PhD Position on Visioning a Circular Society

The world is facing many ecological and political challenges, from climate change and biodiversity loss to excessive pollution and potential resource scarcity. Many of these challenges are rooted in the linear, extractive systems of resource use in present-day society. As a result, these challenges throw up many questions about the future of society. In this PhD project, you will help construct, define, and refine visions of a desirable circular futures, which are key for any successful transition.

Your job
How can societies deal with the impacts of environmental damage? How to access the resources needed for society and economy? And, more urgently, how can societies limit their impact on the wider planet? One widely agreed-upon necessity is the transition to a circular society, a society that is not extractive but that systematically re-uses its resources. In this PhD, you will contribute to visions of a circular future.

Our multi-disciplinary project ‘Accelerating the Circular Transition’ (ACT!) develops a systemic approach to accelerate the fair transition to a circular society in The Netherlands (and beyond). It will co-create an integrated approach to manage this complex transition, building a toolbox of shared visions of a circular society with societal wellbeing at the centre. For this, the consortium exists of a large variety of scientific researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds, as well as stakeholders from all parts of Dutch society, including (national, regional and local) government, industry, and local NGO’s.

As a PhD candidate in this project, you will help construct, define, and refine visions of a desirable circular futures, which are key for any successful transition. After all, without an attractive vision of the future, no large-scale policy will ever be successful. Using a futuring approach, you will start with an exploration of the current existing visions for (a circular society in) the Netherlands: how do people imagine the circular future? How are material flows organised? But also, how do people live in these futures? How do their inhabitants imagine the ‘good life’: what do they strive for, how do they become successful, and how is material use embedded in their ideas of a good life?

In your research, you will investigate visions of the circular future from various worldviews, based on both existing images of futures for the Netherlands (and beyond), as well as already existing ‘circular’ communities and lifestyles. Based on this, you will develop research-backed visions to work towards with the societal and scientific partners in ACT!, which can then be refined in conversation with a large variety of stakeholders.

The output of your investigations will feed into a (limited) set of supported visions of a circular society that will need to be described and characterised further by other parts of the project, connecting the visions to analyses of the demand for services in society: how will society will live and work in these future worlds? In parallel, you will study existing Dutch communities that embody an explicit or implicit commitment to a circular society and the visions developed, which can be seen as an examples or living labs for the transformation towards a circular society.

An interdisciplinary team of leading researchers in the circular economy (Ernst Worrell), futuring (Jeroen Oomen), and worldviews (Peter Ben Smit) will guide you in all aspects of the process. This is both in terms of the material constraints of a circular economy and its social realities. The results of the research will lead to the completion of a PhD thesis. Through this research activity you will become embedded in the exciting consortium and project, as well as the broader fields of circular economy/society and futuring research. You can develop yourself through participation in congresses, workshops, trainings for doctoral students, and a vibrant group of PhD candidates in ACT! and at the Copernicus Institute.

We welcome applicants from any background and any academic disciplines who feel they can add an important perspective to this important topic. Command of Dutch is essential to work with the many stakeholders in the project and Dutch circular economy policy environment.

You are a motivated and goal-oriented PhD candidate who would like to work in an interdisciplinary research environment in close interaction with stakeholders. Specifically, you bring the following qualifications:

• You have successfully completed a relevant Master’s degree. Academic discipline is not a leading criterium for selection, so feel free to apply from any discipline if you have affinity with the research topic.
• You are comfortable moving between various academic disciplines, and are eager to learn how different disciplines approach questions of sustainability.
• You have affinity with in-depth research and innovative methods.
• You have a proven interest in sustainability (transitions), as demonstrated by training or extracurricular activities.
• You have affinity and experience with stakeholder engagement and communication of scientific research.
• You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary team, and can showcase a critical attitude, intellectual independence, and good organisational skills.
• You have an excellent command of Dutch and English.

• A position 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;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences 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 position is shared with the Faculty of Religion and Theology (FRT) at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. FRT is the knowledge centre for religion in society. Because religion matters in people's lives and in societal challenges such as climate change and conflict. Our scientists come from different academic disciplines and religious backgrounds research the sources, history, beliefs and contemporary practices of religious traditions.

For more information, please contact Professor Ernst Worrell at e.worrell@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.