Postdoc in Key Enabling Methodologies for Urban Resilience

Do you want to help Dutch cities to become more resilient by connecting change methods and local policy and decision-making? We are looking for a 3-year postdoctoral researcher at the chair group Urban Economics (WUR) to identify how, when and for what purpose key enabling methodologies (KEMs) can support local governments in building resilient urban futures.

Dutch urban areas are transforming due to societal, environmental, technological and economic pressures. The majority of people will live in cities, while challenges relating to inequality, health, climate change, food and energy all accumulate within this urban context. Key Enabling Methodologies (KEMs), a collective term for groups of tools, strategies, and design methods used by researchers, policymakers, and professionals, can help to structure change and solve such complex entwined urban challenges (www.kems.nl). However, up to now KEMs often do not adequately support policymakers in addressing the complexities of urban challenges, leaving them feeling unprepared and unsupported. The 6-year NWO-funded project URRRRRBAN: Urban Resilience through Responsive, Relational, Representative and Responsible Policymaking (led by prof. Mascha van der Voort, University of Twente) attempts to fill that void between KEMs and policy, by addressing how KEMs can move beyond incidental use toward structural integration in policymaking.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will be responsible for execution of WP2 of the URRRRBAN project (led by Prof. dr. Emely de Vet, WUR, and Dr. Carissa Champlin, University of Twente). This WP monitors 4 cities (i.e., Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Enschede and Amersfoort) and 5 diverse cases from these cities (i.e., CivicAI, Energielab Zuid Oost, Open Urban Platform Amersfoort, VONK and Buurtbarometer). The WP seeks to generate practice-based evidence on what KEM works for whom, in what context, and under what circumstances. Each of the cases will be coordinated by a case coordinator, and the postdoc will identify and compare KEM utilization with desk research, document analyses, field observations and stakeholder interviews across the cases. This case-based approach will be complemented with an institution-based approach, where the postdoc will explore familiarity with KEMs and their institutional embedding with policy makers. Needs and preferences for KEM utilization and envisioned learning trajectories within municipalities will be identified, forming a basis for how to adapt KEMs for decision-support in local contexts and challenges.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• coordination, collaboration, and communication of research activities with the 5 cases and 4 cities;
• design and conducting research under the guidance of work package leaders;
• analyses and reporting of practice-based insights on KEM utilization in national and international journals;
• translate insights to other WPs (e.g., evaluation framework, recommendations for KEM iteration and embedding, and learning infrastructure);
• interacting and communicating with the project leaders and researchers to share work in progress and contribute to the overall project goals.

Your team
You will work at the chair group Urban Economics of Wageningen University. Your daily supervisor from Urban Economics will be Emely de Vet, and Carissa Chaplin (Department of Planning, Land and Urban Systems (University of Twente) will be your external co-supervisor. You will work closely with the URRRRRban partners in WP2, most notably the case coordinators and local municipality contact persons. Also, you will align your work with the teams of the other WPs of the program and regularly attend consortium meetings.

Research Funding Officer

As a Research Funding Officer and organizational project manager, you support and coordinate acquisition and project management processes. You ensure that new research opportunities are identified, assessed, and successfully converted into proposals, grant applications, and projects. Additionally, you ensure that projects are executed within time, budget and regulatory constraints. Projects can range from fieldwork and experimental research to data management, modeling, and policy-oriented research. This gives you broad insight into the research activities of Wageningen Research.

You work closely with researchers, (scientific) project leaders, clients, and support departments within WMR and Wageningen University & Research (WUR).

Your tasks and responsibilities as a Research Funding Officer:

Research funding (approximately 70% of your time)

• identifying and monitoring assignments, tenders, and grant opportunities relevant to WMR and aligned with the organizational strategy;
• assessing grant and tender requirements and advising on opportunities, risks, co-financing, and partnerships;
• coordinating and guiding proposal and grant application processes, ensuring that financial, legal, and technical input is available on time;
• advising researchers and project leaders on acquisition processes, procedures, and grant conditions;
• monitoring the progress of acquisition and proposal processes and reporting on them.

