Enschede, Netherlands

Position Title: PHD Position in Sustainable Rural -Urban Futures

Organization: The Section of Governance and Technology for Sustainability (CSTM) and the Section of Knowledge, Transformation, and Society (KiTeS) at the University of Twente

Location: Enschede, Netherlands

Organization Overview:

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Technology, Policy and Society (TPS), engages in research and education on the interplay between technology, society and policy, helping society to manage the opportunities and tensions between (new) technologies and changing needs.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social sciences (BMS) aims to play a key role in understanding, jointly developing and evaluating innovations in society. Technological developments are the engine of innovation. As a technical university that puts people first, they tailor them to human needs and behavior and use social engineering to integrate them into society. They also ensure adequate governance at public and private level, and robust, inclusive and fair organizational structures. They do this by developing, sharing and applying high-quality knowledge in Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences and Health Sciences. Their research and education in these disciplines revolves around tackling and solving societal challenges. The research programs of BMS are closely linked to the research of the UT institutes Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

Position Overview: Transforming the ways in which cities and the countryside are interconnected is critical to improving societal and ecological sustainability. These so called ‘rurban’ (rural-urban), interconnections, such as resource and material flows, human-nature relationships, spatial patterning, and the overarching modes of production and consumption drive ecological and social crises around the world. Racing against time, policymakers tend to embrace generic visions of urbanization (like ‘smart’ or ‘green’ cities) and technological solutions that often pay little attention to local contexts and underlying dimensions. To counter what has been called a “crisis of the imagination”, new social imaginaries are needed that are able to inform alternative worldviews and support appropriate institutions, policies, and technologies. This PhD project will work at the diverse interfaces between the ‘rural’ and the ‘urban’ to explore and (re-)imagine rurban interconnections, everyday practices, and desirable future pathways.

Duties:

• Develop a conceptual and methodological rurban lens that can analyse and animate societal transformation
• Examine and catalyze imaginative processes of knowledge co-production through prototyping spatial and technological interventions
• Define and assess the impact of creative methods and tools to stimulate engagement, imagination, and action (e.g. shifts in everyday practices and policies)

Qualifications: 

• Has or will shortly acquire, a Master’s degree or equivalent (e.g. practice experience and portfolio) in a relevant social science field (for example, geography, science and technology studies, sociology, anthropology, interdisciplinary environmental studies, or sustainability studies), and/or design (for example, architecture, urban design or social design);
• Has a demonstrated interest in inter- and trans-disciplinary research and is driven by the desire to impact society;
• Works well in an international team and enjoys collaboration;
• Able to pursue independent research and has the willingness to develop writing and publication skills, both academic and adapted to wider and diverse audiences;
• Has good communication skills, fluency in English and, preferably, a good command of Dutch (spoken in particular);

The following qualifications would be desired, but are not required:

• Experience with foresight methods such as visioning and back casting;
• Experience with environmental decision-making within academia, government, or civil society;

Experience with participatory, transdisciplinary and/or art and design based research methods, such as action research, workshop design and facilitation, and working closely with society. 

Salary/Pay: € 2,770 – € 3,539

Application Deadline: January 8th, 2024

How to Apply: To apply and find out more information use this link. Include:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position;
• A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references;
• A writing sample;
• Contact information for two academic references
• [for non-native English speakers] An IELTS-test, Internet TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT), or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE). Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS-test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, internet. TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE);

If the following are available, please also include:

• A brief overview of your portfolio of design or artistic work, including links to online resources.

Additional information can be acquired via email from Dr. Steven McGreevy (CSTM) or Dr. Corelia Baibarac-Duignan (KiTES)