PhD position Governing transitions towards a sustainable greenhouse sector

VU Hoofdgebouw

Amsterdam

0.8 / 1

Faculty of Science

PhD

MSc

Closes on

14-08-2026

Publishing date

26-06-2026

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Would you like to study and contribute to sustainability transitions in agri-food systems? Would you like to do so in an action-oriented project around greenhouses? Then you should apply!

Your function

The Athena Institute of VU Amsterdam together with the Copernicus Institute of Utrecht University are looking for a motivated PhD candidate on the Greenhouse in Transition project. In this position, you will focus on the governance of sustainability transitions and mission-oriented innovation in the greenhouse sector.

This joint USA-NL project supports the transition to sustainable and circular CEA without fossil energy, reducing waste, and improving resource efficiency. Current greenhouses rely heavily on fossil fuels, chemicals, and labour. This project connects technology, growers, and policymakers to create greenhouses that are smarter, more affordable, and better for people and planet. In the project many different scientific disciplines and stakeholders from both countries collaborate to design the future of the greenhouse sectors. In this position, you will work in a social science research team, and you are being supervised by a collaborative promotion team of both VU Amsterdam (Dr. Kok, Dr. Loeber) and Utrecht University (Dr. Wojtynia, Prof. Negro).

Our research team will critically examine the current state of greenhouse production systems, highlight the primary sustainability issues they face, and investigate historical factors that have perpetuated these challenges. We will also identify the systemic barriers impeding innovation and transformative change towards sustainability, community engagement, and resource circularity.

Questions that you can focus on are: How can we understand complex transition processes? How does the innovation system around greenhouses look like in the Netherlands and the United States? How can we support the greenhouse sector in a transition?

Your tasks:
As a team, we will work on understanding the social, political and economic dimensions of innovations and sustainability transitions in the greenhouse sector. During your PhD you will be conducting social science studies into (1) innovation systems and the factors that help contribute to diffusion and adoption of sustainable innovations and (2) policy instruments and governance at different levels (local, national) in the Netherlands and the United States. Data collection strategies can include conducting interviews, document analysis and organizing workshops with stakeholders, such as policymakers, growers and businesses. Together with the promotion team, in the first year you will make a research proposal where you outline your own ideas and interests for the PhD research.

Concretely, your tasks are:

Conducting research and collaboratively writing scientific articles that will form the basis of your PhD thesis.
Contributing to policy advice based on the research outcomes.
Contributing to the project by organizing workshops and other activities within the broader project, such as at consortium meetings.
Presenting your work at conferences.
Following courses to develop your research skills (formal PhD training).
Teaching working groups in the education programmes of the Athena Institute (max 0.2 fte).

After the first year, there will also be a postdoctoral researcher who will be working with you on the project. Note that there is budget to conduct field work in the United States. We will explore the feasibility of this together.

Recruitment process:
There will be (at least) two rounds of interviews. A first round of interviews will be scheduled end of August/beginning of September. We hope to complete the interview process in September, so that the selected candidate can start in October or November.

In your application, please include:
(1) your cv
(2) your motivation letter (1 A4)
(3) a research idea that would like to conduct as part of this project (max 1 A4)

Your profile

A completed Masters degree in transition studies, sustainable development, innovation studies, policy sciences, agricultural policy or another relevant (interdisciplinary) social science field.
Proven experience in qualitative research methodologies, such as interviews, ethnography, document analysis and/or focus groups.
Interest in inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches in the collaboration between science, policy, practice and society.
The ability to work independently as well as in a team, in a flexible, adaptive and pro-active way.
Excellent organizational, communicative and collaborative skills.
Experience in research, writing and presenting.
Excellent command of English and B2 command of Dutch are required.

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

a salary of € 3.059,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.881,00 (PhD) gross per month, for full-time employment
a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. Following this there is a possibility of an extension.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
solid pension scheme (ABP)
child daycare facilities available on campus
the possibility to work partly from home

About us

Athena Institute
The Athena Institute addresses complex societal issues, such as the intertwinement between health challenges, food, agriculture and climate change, with an eye for social injustice. We do this by designing, facilitating and studying multi-stakeholder processes. Together with all actors involved, we investigate how to instigate system transformation. Given this collaborative approach to scientific work at Athena, we cherish a research culture that is built on ‘shared science’, characterized by co‑creation, open academic exchange and joint publications with our academic staff and where applicable with non-academic research partners. We are looking for a candidate who is motivated to actively contribute to this collaborative environment.

Faculty of Science
Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers and researchers who are focused on their field, yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy and just future.

From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programms and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.