Project management (approximately 30% of your time)

• supporting project leaders in the execution of research projects;
• monitoring project objectives regarding time, quality, budget, organization, and communication; identifying deviations and actively contributing to solutions;
• maintaining contact with clients, collaborative partners, and internal stakeholders;
• handling project coordination, administration, archiving, and documentation;
• initiating and implementing improvements in acquisition, proposal, and project management processes.

Your team
You will be part of the Acquisition Support & Project Management Team, consisting of approximately nine colleagues who provide process support for acquisition and research projects. Your primary work location is IJmuiden, where you will be at least two days a week. Besides these two days, working from our locations in Yerseke or Den Helder is an option. You will work in an international, applied-science environment centered on marine and freshwater ecological issues.

You will work here

Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) is one of the nine institutes that make up Wageningen Research. WMR is a leading, independent research institute with locations in IJmuiden, Den Helder, and Yerseke, focusing on strategic and applied marine ecological research. Its products and services are created are created within a project-based way of workingand are diverse in nature, ranging from field research, experiments at a realistic scale, and exploratory laboratory-scale studies to data management and modelling.

What we offer

• a varied and challenging role at the intersection of business development and project management;
• a professional, collaborative, and stimulating work environment;
• the opportunity to work closely with ambitious researchers and experienced project professionals;
• the chance to contribute to impactful marine research with societal relevance;
• excellent opportunities for professional development and career growth.

Research Funding Officer

Als Research funding officer en organisatorisch projectmanager ondersteun en coördineer je zowel onderzoeksprojecten als acquisitietrajecten. Je zorgt ervoor dat nieuwe kansen voor onderzoek worden gesignaleerd, beoordeeld en succesvol worden omgezet in offertes, subsidieaanvragen en projecten. Daarnaast bewaak je de uitvoering van projecten en zorg je ervoor dat deze binnen de afgesproken planning, het beschikbare budget en de geldende wet- en regelgeving worden gerealiseerd. Hierbij werk je nauw samen met onderzoekers, projectleiders, klanten en ondersteunende afdelingen binnen WMR en Wageningen University & Research (WUR).

Je maakt onderdeel uit van het Acquisitie Ondersteunings & Project Management Team, een team van circa negen collega's dat zich richt op het procesmatig ondersteunen van acquisitie- en onderzoekstrajecten. Je standplaats (IJmuiden, Yerseke of Den Helder) kan later worden vastgesteld mits je bereid bent om één à twee keer per week in IJmuiden te werken. Je werkt in een internationale, toegepast wetenschappelijke omgeving waar mariene en zoetwaterecologische vraagstukken centraal staan.

De projecten variëren van veldonderzoek en experimenteel onderzoek tot datamanagement, modellering en beleidsgericht onderzoek. Hierdoor krijg je een breed inzicht in de onderzoeksactiviteiten van Wageningen Research.

Jouw taken en verantwoordelijkheden als acquisitie manager zijn:

Research funding (circa 70% van je tijd)

• signaleren en monitoren van voor WMR relevante opdrachten, tenders en subsidiemogelijkheden, passend binnen de organisatiestrategie;
• beoordelen van subsidie- en tendervoorwaarden en adviseren over kansen, risico's, cofinanciering en samenwerkingsverbanden;
• coördineren en begeleiden van offerte- en subsidieaanvraagprocessen, waarbij je zorgt dat financiële, juridische en inhoudelijke input tijdig beschikbaar is;
• adviseren van onderzoekers en projectleiders over acquisitieprocessen, procedures en subsidievoorwaarden;
• bewaken van de voortgang van acquisitie- en offertetrajecten en hierover rapporteren.

Projectmanagement (circa 30% van je tijd)

• ondersteunen van projectleiders bij de uitvoering van onderzoeksprojecten;
• bewaken van projectdoelstellingen op het gebied van tijd, kwaliteit, budget, organisatie en communicatie, Signaleren van afwijkingen en actief bijdragen aan oplossingen;
• onderhouden van contacten met opdrachtgevers, samenwerkingspartners en interne stakeholders;
• verzorgen van projectcoördinatie, projectadministratie, archivering en documentatie;
• initiëren en implementeren van verbeteringen in acquisitie-, offerte- en projectmanagementprocessen.

