3 PhD Positions, Utrecht University, Netherlands (2018)

Job description

- PhD position in the field of 'Circular economy: policy discourses on circular economy and its key challenges' (ESR 1.1, 1.0 FTE)
- PhD position in the field of 'Circular economy: effects, successes and limitations of existing governance arrangements for key waste streams' (ESR 1.2, 1.0 FTE)
- PhD position in the field of 'Circular economy: waste stream leakages to Less Developed Countries (LDCS) ' (ESR 1.3, 1.0 FTE)

Supervisor: Dr. Walter Vermeulen and project partners.

Location: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development (Faculty of Geosciences) Utrecht University (NL).

Background:
Establishing a circular economy (CE) (such that the maximum value is extracted from materials and waste generation minimised) is a major policy area within the European Union and elsewhere. Explicitly seen as increasing economic competitiveness and laying a foundation for environmental employment, circular economy policies are designed to increase resource efficiency and decrease carbon dependency. Notably, the many different fields of activity comprising the CE (e.g., re-use, recovery, recycling, eco-design amongst others) operate with varying degrees of effectiveness in different places and for different materials. These fields of activity have not been critically analysed as an interrelated social, technical, environmental and, significantly, spatial phenomenon. This programme will advance the critical analysis of the concept and sustainability implications of the circular economy by the training of 15 early stage researchers (ESRs) analysing circular economy related activity and initiatives in a range of geographic and economic settings. CRESTING is divided between 5 work packages (WP) analysing: current discourse and policy contexts (WP1); corporate engagement with the CE (WP2); public sector engagement in the CE (WP3); the potential for local economic development and employment from the CE (WP4); and measuring life cycle impacts and developing sustainability indicators relevant to the CE (WP5). With multidisciplinary and international supervisory teams including non-academic partners within each WP, CRESTING will 1) analyse the sustainability implications of the CE; 2) analyse the spatial dimension of the CE and 3) translate these analyses into specific actions for managing the transformation to the CE.

Requirements
We are looking for a candidate with a proven background in environmental sciences or studies, supported by strong knowledge in the field of sustainable production and consumption and corporate sustainability and/or environmental governance. The candidate will collaborate with other members of the project team as well as with other researchers in the Copernicus Institute and in the CRESTING consortium. Also, a small contribution to the teaching effort of the Environmental Governance group, e.g. by supervising MSc students in course and for their MSc thesis, will be required for about 5-10% of the time.

The following qualifications are expected:
- the candidate holds a MSc degree in the areas of Environmental Sciences or studies, supported by strong knowledge in the field of sustainable production and consumption and corporate sustainability and/or environmental governance or a related field;
- previous knowledge in policy analysis, circular economy, including qualitative and qualitative research would be valuable;
- excellent English skills (written and oral) are required.
- The candidate should have a proven record that he/she can work both independently and as part of a team.

Further details:
3 PhD Positions, Utrecht University, Netherlands (2018)