housing and health, (2) political economy of health, and (3) critical housing studies. Methodologically, the project combines large-scale cross-national comparisons, advanced quantitative longitudinal analyses, and in-depth ethnographic fieldwork.

What are you going to do

• you perform empirical quantitative research drawing on advanced longitudinal analyses and quasi-experimental research designs (such as difference-in-difference modelling or regression discontinuity designs) in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands;
• you will complete a PhD dissertation based on four scientific articles, to be submitted to leading academic journals. Some of these articles will be in collaboration with other team members (including the PI and co-promotor);
• you will actively contribute to the (national and international) activities of the DWELLWELL project, such as scientific conferences and networks as well as expert meetings with policy makers and stakeholders;
• you will assist with administrative responsibilities related to the project, such as the organization of workshops or other project events;
• you will be embedded in, and contribute to, the Urban Geography (UG) programme group of the Geography, Planning and International Development department.
• you will contribute to the teaching program of the department (approx. 10% of your time);
• you will take active part in seminars of the program group and the department;
• your primary residence will be within commuting distance of the University of Amsterdam for the duration of the PhD project.

What do you have to offer

The larger DWELLWELL project combines a range of theoretical perspectives (housing studies, political economy, healthy geography, social epidemiology) and methods (from advanced quantitative modelling to in-depth ethnographic fieldwork). We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD-candidate with a strong academic training who develops their own vision on how to contribute to the project. Specifically, we are looking for a candidate that has:

• strong methodological training in advanced quantitative methods (e.g., difference-in-difference research designs);
• experience with handling large (register and survey) datasets;
• experience with statistical software such as Stata or R, and coding;
• an affinity with health geography, critical housing studies and/or political economy approaches;
• a Master’s degree in the social sciences (geography, sociology, political science, or a related discipline), health (public health, social epidemiology) or a related field;
• an appreciation (and ideally understanding) of other research methods, notably in-depth ethnographic fieldwork;
• excellent command of English (Dutch proficiency is an extra asset);
• independent thinking and critical analytical skills;
• demonstrable organisational skills, flexibility, communication skills, and a collaborative and proactive attitude.

What else do we offer you

The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. We will put together a curriculum which will also include the opportunity to attend training courses and both national and international events. You will also be tasked with teaching Bachelor’s students. 

For this position the University Job Classification profile promovendus applies. 

Your salary will be €3.059 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3.881 in the final year, based on full-time employment and in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

This PhD-project will specifically focus on quantitative longitudinal analyses in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The aim is to understand how changing housing policies and housing system differences influence health outcomes (both physical and mental) at the individual level. It will use quasi-experimental research designs to gauge to what extent housing policies, and changes therein, influence health inequalities between different population groups. The PhD project will utilize large scale individual-level datasets, such as register and survey data, with information on individuals, their housing situation and their health.