Hier ga je werken

Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) is één van de negen instituten die onderdeel uitmaakt van Wageningen Research. WMR is een toonaangevend, onafhankelijk onderzoeksinstituut met locaties in IJmuiden, Den Helder en Yerseke dat zich richt op strategisch en toegepast marien ecologisch onderzoek. Producten en diensten worden projectmatig uitgevoerd en zijn divers van aard: veldonderzoek, experimenten op realistische schaal, verkennende studies op laboratoriumschaal, datamanagement en modellering.

Wij bieden je:

• een afwisselende functie op het snijvlak van acquisitie en projectmanagement;
• een professionele en stimulerende werkomgeving;
• samenwerking met gedreven onderzoekers en projectprofessionals;
• de mogelijkheid om bij te dragen aan maatschappelijk relevant marien onderzoek;
• veel ruimte voor persoonlijke ontwikkeling en groei.

Assistant/Associate professor Consumer Science of Food Products

Do you want to develop impactful research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and inspire students through engaging consumer behaviour education in relation to food science?We are looking for an ambitious Assistant/Associate Professor Consumer Science of Food Products.

The Food Quality and Design (FQD) group, part of the Food Technology cluster at Wageningen University and Research (WUR), is looking for an ambitious Assistant/Associate Professor with expertise in qualitative consumer research methods to strengthen our research and teaching portfolio. Research and education in our team evolve around understanding the consumer and user when interacting with food products and services in the context of daily life household practices. The aim is to facilitate user representation in interdisciplinary teams working on development, quality and use of consumer products by gaining in-depth consumer insights.

The new colleague will set up and conduct research to understand contemporary consumer challenges. This requires research approaches that capture the complexity of consumers’ lived experiences and everyday practices. We therefore value qualitative consumer research using creative and participatory methods, such as visual methods, co-creation, and participatory design, to generate deep insights and develop impactful knowledge for societal challenges.

Moreover, you will teach courses in consumer usage behavior, consumer product interaction, and qualitative research methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise Bachelor, Master, and PhD students, and contribute to curriculum development.

We are looking for a collaborative candidate with a strong commitment to academic research, innovative teaching, and societal impact, who is eager to engage with colleagues across disciplines, with the research and education being performed in the framework of the food science and quality management research at FQD.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• you are expected to build your own research line within the research area described above;
• you are expected to actively seek research partners in The Netherlands and abroad, and create your own, recognizable field of expertise;
• you will contribute to the educational programme in consumer behavior, qualitative research methods, and related fields at undergraduate and graduate levels.

This position is part of the Academic Career Framework (ACF) at Wageningen University & Research. One of the 3 career paths is the Professor Career Path. The aim of this ACF is to achieve a new balance in recognizing and valuing academics where both team collaboration and the unique talent of individual scientists are seen, by creating more differentiation in career paths, putting the emphasis on the quality of work and less on quantitative results, doing justice to the individual qualities and ambitions of academics as much as to team performance, promoting all aspects of open science and encouraging high-quality leadership in the academy.

You will work here
The position will be at the “Food Quality and Design” chair group, led by Prof. Vincenzo Fogliano and Prof. Kasper Hettinga. The mission of this chair group is to optimize food quality throughout the food chain by designing better foods to improve health and pleasure of the consumer and focus on the sustainability of food production systems.

In this challenging career trajectory:

• you acquire, lead and implement innovative and creative (inter-)national research projects in the Food Quality and Design group;
• you collaborate with colleagues and supervise PhD students, BSc and MSc theses;
• you (co-)develop and teach courses in the field of consumer research;
• you contribute to the further development of the Food Quality and Design group.

Researcher/lecturer ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations

Researcher/lecturer ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations in Water and Climate’ (4 years) in Wageningen.

Why apply for a position in Wageningen?
Are you ready for the next step in your academic career? Do you want to become part of an enthusiastic group of colleagues, who seek to push the boundaries of knowledge on public administration and public policy? Do you want to teach for the highest graded educational programs in the Netherlands? Do you have the right skills to do cutting-edge research in an interdisciplinary setting and convey your findings in an inspiring way to students in a multi-disciplinary setting? And would you like to try to develop your skills further and grow in the direction of an assistant professorship? Then apply for a position as Researcher/Lecturer ‘Public Policy for Transformations in Water and Climate’ (4 years, trial period of 1 year at the Public Administration and Policy Group of Wageningen University).

