Website University of Groningen
Job description
The Faculty of Space Sciences is recruiting a PhD researcher on the topic of “Regional Ecosystems for Innovation” with a focus on the promotion of the regional circular economy. The PhD position is part of the EU-funded project “European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV)”, in which nine EU regions will work together to establish a lasting framework for regional cooperation in order to facilitate the transformation of traditional value chains into more circular value chains or value networks for sustainable regional growth and development.
Within the framework of ECIV, the PhD project aims to contribute to a better understanding of how economic ecosystems can be sustained. To this end, the PhD project involves the development and implementation of ecosystem monitoring tools. What makes a valuable, robust and adaptive ecosystem? To this end, both quantitative and qualitative (ethnographic) methods will be used.
Given the setup of the program, the PhD project has a dual objective: it aims to produce impactful results that directly contribute to building capacity for ecosystem innovation. Therefore, the project entails cooperation with other consortium members in the Netherlands and abroad, as well as with external stakeholders (industry organizations, entrepreneurs, government) related to the circular economy. On the academic side, the PhD program aims to further the understanding of ecosystem development, dynamics and longevity. It is hoped that the program will contribute to teaching and learning.
The main tasks include
Writing the PhD thesis, consisting of 4 academic papers, an introduction and a conclusion.
Conduct research activities including: literature analysis, policy analysis, stakeholder interviews, survey analysis and secondary data.
Participate in the development and implementation of the main outcomes of the ECIV project.
Participate in ECIV and the network of relevant stakeholders in the Northern Circular Economy Ecosystem as part of the data collection.
Collaborate with students, start-ups and industry/business in challenge-based innovation projects.
As a PhD you will have the opportunity to further develop your research skills in courses, summer schools and conferences. This will be supported by the program and the School of Space Sciences.
offer requirements
Our ideal candidate should have
A Master’s degree (or near completion) in economic geography, regional science, applied economics, entrepreneurship, innovation, or other social science field, with a clear affinity for regional development and innovation issues in particular.
Given the mixed methods approach, candidates with a combination of quantitative and qualitative research skills are at an added advantage. Candidates should be proficient in at least one of the two methodologies and be willing to develop the other.
Good skills in presenting academic analysis to diverse audiences, including policy makers. In addition, should be comfortable building and maintaining professional networks with regional and international stakeholders.
Fluency in English (reading, writing and speaking). Knowledge of Dutch is not required, but knowledge of Dutch will facilitate communication with regional stakeholders.
offer benefits
We offer you our services under the Dutch University Collective Labor Agreement:
A monthly salary of €2,901 gross for the first full-time working week and up to €3,707 gross for the fourth and final year (PhD salary scale).
Holiday allowance of 8% of gross annual income, year-end allowance of 8.3% and participation in the employee pension scheme.
A four-year position; in the first instance, you will be offered a temporary position for one year with an option to renew for another three years; renewal of the contract is conditional on making sufficient progress in the first year so as to be on track to successfully complete your doctoral dissertation within the contract period. A PhD training program is part of the agreement and the training will be tailored to the candidate. The candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Space Sciences.