项目介绍

2025年5月15日

Job description

There has been a shift towards alternative economic thinking beyond economic growth and profit, such as doughnut economics and the wellbeing economy. In the Netherlands, for example, “brede welvaart” (broader welfare) has gained traction in scientific and policy circles. However, how does this reflect in changing urban-rural interactions such as new (alternative) economic activities? Is there an enabling environment for entrepreneurs, civic organizations, and other actors? How is value created, and for whom? How to transition to a more multiple value creating perspective? How to more fairly distribute costs and benefits?

This PhD project will tackle these kinds of questions, with a focus on collaborative networks (e.g. service organizations, smaller housing associations) and initiatives related to for example, food, energy and housing developments. What kinds of new goods and services are being produced, by whom, for whom, and who bears costs and who benefits? The PhD position is part of the NWO-funded transdisciplinary project “Fertile Soils for Future Generations: Integrated Spatial Strategies and Effective Governance for Coherent Rural-regions.” The Fertile Soils project focuses on restoring meaningful interactions between rural and urban areas through landscape services, such as food production, biodiversity, recreation, space for economic activities, social cohesion and regional identity. By combining a viable economic perspective with services securing health, safety, vitality and justice, important dimensions of broader welfare are covered, with a focus on the following rural-urban regions: Groningen-Het Hogeland, Zwolle region, Van Gogh region, Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague, and Metropolitan Region Amsterdam.

Among the activities of the PhD project, will be to:

• Create an inventory and typology of collaborative networks and initiatives related to new/alternative economic activities in Dutch urban-rural regions (e.g. Metropolitan Region Amsterdam, Zwolle Region, and Groningen). Also, to look at general trends and areas with less (or no) such developments from both urban and rural perspectives (e.g. via document analysis and interviews). Among relevant aspects to consider: what kinds of actors are (not) involved, what kinds of spatial interactions (or not) exist, what are the (multiple) value propositions?
• Critically review existing literature on business to society cases, multiple value creation and urban-rural interactions.
• Make a spatially explicit assessment of current and potential demand for new/alternative economic activities, including the key current and potential user groups (e.g. via interviews and survey).
• Evaluate the conditions (e.g. related to capital requirements, labor market, behavioral changes, local and regional governance arrangements) needed to ensure enabling environments for collaborative networks and initiatives to achieve goals related to (multiple) value creation (e.g. via survey and interviews)
• Assess the impacts of collaborative networks and initiatives on fostering new/improved relations between urban and rural regions to sustain wellbeing in selected peri-urban case studies (e.g. via spatial analysis and econometrics)

Requirements

Education/subject background:
Master’s degree (or near completion of a master program) in the field of Urban Economics, Regional Economics, Economic Geography, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, or related field

Skills and characteristics:

• quantitative methods (e.g., survey, econometrics, GIS); qualitative methods (e.g. document analysis, interviews)
• preferably has affinity to research on broader welfare (wellbeing), innovation and entrepreneurship, multiple value creation, urban-rural interactions
• likes to engage in interdisciplinary research and interact with societal partners
• is able to perform tasks independently and in teams
• good organization and writing skills
• fluent in English; preferably also Dutch

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair group Urban Economics , which is led by Prof. Eveline van Leeuwen. You will be co-supervised by Prof. Eveline van Leeuwen and Dr. Sol Maria Halleck Vega.

Conditions of employment

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the “best university” in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Employer

Wageningen University & Research

De missie van Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’. Binnen Wageningen University & Research bundelen Wageningen University en gespecialiseerde onderzoeksinstituten van Stichting Wageningen Research hun krachten om bij te dragen aan de oplossing van belangrijke vragen in het domein van gezonde voeding en leefomgeving. Met ongeveer 30 vestigingen, 7.600 medewerkers (6.700 fte) en 13.100 studenten en ruim 150.000 Leven Lang Leren-deelnemers behoort Wageningen University & Research wereldwijd tot de aansprekende kennisinstellingen binnen haar domein. De integrale benadering van de vraagstukken en de samenwerking tussen verschillende disciplines vormen het hart van de unieke Wageningen aanpak.

Deze punten geven onze medewerkers aan als goede redenen om te komen werken bij WUR: lees de 6 redenen om te komen werken bij WUR

Wij werven zelf voor deze vacature. Acquisitie wordt niet op prijs gesteld, maar delen in je netwerk wel.

Additional information

For more information about the position, please contact Prof.dr.ir. Eveline van Leeuwen (eveline.vanleeuwen@wur.nl) or Dr. Sol Maria Halleck Vega (solmaria.halleckvega@wur.nl)

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, via recruitment.ssg@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply until 9 June 2025. The first interviews are scheduled soon after the closing date.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone’s unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.