Background: global change requires action from the Dutch government
The Public Administration Group of Wageningen University is a vibrant and enthusiastic group of scholars, seeking to understand how governments can help achieve sustainability transformations. As the climate changes in the Netherlands, several societal transformations are necessary. In our group, we start from the premise that the role of government in transformations is essential, also in the Netherlands. Because government expenditure constitutes a very significant part of the economy, but also because democratically elected government institutions represent the will of the people, and because the government is equipped with unique authorities and powers that can help codify and modify the direction that societies take. The Dutch government and the EU have a distinct role to play: they need to develop policies that enable or guide transformation, by facilitating societal initiative, by introducing the right incentives for private companies, and by changing existing policies that hinder transformation. The Dutch government itself is multiple and exists of various layers and policy sectors. Moreover, it needs to act in close collaboration with the European Union, which sets large parts of the sustainability agenda in Europe and for the Netherlands. As a consequence, agreement of who should act, when and at what level, can be elusive, and in addition, the types of interventions needed are often contested as polarization sets in. In this context, a deeper understanding of whether, when and how the Netherlands’ government can help realize the necessary sustainability transformations is paramount.

We are looking for you
The challenges to the Dutch government and the EU are nowhere clearer than in the connected policy domains of climate change and water, where human induced global change needs to be stopped by innovative solutions such as biobased construction and carbon capture on land, where extreme weather events cause floods that impact cities and regions thus requiring adaptive capacity, and where extended periods of drought threaten water availability for important sectors such as agriculture and biodiversity thus necessitating a turn towards circularity in water management. In the context of our expanding research and teaching portfolio in this domain we are looking for a Researcher/Lecturer (50/50) on the theme ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations in Water and Climate’ who contributes to the implementation of our research projects, the acquisition of new projects, and to the coordination and realization of our courses.

Your duties and responsibilities include:
You will spend 50% of your time doing research, which means that you will:

• become part of the teams that implement ongoing research projects in the Climate and Water domain that connect to your expertise (projects such as Blue Vantage, STURDI and WaterGrid, with more projects starting soon);
• share in the performance of duties under these projects, including the production of deliverables and organization of activities (workshops, events) where applicable;
• publish academic papers (independently and in teams) on the basis of your own research line and the research done in the context of the projects that you will connect to.

In the other 50% of your time, you will be contributing to our teaching portfolio, which means that you:

• will teach and coordinate courses in public administration and policy in the B.Sc. program on ‘Economics and Policy’ in Wageningen (the course ‘Governance and Policy Change’) and contributing to courses in the M.Sc. program on the ‘Governance of Sustainability Transformations’;
• where appropriate and necessary, you will also be involved with the development of new courses, for instance in the context of new program development in Wageningen;
• you will supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. thesis projects from students that come to study with our group.

Your team:
You will become a member of the Public Administration and Policy Group at Wageningen. The PAP group is an enthusiastic and vibrant group within the Department of Social Sciences. The PAP group's mission is to study the public governance of sustainability transformations in the interrelated domains of water, climate, food, biodiversity and agriculture under the slogan ‘Changing governance, Governing change’. In our work, we build on a diverse set of public administration and policy science concepts and theories and apply a diverse range of methods that we use whenever suitable for the research questions at hand. We take an active interest in the role of the state in sustainability governance and we actively seek to think through innovative governance arrangements. The group is impact-oriented and aims to contribute to scientific progress, to societal debates, and to policy practices. More information on the group can be found on www.wageningenur.nl/pap.

Your will work here
The PAP group actively collaborates with neighboring groups in the Wageningen Sustainability Governance Hub, where more than 150 researchers collaborate at the forefront of global discussions on sustainability transformations. In the last research assessment, the WCSG was found to do "excellent, impact-driven and ample research", and to be "in an eminent position to meet the demand for innovation in governance related to sustainability issues". You will be supervised by Prof. Dave Huitema.