PhD Position: Living Decent Lives within Safe and Just Planetary Boundaries

In this PhD project, you will investigate strategies to achieve just and sustainable living conditions worldwide while respecting planetary boundaries, using integrated assessment models to analyse resource distribution and environmental impacts.

Your job
The planetary boundaries framework defines limits to the impact of human activities on the Earth system. Recently, this framework has been combined with concepts of justice. In other words: identifying maximum exposure levels to environmental pressures to avoid excessive harm and ensuring minimum levels of welfare and resource access for all to secure decent living conditions.

In collaboration with other institutes within the Earth Commission, the IMAGE team at Utrecht University, and the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, we aim to develop scenarios that explore what is necessary to reach these two goals.

The work will expand the representation of planetary boundary indicators in the IMAGE model (such as ozone depletion, ocean acidification and water scarcity and chemicals) and the interaction between them. We will also work on new ways to describe the distribution of access to resources worldwide and collect relevant data (food, housing size, transport, clothing, appliances) and develop scenario tools that can look at various strategies to reach safe and just goals (e.g. technology and lifestyle change, redistribution and uplifting economic standards).

As a PhD candidate, you will be involved in this development, focusing specifically on distribution of current resource use and services (energy use, food consumption, water and greenhouse gas emissions).

• 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 salary between €2,901 in the first year and €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities.

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.

For more information, please contact Detlef van Vuuren at D.P.vanVuuren@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.