PhD position in Orchestrating values in transitions in regional ecosystems

7 Feb 2026
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Utrecht University

Research Field

Environmental science » Ecology
Environmental science » Global change
Political sciences » Governance
Political sciences » Public policy
Sociology » Social shaping of technology
Sociology » Societal behaviour

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
First Stage Researcher (R1)

Application Deadline

20 Feb 2026 - 22:59 (UTC)

Country

Netherlands

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Are you passionate about understanding how national missions to advance sustainability transitions gain a foothold in regional ecosystems? Do you want to study how intermediary organizations make sure that values inherent to these missions become aligned? And are you interested in helping these organizations to make their work more productive? Then this opportunity at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development is for you.
Your job
Making societies more sustainable requires a variety of national, regional and local actors to work together on various domains including energy and health. These various stakeholders act based on the values they hold. This project aims to study how value alignment takes place across governance levels and domains. How are different values understood and translated into regional contexts? And how do different regional-level, intermediary actors deal with value interactions and alignment? And how do these value alignments lead to better transition policies?
In this project, you will take an empirical approach to investigate value alignment in the built environment, which represents a field where various governance levels (local-regional-national) and their missions as well as various domains (energy-health-mobility) come together. The study will be conducted in close collaboration with societal stakeholders, ranging from policy actors (ministries, provinces) and intermediaries (e.g. network organizations). Using interviews, workshops and observations, you will uncover how they deal with multitudes of (evolving) national/regional strategies and with different transitions and underlying values.
As a PhD candidate you will become embedded in a larger project on accelerating multiple transitions in the built environment by aligning values , and collaborate with a wide range of interesting stakeholders, specifically in the field of the built environment. You will also be involved in exciting scientific communities on innovation and technology assessment.
The project will be supervised by Dr Matthijs Janssen and Prof Wouter Boon .

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/358365/phd-position-in-orchestrating-v…

Requirements
Specific Requirements

You are a motivated and goal-oriented researcher who would like to work in an interdisciplinary research environment. Specifically, you bring the following:

• You have a successfully completed Master’s degree. Relevant disciplines include (but are not limited to) science and technology studies (STS), transition studies, innovation studies, and philosophy of science and technology;
• You are interested in value articulation and alignment in transitions, specifically in the field of the built environment;
• You have an affinity with in-depth social research and innovative methodologies with a mixed-methods or qualitative focus;
• You have an affinity and experience with public engagement and communication of scientific research;
• You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary team, and can showcase a critical attitude, intellectual independence, and good organizational skills;
• You are interested in and preferably have experience with collaborating with societal partners as part the research project. For this, Dutch language proficiency is a plus;
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Additional Information
Benefits

We offer:

• a temporary position (0.8 - 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;
• a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and €3.881 in the case of full-time employment (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 also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development , various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities . You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

Selection process

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.
Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.
To apply, please send us the following documents via the 'apply now' button:

• Your curriculum vitae (CV), including appendixes with grade transcripts for your Bachelor’s and Master’s programme, and the names and contact details of 2-3 references;
• A motivation letter of no more than two A4 pages explaining your interest and suitability for the position.

Additional comments

For more information about this position, please contact Prof Wouter Boon at w.p.c.boon@uu.nl .
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/358365/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universiteit Utrecht

Country

Netherlands

City

Utrecht

Postal Code

3584CB

Street

Princetonlaan 8a

Contact

City

Utrecht

Website

http://www.uu.nl/

Street

Domplein 29

Postal Code

3512 JE

STATUS: EXPIRED

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