PhD in sustainability certification of bio-based products, As part of the transition to a circular bioeconomy, bio-based materials
Utrecht University is recruiting a full-time PhD candidate for a four-year project in the field of bio-based materials. As part of the transition to a circular bioeconomy, bio-based materials are expected to play an increasing role in the coming decades. However, their sustainability performance compared to the current alternatives may vary. Certification schemes and labels (CSLs) in different sectors of the European Union may be an effective tool as a co-regulation instrument to monitor and improve this performance. Effective and robust CSLs can cope with some of the difficulties that public regulation faces and fill in policy gaps. The Horizon Europe project HARMONITOR will establish and test a participative review platform that allows CSLs to find commonalities and cooperation when operating in bio-based value chains within and across EU borders.
As part of the HARMONITOR project, this PhD project will focus on comparing and monitoring CSLs for bio-based products, including the evaluation of environmental, social, and economic impacts and trade-offs, and identification of requirements for a governance system. The PhD candidate will also contribute to quantifying costs and benefits of achieving sustainability criteria, including indirect environmental and social effects. One of the ultimate aims will be to develop a monitoring system which will use CSLs to enhance transparency and traceability of environmental impacts along value chains.
The PhD candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Junginger and Prof. Dr. Wicke to co-develop the specific PhD activities and contribute to delivering the overall project objectives. The candidate should be willing to bring their own conceptual and interdisciplinary experience and ideas to the project and to develop their independent research skills.
The candidate will be well-supported through supervision, training courses, funding to attend conferences and workshops, and involvement in European and global research networks, to ensure their success and develop their career trajectory. Also a minor contribution (about 10% of your time) to the teaching activities of the department at Bachelor or Master level is expected.
The PhD project will begin on 1 July 2022, or sooner if possible.
Qualifications
You are expected to obtain a doctoral degree from Utrecht University within four years, based on published articles in top-tier academic journals.
Qualifications and skills:
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in environmental science, environmental economics, natural resource management, sustainable development, or a related discipline.
- Experience with the development and management of certification schemes and labels, ideally related to the value chains in the biobased economy.
- Ability to clearly communicate complex information, and to interact effectively with both academic and stakeholder audiences.
- A research focus and/or interest in relevant fields (e.g. bio-based economy, sustainability, governance) with an interdisciplinary orientation.
- English language skills (written and verbal).
- Ability and enthusiasm to work both independently and as part of a larger team.
- Quantitative analytical skills, embracing multidisciplinary research and systems thinking.
- Intellectual curiosity and motivation to address important real-world problems through rigorous and ambitious academic inquiry.
Offer
You will be offered a temporary position (1.0 FTE), initially for one year with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period. The gross salary ranges between €2,443 in the first year and €3,122 in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions external link (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University external linkcan be found here.
About the organisation
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University external link, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.
Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences external link studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.
The PhD candidate will be based in the Energy and Resources group, one of four sections within the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development external link. The Energy and Resources group is a dynamic, ambitious and internationally leading team of over sixty researchers. In the Energy and Resources group the challenges are analyzed in a variety of dimensions: from fundamental material sciences, technology assessment, to governance, scale (local to global), time, and combining bottom-up and top down approaches. The group has a strong track record in areas such as energy efficiency, sustainable bio-based production of energy and materials, future low-carbon power generation (including photovoltaics and carbon capture and storage), and energy modelling.
PhD training programmes are provided by the Graduate School of the Faculty of Geosciences and, if required, other graduate schools at Utrecht University and beyond. The working language of the institute is English.
Utrecht University is one of the leading research universities in Europe, with particular strengths in sustainability, climate change, and geography, among others. The PhD candidate will be able to develop their research at the interface of, and with the support of, key strategic themes of the university (‘Pathways to Sustainability’ and ‘Institutions for Open Societies’), opening up numerous opportunities for university-wide interaction. The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a historic centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its centuries-old university. Utrecht has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands, and is well-connected to local and international transport hubs.
Additional information
For more information about this position, please contact prof. dr. Martin Junginger external link, via h.m.junginger@uu.nl.
Apply
Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. To apply, please send your documents by using the ‘apply’ button below.
Your application should include the following:
- A motivation letter explaining your interest and suitability for the position.
- Your curriculum vitae, including the grade for your master’s thesis and overall grade point average (or equivalent) of your bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- Your master’s thesis and a 2-page summary of the key results (in English), highlighting the methods used, and key findings and implications.
- The names and contact details of 2-3 academic referees.
Interviews will be held in mid-May.
The application deadline is 30 April 2022.